The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-02-07
TO TIKI. PEOPLE
An Address TO the People OF North
Carolina by Chairman Oates of the
anti-SaloOn League

Anti-Saloon League.
Raleigh, n. c., February 1.-The
following address to the people
of North Carolina was issued by Chair
man John \. Oates Of the executive
committee of the North Carolina Anti
Saloon League, Heriot Clarkson, it's
president and r. l.. Davis, its orgaiZer:
"We and others of the Anti-Saloon
League called the temperance forces
together in convention at Raleigh, jan
uary 21st The convention Inanin-
ously asked the present legislature TO
give the state a statutory law against
the manufacture and sale O. liquor at
thF present session, but n1s joriry OF
the members of the legislature, after
considering the matter decided to sub
nit the question to vote o. the peo.
pc. Although we did not get tie
question considered al the extra ses-
SION Of this Legislature, this concession
was a great victiry for the temper
ance forces. The Long Down bill is
now a law. 1t is a composite 4oill, pre-
pared by the best thought Of the tenn
perance men in the state 1t is not as
stringent as some of us would like
II to be but it is an extension Of the
Watts and Ward bills to the whole
state. Tuesday, May 26th, the issue
will be presented to the people of
North Carolina. Are you for or
against the manufacture and saYe of
Intoxicating liquors?' The praise for
this issue being submitted to the peo-
pie in North Carolina rs due to the
great heart of the masses of its citiz-
enship demanding this reform, the
ministers Of the Gospel of peace and
good will towards men, those senators
and representatives who voted for the
bill, most of the press of the state, the
educators of the state and those
splendid men, Senator F. M. Simmons,
Judge Jeter c. Pritchard, Ex-Governor
Thomas ]. Jarvis, Governor Robert B.
Glenn, Ex-Governor Charles B. Aycock,
Josephus Daniels, Hugh G. Chatham,
S. Mcintyre, J. A. Hartness. Henry A.
London, G. w. Watts, P. H Wander
ford, ]. J. Rogers, Henry A. Page,
Frank r. McNinch, W. c. Newlands,
A. D. Watts, H. G. FenBell, j. H.
Tucker, J. G. Mccall, Settle Dockery,
A. D. Ward, James H. Pou, w. n
Jones, L. L.. Smith, N. B. Broughton,
w. H. Sprunt, E. r. Cansle-, James I.
Johnson, Geo. P. Pell, R. B. White,
w. I. Everett, Cameron Morrison, E.
F. Aydlett, A. M. Scales, r Lee Wright,
J. w. Bailey, w. b. Smoot, w F. Sni-
der R. L. Madison, w P Shaw, w. B
Cooper, Virgil S. Lusk, and others too
to mention.
The bill leaves intact the higher
local revolutionary laws now in force
in the several counties We have pat
iently borne for years the CALLING yoke
evils with all their attending curses
and woes. The time has come when
this enemy to the human family must
be destroyed. No family high or low,
rich or poor has not felt the awful
curse of the drink habit It is a canker
worm which has eaten into the heart
of the body polite It has made the
sweet water of life bitter. The tears
that have been shed by an army of
mourners speak to our heads as we'll
as to our hearts. In the sweetest bud
the eating canker dwells No race is
exempt; especially is it injurious to
hat child-race, the negro
The people of the state, in the gen.
erations gone by have resisted to the /
asst ditch tyranny and oppression,
cruelty and wrong. The powers with |
hem and they are once more called
upon to do battle in righteous cause |
Be not deceived with false arguments |
The business men and corporations no |
onger want one who drinks in their |
The mill and manufac-
uring towns in the state have retus-
d to tighten the traffic fraughr With |
such evil to the moral and material |
of the community. ilow
they have prospered by so
loing! This issue appeals to men of
LII parties; to men of all creeds; 1t
S above party above creed-above
1t is a matter OF consci-
'nce.
With malice towards none and with
In eye single to the public good we
,all upon all to join with us in the
contest. II any have made Willingly,
,r unwittingly entangling alliances,
lurtful to themselves, or the good of |
he human family, we appeal 10 them
o sever their connections with the
'bCdy of this DEATH" re-assert their
reedom and manhood and enter the /
contest. We especially appeal 10 those |
who have been against us n the past |
o forget all differences for the public |
good and enter this contest 1t is a |
contest against the saloons, distilleries |
and drink evils, and not against the |
man; and an issue of merit and NOR
Ills and not of men and politics. |
Friends of founaranco orOopiza rrarly