The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-03-23

twenty DOlsafS Tor atn capture.
By SENATOR O. k. NIMOCKS.
Chairman OF the Committee on Pro-
positions ard Grievances.
Perhaps no Legislature OF recent
years has been SO little troubled with
temperance legislation as the IeEis-
lature of 1909. The reason for this
is apparent: the recent decisive vic
tory for State prohibition hy popular
vote left little to be done by statu-
tory enactment in aid Of temperance.
a general law, freshly stamped with
popular approval BY the people them
selves, OF statewide application. had
removed the necessity or local leg
islation. Hence, there was little de-
1nand for local laws on the subject
Of the liquor traffic; and that little,
for the most part, was in the direction
of protection 10 schools and churches
by forbidding the manufacture or
sale Of Wine or cider within certain
prescribed distances. usually from ~
TO two miles. a few local acts were
passed f~orbidding the sale Of near
beer, beerine, "~buli-hea0.' and the
like, upon tbs representation that
such was being used ts q blind for the
sale of the real stuff By INSCRIPTIONS
dealers in certain localities. Not even
Ststt DiS&1 * i4'S e. -, At''1A
with entire favor, IS under the law
any connection by whatever name
called that will produce drunkenness
is an Intoxicating li4uor" within the
meaning and terms of the prohibition
act where knowingly and "5lfuily
sold, as held by our supreme Court
IN State IS. Packer in so \. G.. Al.
state KS. Scott, 116 \. G. 1o12: State
vs.. Piner. 141 \. c., 76". State rs.
Powell, IA y. c. $50, and other
cases. Whether or not tbs so~caliad
soft drink" IS Intoxicating IS 4 Ques-
ton of fact for tie jury, and n
dealer WHO handles near beer, bull
head or other such drinks which, II
taken to excess produce drunkenness,
does so ut his peril, as a test case
would doubtless prove.
This being so, the General Assem-
bly, was not inclined to neediess!y nul-
tiply laws directed against such sub
terfugcs. except III cases where urged
by the local representative and the
united voice Of the community affect
ed. because deemed unnecessary to
remedy the evil, 4 sufficient remedy
already existing,
Expressed III the fguratiEe and
somewhat historic phrase OF the late
Mark Hanna, the Legislature pur-
sued a stand pat" policy on the tenn
! perance question this time. 1t mark
ed time, SO 10 speak; that IS. went
neither forward nor backward, AMI
tnrnrd q deaf ear 10 0li proposals to
weaken or strengthen the present law,
save in the single but vital particular
of providing for its enforcement by
recurring all sheriffs and policemen
10 search for, seize and destroy all
whiSkey diStillerieS to be found in
their respective jurisdictions. and al
lowing a fee OF $50 for each still cap
ture6 amendment was necessa
ry because Of the unnatural policy Of
the national government IL licensing
the manufacture and sale OF ~}ntoXicat-
ing LIQUORS in States where such Is
entirely upon the state as to those
ing the burden of law enforcement
entirely upon the State as to those
listillers and dealers operating under
Fedora license in defiance OF State
laws. This act. framed by members
OF the Senate committee on PROPOSE
tons and Grievances. had the unanl-
nous approval Of tina committee,
passed the Senate without opposition,
and passed the House without mate
rial amendment by "a decisive major
ity. ontspoken opponents OF prohibi-
ton ia the latter cody expressing
themselves as favorable to the pass
acre of the bin, III order 70 provide
the necessary machinery to enforce
the prohibition act, and give the la"
fair trial. This Measure also had
the endorsement OF the State anti
saloon League, being the only amend
mant to the law requested DE thal
| organization.
Eypry other effort TO amend the Ia"
was framed unon, as tor eAa1apie tuI
effort at Mr.. Morton ii the House u
- ~oaa--..>A FOR. NpN