The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-10-28

also saw a white man drunk, negro
half drunk and three negro women
drinking from the same ticker. This
was in the middle Of the street. dis
covered too that in that portion OF the
town where lawlessness was going on
with high hand at o'clock on Sat.
urday night that there was not an
officer to be seen. saw them, how
ever, a few minutes later on the most
prominent streets in the town where
law and order was reigning.
This leads me to state that in some
towns and counties in our state the
officers are not doing their duty, and
that the situation is in the hands OF
the citizens for settlement. The only
proper solution of this problem is for
citizens to elect such officers as will
be true to their duty in the enforce
ment of this law as well as others.
Our general superintendent, DR.. p. A.
Baker, says: "What is needed in most
communities, after the saloon is abol-
ished. is to 60 forward and abolish
the public officials at the next cleo
ton by electing only those who are
friendly to the law. Friendly officials
will enforce the law and unfriendly
officials will neither enforce it or per-
NIT you to do it," rs I see 1t. us,
ahead Of us in North Carolina &c rhe
agitation and election of such officers
as have the courage of their conviction
and manhood to do their sworn duty.
How any official can take an oath
to enforce law and then can, not on
ly be Indifferent to enforcement. but
actually aid and abet lawlessness IL
beyond my comprehension, and surely
such a one is lacking In the Drinci-
pies of honesty and manhood. Speak
ing on this point Judge Seaborn
Wright said in speech recently made
in Ohio: "The supreme danger con-
fronting the American people today Is
official anarchy. Say what you will,
disguise It as you will. the officer who
refuses to enforce law is an anarchist
ten thousand times more dangerous
than the red shirted. bomb throwing
savages from the slums OF our. cities.
The liquor interests stand for open
notification of law when ii affects
their interest as class. When they
are strong enough they elect officials
whose duty IL Is to enforce all law.
pledged to notification OF this law.
There is but one name for this. an
archy."
I want also In this connection to call
the attention to our faithful friends
the preachers OF North Carolina, to
this matter OF lawlessness. No one
questions the fact that the bible most
emphatically teaches US as citizens to
submit ourselves to every ordinance
of man" AS Paul puts IL: BE sub.
ject TO the higher powers" and this
bible doctrine was emphasized by
many churches In their annual gather
ings last fall. II occurs to me. that
al this stage in the history of temper.
ance reform in our state II is needful
for the pastors 20 preach TO our peo-
pie on the duties OF citizenship or
some kindred topic. warning them
against disobedience. rebellion and
anarchy. and urging them TO give their
evidence and use their influence for
the enforcement OF our law.
Again. say. there is no question in
my mind as to the Improvement al.
ready TO be seen In our state under
prohibition. but still there are griey-
ances and evils that must be cor.
rected. and the sooner these correc-
tons come and bad citizens learn that
the great state Of North Carolina win
not suffer her laws TO be disregarded,
the better Il viii be for the violators
as well as for the community at large.
assuring you that our state organi-
cation stands ready 10 advise or 10
assist in any way II can any communi.
~ that Is troubled with lawlessness
and asking that you communicate with
US on this point. am.
Yours very truly.
N. G. ANTESAL0ON LEAGUE.
ID navfo Cen4