The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1909-01-21
AN ADDRESS TO THE PEO.
PIE.
To the People Of North Caro-

To the People of North Caro-
lima:
There is proper and not un-
natural public interest as to the
present policy Of the North
Carolina Anti-Saloon League, and
in response to this feeling we
have thought it advisable to is
sue the following public state
ment.
ENFORCING THE WILL OF THE
PEOPLE.
By an overwhelming majority
the people of North Carolina
have declared for the suppress
sion of the liquor traffic in this
State.
The State Anti-Saloon League
stands simply for the enforce
ment of this expressed will of
the voters of the State, and we
appeal with confidence to the
General Assembly elected by
these voters to see that in no
particular shall the verdict of
last May be abated.
We do not ask for more than
the people have declared for, nor
do we expect less. The people
having so unmistakably declared
their wishes, it becomes the du-
ty of their lawmakers to pro-
vide in all cases the proper legal
machinery for enforcing their
newly-expressed will, and for
furnishing all violations Of the
new statute. Seeing that the
enforcement of the law is now
in the hands of our own State
officials, we call attention to the
fact that in most counties nc
compensation is now allowed
sheriffs for breaking up illicit
distilleries, and we earnestly ask
for a generallaw providing for the
payment of $25 for each capture
made by a sheriff, policy which
has worked successfully in Cum
berland and other counties, and
without which the machinery is
manifestly inadequate. Beyond
this we ask for nothing.
LET'S MAKE NO HOLE IN THE
Dixie.
We do not believe that the
whiskey interests can bring any
strong pressure to bear upon oul
lawmakers for any weakening
of the present law, but we dc
not think it amiss to warn oul
people against agitation fol
seemingly innocent or unimpor
tant amendments. To make one
change will open up the whole
subject afresh, and offer another
much-coveted opportunity for thu
whiskey forces to spend none,
in an effort to corrupt public
sentiment. We have seen indi
cations, for example, of a plal
to use the apple growers as cats
paws-the liquors interests in
siduously endeavoring to arous'
them in the hope of weakening
the law for their own ultimat,
advantage. We warn our farmer
against these schemes; we can
not afford to make a hole in tn
dixie which might lead in tn
end to bringing down the who'll
flood of corruption and intem
: perance again upon our homes
1t is our belief that the peopl
of the State, the Anti-Salool
League, and the General AS
sembly, are alike resolved upol
what has become known as tn
stand pat" policy. Let US hav
no hurtful agitation, and if i
come, let the blame be upon tn
heads of the whiskey element.
DUTY OF ALL GOOD CITIZENS 1
THE SAME.
If they seek to violate the law
swift and sure punishment mus
be meted out to them. Upon thi
point we ask all good citizens
be alert. 1t is the duty of ever
friend of temperance, of course
to see that our Prohibition La,
3 is thoroughly enforced, but it
5 not more the duty of the ten
9 perance man than of any othe
3 good citizen. It is now one {
the States statutes which ever
D official and citizen is sworn
support, and whatever his orig
y nal attitude may have been,
s is as much the duty of ever
8 man to support the Prohibitio
& Law as to support the law
y against gambling, theft, or arsol
The same penalties provided
law for failure to enforce the
last-named laws are also availab
in the matter of prohibition, al
the duty of the citizen is Il
!. same in each case. Any neg
!, gent official should be prompt
\ removed as provided by Il
y statute.
Good citizens everyw h +
should also let their city officia,
sheriffs, deputies, and their S
licitors know that the bett
public sentiment of the commu
ity is behind law-enforcemer
and in such cases even a q
3 termined minority, acting Wi
the law as a club, can secure
same thorough-going enforc
ment which is expected
strongly prohibition commu
ties.