The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-06-29
PUBLIC SENTIMENT
SUPP0RTSTHE LAW
Governor kitchin Answers
Prohibition Critic
GREAT BENEFIT TO State

business i'm This State as Sound and
Progressive as liz Any Adjoining
STANDARDIZATION Has Not Demon
allied Labor-Prohibition Sentiment
Now Sounder and Stronger Than
Heretofore.
Governor Kitchin. in an open letter
to Rev. w. B. Oliver, of Florence. S.
c., condemns an interview publiShed
in a paper of hat town which criti-
cises the North Carolina prohibition
law. A few days 6 Governor Kitchin
received a letter from Mr.. Oliver with
the newspaper clipping enclosed, and
the Governors answer to the critic
is contained in his reply to Mr.. Oliver.
The letter from MI. Oliver was as
follows:
FLORENCE, $: c., June %. 1909.
Hon. w. w. Kitchin, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir:-The inclosed clipping
from Florence Daily Times of yes
terday states that prohibition in North
Carolina is not only a failure but the
cause of serious economic disturb
ances. Will YOU kindly advise me as
to the truth of the charges that %
business is demoralized by reason of
prohibition; CD b is demoralized,
and "all the negroes engaging in IL
iicit liquor traffic; go the law is un-
supported by public sentiment, and
has worked for corruption and evil
rs it true that drunkenness is more
common and prevalent in the State
thar formerly?
rs it true that in any considerable
portion of the State more money is
expended for liquor and more liquor
consumed thar was the case when
saloons were legalized? A North Car
Gilman by birth and residence until
ten years ago-and a lifelong foe Of
the liquor traffic, legal and illegal, l
am deeply interested in this matter,
and the more so as we are to settle
this question in Florence this sum-
mer.
Hoping you will pardon this in
trusion and demand upon your time
and patience, and begging a speedy
reply.
Sincerely yours,
WILL 3. OLIVER,
Pastor First Baptist Church"
The Governors Reply.
Governor Kitchin,s answer was as
state of North Carolina.
Executive Department,
Raleigh, June &c, 1909.
Rev. W. B. Oliver, Florence, S. c.
Dear Sir:-The clipping which you
enclosed is not correct, but is grossly
misleading as to the general results
of prohibition in our State. 1t may
be that the gentleman named in it is
incorrectly quoted. I am not per-
sonally familiar with the situation in
zens of that town says that under pro-
hibition order and soberness have
wcnderfully improved. and that the
report mentioned in the clipping does
Goldsboro a grave injustice.
Business in this State is as sound
and progressive as in any adjoining
State. Prohibition has not demOra-
lized labor. It is true that some ne
groes and some white men, too, as
for that, are violating the prohibition
law, and our courts are constantly
sending them to the roads for 1T. Con-
sidering the profits the violations are
not beyond what prohibitionisJs ex-
pected. The law is supported by pub
lie sentiment, and Is a great beneht
TO the State, though of course there
are many good citizens who opposed
prohibition, and who still doubt it's
efficacy and wisdom. It is, however,
doubtleSS working as we'll and as sat
isfoctorily in this State as in any State
In the Union. 1t has not worked cor
ruption and evil, though some men
have engaged in corruption and evil
under it. 1t never made q good man
q bad one. 1t is not true that drunk
enness is more m and prevalent
than before prohibition. In my judg-
ment there is not q county IN the
State that is spending as much money
for or consuming as much whiskey
per capita as before prohibition. There
IS not the slightest probability that
the next Legislature will repeal the
law. I think the prohibition sentl-
ment is sounder and stronger than
heretofore.
With best wishes.
Yours truly.
SVTy "Y LrITTII1N
Governor"
The False Interview.
The following Is the newspaper clip
ping which Mr.. Oliver sent the Gov