The gold leaf., 1910-03-10
Some Press Opinions.
lContinued from first page.

DrOhIDltlOn law. 1ue peOple vi -Noi u
Carolina, by O large ma iority, have
declared in favor of State prohibi
tion and it is only right, in view o.
this fact. that the law should be
given a thorough trial. No matter
what may be our opinion OF State
prohibition it is not fair to Judge 1t
merely by it's operation for one year.
The machinery for its enforcement
has hardly been perfected in some
communities; in many places where
whiskey had held sway for a long
time it has necessarily been a little
hard to arouse public sentiment on
the subject OF law enforcement as 1t
should be aroused, and there have
been other difficulties. The fact that,
in spite OF these drawbacks, prohibi-
tiOn made such a good showing
during it's first year should at least
be sufficient to cause even those op-
posed to it to be willing to give the
law trial of at least two or three
years. No possible good can come
OF agitation just now but there is a
possibility that harm may result
from such agitation and that the
task OF those charged with the en-
fOrcement of the law may be made
more difficult.
The News and Observer says:
There was difference Of opinion in
North Carolina when the question oi
State prohibition was submitted to
the voters in May of 1908. The peo-
ple expressed their convictions at the
polls and by majority OF more than
forty thousand ordered the law to 20
into effect on the first of January,
1909. 1t has, therefore, been in Oper-
alton only little more than q year.
There are those who said it was fail
ure the day after the Governor signed
the proclamation. There are many
who hold the opposite opinion. There
is no need of these men falling out
and precipitating bitter contest by
re-Opening the question at this time.
The law has not at all places been a
success. 1t has in most places been
O. better success than reasonable men
expected. Those who favor prOhibl-
tion and those who oppose it as a
state policy are generally agreed that
it is the part OF wisdom to give it a
fair trial during a sufficient period oi
years to test its operation. If it shall
prove a blessing, the people will wish
it continued. If it is a failure, the
people will wish it discontinued. The
people are supreme, they are sOver-
eign, and their will is paramount in
North Carolina
In some places attempts are being
made to reopen the question. We
think the best Judgment the large
majority of the best citizenship depre
Gates the contemplated agitation
which mistakenly calls itself a fight
for local self-governm' nt." The day
that the Watts bill became a law
the policy of dealing with liquor be
came Il state policy. Indred the day
when, by the state legislature, Yam,
cey and Robinson shut out the saloon
and the still The question was recOg,
nized as nefOr the state to deal with,
as it was when the state fifty years
and more ago undertook to regulate
the traffic. The sovereign people by
a majority of over forty thousand
have declared for state prohibition
and no more right of self-government
was denied than when the state con
trOlled divorces and many other mat
ters of common interest. Local self
government is denied nowhere. The
sovereign state has said that no di
vOrces shall be granted in North Car
olina except for specified causes just
as it has said no liquor can be solo
except for medical purposes. |
RObesOn or Wake county desire tC
have separate divOce laws, the statt
says "no" and nobody raises any
question OflOCal self government ever
though the statewide law was en-
acted without q referendum. Th
state prohibition law was not put OF
the people. They voted it themselve
and it is q mandate from the sOveT
eign.
The people of North Carolina, witt
a few exceptions, do not wish to hav
this question re-opened before it ha
been fairly tried, and they deprecat
the attempt in certain quarters t.
start All agitation that can do II,
possible good.
The Greenville Reflector says:
We fail to see what W. A. Self, c
Hickory, hopes to accomplish b
coming down to Henderson and try
ing to array the people there agains
prohibition. There is not anybod
living who will see prohibition rt
versed in North Carolina and tn
State return to open saloons.
The Greensboro Patriot says:
\ number of people who are or
posed to the State prohibition la
held meeting in Henderson Satul
day and listened to an address b
Mr.. W. y. Self, prominent lawye
and fOrceful orator, who pleaded fo
Il return to the principle of local OF
tion. This is a free country, and
is perfectly proper for people who al
opposed to the prohibition law t
give expression to their sentiment.
but If We were enlisting in fight for
restoration of the principle of locs
sell government styled local option
we should feel a little more confidenC
in the success and Justice of our caus
if we followed the leadership of ma
who had always advocated loct
option. We take it that the Hende
son meeting was attended by goo
citizens, and we do not doubt the
earnestness and sincerity of purpos
but we would advise them that the
are wasting their time and energy
protesting against State prohih
tiOn-at least. at this stage of IL
game. 1t might be said that IL
success or failure of prohibitic
doesn't enter into the equation ;
this time, for the voters of the Sta
have given an expression oftheir W
too recently to admit ofany revers
OF their position at any time in Il
near future.
Capt. Bogardus Again Hits the Bull