The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-02-02
GOV. KITCHEN ON
PROHIBITION LAW
o-' -
Says Punishment Of Saloons Has
Made North Carolina
Prosperous.
LITTLE LIQUOR NOW SOLD
Increase in Rates of Taxation
in Only a Few Of the Commun-
tiles of the State.
Especial to The Richmond virginian.)

Especial to The Richmond Firginian.)
RALEIGH, n. c., Feb. a.--Gover-
nor Kitchen has written the follow
ing letter to resident OF Califor-
MIA:
Your letter of January ~, in
which you ask me tor information
concerning the following charges
which you say the liquor men of your
State make against the prohibition
law in North Carolina. has been re-
cetyed. and / answer as follows:
AS to reinforcement. know of
no case in which the law has not been
enforced by the courts. Hundreds
have been convicted. You under
stand. of course, that 1t Is more diff
cult to enforce the law In some COM
munities than In others. the difficulty
being in securing evidence, but /
have every reason to believe that our
oincers generally are faithfully trying
TO DO their duty, and that In all cases
where Witnesses can be secured, with
the proper evidence, those who are
violating our liquor laws are prose-
cuted and convicted.
AS to disrespect for theNIaw, there
Is opposition to 1t, but / think no
disrespect except by those who vio-
rate IT. 1t there is any other tisre-
spect. 1t Is confined to those who on
pose Al ana VINO wish to encourage
eHorts towards its repeal.
AS to liquor sold: There is far less
liquor sold in this State now than be-
lore prohibition. There is less drunk
ehness and less crime, far less, elm
mating violations of this law. Whether
there Is increased consumption of In
furious drugs 1 have no information.
AS 10 bankruptcy in cities and towns
there Is not word OF truth In this. On
the contrary our towns like Gastonja.
Durham, High Point, Greensboro. and
charlotte, which had local prohibition
before the adoption of our State probt-
bition law. are among the most pros
porous, IL not the most PROSPEROUS
towns in the State. AS to increas ed
taxes, 1t is probable that some few
communities, owing to the failure to
receive high taxes from the sale of
whiskey. are compelled to collect more
money from other sources But the
TAX rate IN the State at large has not
increased.
AS TO decreased business: There has
been no decrease in business of any
kind, except the whiskey business. Our
towns and our State, including the
country districts, are on the upward
grade, developing their resources, in
creasing in wealth, building school
houses ana churches, and going for
ward IN every line which would crafty
good citizen and a patriot.
AS TO corruption of officials: 4 know
OF no corruption whatever or officials.
and believe there is no truth in that
charge. IL any it is not attributable to
prohibition"
AS TO social hypocrisy: There Is no
more social hypocrisy than hereto
no more IN prohibition territory
imam In open saloon territory. and nol
as much in this State, in my opinion.
as there is generally in the States
where whtskey is sold Prohibition
was adopted by the people of this
State by a large majority 1t has
met the expectations of its friends.
IL mas In my opinion. been as sue
eessful as such law has ever been
In any State. 1t has not entirely re-
neVed the State from whiskey or
drunkenness-no State law can do
this. Probably no law of any kind
can do II. certainly not In this genera
ton. But our State prohibition IL
making good
Campaign For y. Nj. c. A,
During the Laymen's Convention at
Greensboro number of the Raleigh
delegates, embracing the various de-
nominations, had conferences with
Rev. g. c. Huntington. the secre-
cary or the I. Nj. {. A, for the two
Carolinas and the matter of making
great campaign In Raleigh for a
building was taken up. Recently IL
citizens mass meeting was held, which
appointed IA committee to have charge
OF this matter, and Ii was decided
to begin the campaign about the sec.
ond week in March, when Mr.. Will
llams, an expert canvasser. will be
available.
Candidates for Delegates,
rtp=eight- delegates are Is. he ap-
pointed from North Carolina, out of
the various denominations to repre-
snt ehis State at the Worlds Sun
day-School Congress at Washington,
u. C., which begins May IS. Already
there are numerous applicants for
appointments. and the committee APP
pointed "a special committee to make
IA catalog of the applicants and place
this before the State convention at
Wilson, which will elect out of the
whole number the fortunate forty
eight.
vrnIrEn GIVE IANES nEEE-n