The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-05-19
PEOPLES FORUM
Prohibition Law is Being Enforced In <or,h

M Carolina.
To the Friends of Good
The blind tigers over the State ara haerr{,,
70 dIpreciate the fact that the prohibition law
.atsf De observed. The last thirty davs has
't"ueHl revelations that have opened tha sves
OF these lawless characters. Good news is oa1e
ing to our office from all parts of the Stata
W. letter as well as public print. of the prose-
eution OF these violators, and we mote Win
pleasure that the Judgment Ia H. .a
tcnce to the roads. " ''h-
The citizens of North Carolina are fairly con-
4e@saht with the prosecution now going on in
Durham. a few days agowe received fro,n NJ
itarrls, clerk of the recorders court Of Dur.
nam an official list of blind tigers convicted.
with their sentences. and we find thar d,,ring
the month of April In the recorders court thar,
We're forty-nine convictions, for which Judge
SKIES gave an aggregate road sentence of TWEEN
ty-hVe years. With few exceptions these do
fer dants appealed to the superior court and
,helr cases Will most likely be tried at the May
term of court.
That the people of the city and eoyrnn,itv
are back of this movement is evidenced nv tna
fact that he strong law and order league has
been organized with Messrs. George w. Watts
az president, and James II. Southgate, vice.
president. and Fl. N. Snow. secretary and treas
uter. The executive committee is composed of
General j. 5. Carr, chairman. Messrs b. N.
Duke, t. B. Fuller, Professor 4. l.. Flowers.
Rev. 4. K. Leyburn, /. +. Hill, c. w. Toms.
j. d, Pridgeou. w. A. Erwin, II. Fl. Rigsbee
and Rev. w. c. Barrett. These men are among
the most prominent in ecclesiastical, CONNER
ciai and financial affairs in the city. and It is
safe to say that the membership of this organi~
zation is composed OF the most prominent of
cnLrch and State living in Durham. The only
purpose of this organization is to see that the
laws. written on the statute books concerning
Their community, are enforced. A prominent
citizen writes concerning this organization: 1T
is cur purpose To back up the authorities III the
prosecution of all law-breakers and strive to
purge our town OF such characters"
The cause of good government has also just
scored a great victory in Wilmington. II is be-
lieved by many that more liquor lawlessness
has abounded there for the past twelve months
than any nYhar r1arn In Yha Stnya n{aavat L.,
vestigations by Mayor MeRae had revealed a
startling state Of affairs, and there is no wonder
that there was a purpose on the part of the
good citizens to displace their former method Of
government wi&fk the corn mission form and also
10 try IL new set OF officials. These five commits
siuners were elected on Monday, May 3, and took
charge OF affairs on May 6. The Good Gov
eminent League that was organized in the be-
ginning of the year has been constantly at work.
and 1t is due to their leadership and efforts
that the changed situation now prevails in Will
mington. A leading wholesale merchant Of that
town speaks of the election as a signal victory
Tor good government" He says: I'VE won three
rep, esentatives out of five and the other two
are good men. very popular and men OF ability.
We will make some of these blind tigers. If not
nent citizen writes: We trust the next two
years will bring Wilmington to the front in
such a manner as will command respect OF the
whole State
From one of the best towns in Piedmont
Nerth Carolina We received a communication
dnted May 2, from one of the commissioners
elect. in which he says. our town Noted a ma
jcrity for dry commissioners yesterday and we
expected to see that the prohibition laws are en-
forced during the next two years; and / would
like to have your assistance In this work"
When our citizens are electing officers on the
platform of law enforcement, ana when these
officers appreciate the fact that the Law and
Order Leagues. Good Government Leagues and
the North Carolina Anti-Saloon League are all
OF Eanized for the purpose Of assisting them In
doing their work. it indicates a better day ahead
and gives assurance that blind tigerism in the
State will be largely reduced.
The town Of Hendersonville has also lately
In for much newspaper advertising and
comment because OF the fact that the Law and
@ der League and good citizens Of that beau
tiful mountain town have determined that IL
uuor lawiessnesS must cease, ana their efforts
are being rewarded.
Since the local Bnncombe county law has be-
como effective liquor lawlessness has very large
y decreased in Ashevtlie' and the officers and
best citizens are using 1t to still further reduce
crime. Mr.. Wiley Black OF blind tiger
is again in the itmeiight. and 1t does nor
Jet appear what he shall be. The grand jury
lutte recently has been making close investixa.
ions, and 1t appears that the road forces will
3s Increased shortly. a@
Fl the city OF F~aeSsferr good results shava
been secured in the past sixty days and the
sorces for good government are much enconr-
aged. One Of the wealthy men of that town
writes me in speaking of the blind tigers: I'VE
Will drive them from our midst" The news
)ale r reports Of the first of the months inform,
is that Mr.. B. F. Sanders. of Newport. had
ust been convicted in the Federal court there
retailing and was given a sentence of one
year in the penitentiary and a fine of 800.
etime ago in conversation with a prominent
awyer OF that district he told me that he con-
idered Mr.. Sanders the worst criminal In the
" |
hat prohibition don't prohibit" will be chang
ID. to Officers and citizens do prohibit" One |
Il the half dozen most prominent chara cters In |
UT campaign for Statewide prohibition writes