Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1913-02-20
HOUSE REsENTs EDITORIAL.
Charity and Children Condemned for
References to Members in NeWspa-
per Article.
News and Observer, Feb. 14.)

ACAC1OACCO tCO mCAnDcIS III NOhSpd
per Article.
News and Observer, Feb. 14.)
An editorial in the current issue of
Charity and Children, of which Arch
ibald Johnson, otherwise known as the
blockade preacher, is editor, figured in
a somewhat sensational incident in
the House of Representatives early
in yesterdays session. The edition it
self, combined with the fact that when
the House convened yesterday a copy
Of the paper containing it was found
on each representatives desk, brought
Representative Plummer Stewart, of
Mecklenburg. to his feet on a point of
personal privilege. He called atten-
ticn to the presence of probably 120
copies of the paper and read the edito-
rial, which had reference to the pas
sage in the House of the two divorce
bills killed in the Senate. and then pro-
ceeded to make a dramatic and red
hot speech in denunciation of the Ian
guage used by Editor johnson. He
spoke of the word Charity" in the
title of the paper as S misfit, and char
aUcerized the editor as lacking in the
quality for which the word stands, as
evidenced, he claimed, by the use of
the words gate posts" and mules"
with reference to the members of the
House. He was roundly applauded.
Later Representative w. A. Devin
offered the following resolution, which
was adopted without an audible vote
in the negative:
The Resolution.
"Reso,vc0 ~ the House of Repre-
sentat.yos:
"Tfs>t ne House Of Representatives
of N0rth Carolina condemns the un-
just criticism of this body appearing
in al editorial appearing in Charity
and Children of February IS, and the
grave charges therein contained
against the integrity, Patriotism and
intelligence of this body"
Repres cntative Walter Murphy and
others opposed the passage of the res
olution on the ground that for the
House to recognize the utterance by a
resolution would be according it too
much dignity. They desired that the
House ignore it, but expressed them
selves in sympathy with the senti-
ments of the resolution and Mr.. Muir
ply said he would vote for it If it
came to a vote. The editorial that
SoOoO0 CAO OAOOAS 1OA1OWo" D..
The Editorial.
Thanks to the Senate, the horrible
divorce bill introduced by Representa-
tive Stewart and which passed the
House, was killed before the Senate
committee by an overwhelming vote.
The fact that such a bill got half
way through the Legislature is enough
to u us to stop and think a little.
" 90 2a&S-41- 49, 4-@I@- 81 49,
ing men to represent Us in Raleigh.
We send a lot of moral molly coddles
there, whose intentions are good
enough, but who are as innocent of
color and conviction as SO many gate
posts. They are led around by the
nose by men stronge rtha nthemselves,
and have about as much foresight as
a drove of mules.
Fortunately we are usually a little
more careful In our selection of Sen
atoTs; an dthis has saved US many a
time from wild and foolish legislation
rot only, but from laws that open the
food gates to immortality and vice.
I'VE thank the Lord that this Stew
art bill which aimed at the heart of
he freside and the home, is as dead
as a door-nail; and it is not likely that
another like 1t will be presented before
this legislature. Our present divorce
law is not creditable to the virtue of
the State. and to lower the bars would
put. US outside the pale of resprcta-
bility.
"The House OF Representatives is
not a sstrong a body as we hoped when
it first assembled. 1t has a few strong
men In 1t, some OF whom are much
more ambitious tina npatrfotic, and
there is danger that the House will
prevent some legislation that is great
~ needed notably the provision for q
six months term OF u public
schools"