The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-03-28

the blind tigers of this town have never been
able. in their baimiest days, to sell one
fourth of this amount, which statement is en-
tirely proven by the investigation / have made.
The gentleman also contradcts my statement
that the blind-tgers of North Carolina sell
identcally the same goods that is shipped to
them by the liquor shipping-houses. This con-
tradiction, instead OF disproving my statement,
proves his ignorance. Since the 1st day OF
April 1913, when the search and seizure law
became effective in this State, thousands and
thousands of gallons of liquor have been seized
in the hands of the blind-tigers, and in nineteen
instances out of twenty their goods were found
lin quart pint and half-pint bottles, with sealed
corks, and with individual corkscrews attached
10 neck of bottle This fact can be easily
lsubstantiated by inquring at any Of the liquor
shipping houses in Petersburg or Richmond OF
course there is still moonshine liquor made and
sold in North Carolina, but this does not con-
stitute twentieth of the stock handled by the
blnd-tigers Bndtigers have no monopoly of
the authorization of liquor as Mr.. Morton sug-
gests, but ii is the universal practice throughout
liquordom; this adulteration begins with the
government or blockade dlstillers the case
may he and continues to some extent until the
sale is made. hut least of all do the blind
tigers adulterate because Of the extreme secrecy
that they must observe in handling their booze
Mr. Morton says when North Carolina went
dry it was like a healthy man in the prime of
life being stricken with paralysis capital left
the State, and it three years before business
resumed it's natural course. was in business
there and know whereof speak" do not
know what his business was, and possibly his
business did suffer for prohibition does work
hardship on certain classes of business but let's
see whether the activities and industries OF
North Carolina were paralyzed. A report that
we have on file from Mr. A. j. Maxwell, clerk of
corporation commission for North carolina
shows that the money on deposit IN all the banks
of the State in North Carolina in November.
902 was S26.427, 746--that in same month in
1908 1t was s53S94.519, which is annual
average increase of $3,923,S25.oo Fairly good
IGor a licensed State. North Carolina went dry
shat year. and in November, 1913. she had on
ldeposit In all the banks 81 36,hS9, 959-an aver
age annual increase the first five years under
prohibition of $l6,539,SS0, Does he call that
paralysis?
A filed report which have, signed by the
clerk in the office of the State auditor shows
that the valuation of all property, real and
personal in North Carolina in 1902 s34l,
525.794. The valuation Of same property in
1908 $573,4S5,331 which is annual in
crease for seven licensed years of 500. 137o7671.
Very good But in. 1912 the valuation of all
property was $740. 962, average annual
increase the first four dry years of $4f,S07,-
1875 Does Mr.. Morton call that paralysis?
A filed report in office from Professor j.
Y. Joyner. superintendent of public instruction.
shows that for the last eight years under
license North Carolina gave on an average per
year st,961,592.Ss for education and that for the
first four years under Statewide prohibition she
gave average per year of s3.437174.9I. Does
Mr.. Morton call that paralysis? . If 1t is. North
Carolina is ready for the second and third stroke.
| Everybody who knows the facts is satisfied
that the prosperity of this State under prohibit
ton has been unprecedented in it's former his
tory; such bank buildings hotels and sky
scrapers going up in Asheyille Raleigh
Charlotte, Greensboro and Wilmington as were
never dreamed of five years ago. Raleigh has
three bank buildings TODAY built within the last
tthree years that cost over $2oo o0o.oo each and
Itheir former buildings were surely not worth
$40, 000.00 each.
| Mr.. Morton, in concluding his article says.
/ eff prohibition would only prohibit it would
Fhave no more ardent advocate than l. but so
Flong as il merely takes the liquor traffic out Of
the hands of the saloonkeeper and puts it in the
hands of the lawless blindtiger. then don't let
Virginia make the mistake that North
Carolina made for prohibition does not pro-
hihit." He intimates that the saloonkeeper is
law-abiding and states that the blind tiger is
lawless The facts both awIess and the
| licensed liquor house in Richmond is doing as
much TO Violate the laws of this State the
North Carolina blndtger: though we have a
law to prohibit the soliciting of orders, they are
{constantly sending out agents through our terri.
tory. and we are glad to say that OF them
are now helping to build roads in North
Carolina and the liquor traffic itself admits that
the saloons pay regard to the Sunday laws
or to the laws to prohibit selling to minors
| glad to know Mr.. Morton wants some
prohibition that will prohibit. That's exactly
what the prohihtionists of North Carolina want
and what they expect to have at the next lcgisa
/ ture-thrce fourths of the church citizenship of
this State. through their annual church gather
ings, have meinerialized the next general as
sembly to pass act prohibiting the delivery
of liquor for beverage purposes in the State
The North Carolina Antl-Saloon league follow
ing up these orders has also memorialized the
general assembly for the purpose; there
fore. feel that after next January the action
Of North Carolina prohbtionists will convert
Mr.. Morton.
r. l.. DAVIS,
Superintendent OF North Carolina Anti-Saloon
League.
Raleigh, N. c.. March IS. 1914