The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-01-09
n. c. DRY ACT
MAY Be issue
Few Lawmakers Commit,
ting Selves But Sharp
Division Indicated
The Times-News Bureau
Sir Walter Hotel

RALEIGH, Jan. 9.-Not many
members of the current legisla-
ture are willing to commit them
selves on the question of REPEAL
ing the burlington bone-dry act,
but most of them are agreed that
there will be a sharp division on
the issue when it comes up. 1t is
likely that there will be a show
down of sentiment fairly early in
the session as several ardent vets
are known to be considering the
introduction of modification or
repeal legislation, and Represen-
tative Cover of Cherokee, eX-
poets to lose no time in introduce
ing a bill to junk the states en-
forcement law.
The burlington act would be-
come Immediately effective upon
any loosening Of the nations dry
laws, and the wet bloc is deter
mined to make a strenuous effort
to get benefit of any modifica-
ton legislation enacted at the
present lame duck session Of con-
gress or the next congress which
will be much wetter than the
present. With the burlington
act still on the statute books,
North Carolina would be denied
even wines and beer should they
be legalized by the congress now
in session.
Despite the fact that the states
recent senatorial campaign pro-
vided a lively prohibition issue
and was regarded as an over
whelming victory for the vets,
most legislative candidates, try
ing to Guido one another in MAX
ing promises of economy, avoided
the prohibition issue. The re-
cent dry stand taken by Senator
J. w. Bailey, it is believed here,
will provide a precedent for
members of the legislature who
wish to remain dry despite the
fact that their party is pledged
to repeal.
While it is an indisputable fact
that tremendous gains in wet
strength have been made in the
state since the last legislature
was in session, the principal de-
nominations of North Carolina
are all lined up against repeal,
and in several centers Of the
state petitions are being circulat-
ed among Methodists during the
legislature to retain the states
bone-dry act. The drys are
waging never-say-die fight and
their petitions will undoubtedly
make an impressive showing.
The drys are claiming that the
real sentiment Of North Carolina
is for retention of the present
enforcement machinery, and that
the Reconsideration senatorial
contest could not be Interpreted
as anything approaching a ref
erendum, since other issues arc
to be considered, and also the
fact that personalities, more
than anything else, are the prin-
cipal factors toward the election
of officers in a one-party system.
The vets, however, go to the
other extreme, branding the drys
as small but noisy minority al
ready pervaded by a spirit OF de-
featism.
At any rate, prohibition will
be the chief moral issue to be
decided by the current legisla-
ture, and it has the capital guess
ing and specializing. Popular and
legislative interest right now is
centered on the reduction Of OPP
Grating expenses and balancing
the budget, but everyone sees the
issue as the one which
will provide a lot of pyrotechnics
when and if it comes to a vote.
Two years ago a potential bill
to repeal the states prohibition
law would never have been taken
seriously, but now it is another
matter. The vets are confident
that the time is ripe for bring
ing the issue to a vote, and an
impartial observer would give
them at least an even chance OF
obtaining a modification of the
burlington act. The drys, on the
other hand, whose support comes
principally from church and
temperance organizations, are sure
that when it comes TO a point of
bringing alcohol back, the legisla-
ture will heed their call.