The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-03-30
PLANS OF THE BREWERS AND DIS
TILLERS ARE WORKING SMOOTHLY


It begins to look like the liquor crowd
down at Raleigh may be successful in float
ing North Carolina in beer, The job has
not been put over yet, but it will be unless
opponents of the liquor traffic bestir them
selves. The iquorites have been working
under cover, quietly but Systematically,
and it is reported that they have pc
titions in Raleigh from various sources
throughout the State containing $4,000
names Of course that is only fraction
of the number of voters in the State, but
it is a good showing for the beerites and
will have the desired effect on weak-kneed
and wavering legislators, unless it is coun-
teracted with a showing by the opponents
of the liquor traffic.
1t is said the Francis beer bill probably
will not get to the floor of the Senate until
next week and there is time for the OPP
ponents of the measure to be heard, If they
are sufficiently interested in keeping the
legalized liquor traffic out of North Caro-
lima, and have sufficient courage and fight
ing spirit to join the issue with the advo-
Gates of alcohol and fight the matter to a
finish.
Senator Bell and Representative Ray of
Henderson county are listed as firm IN
their convictions against the liquor traffic
and as among those WHO will vote against
beer; but, in view of the fact that hun
dreds of those who favor liquor, in the
county and Senatorial district, have al
ready brought all possible pressure. to
bear on these men, and will continue to
exert pressure until the matter is decided.
enemies of the legalized liquor traffic
should show their colors and give Senator
Bell and Representative Ray to understand
that they are backing them in their stand.
Senator Dunnagan of Rutherford eeun-
ty, one of the Senators from this district,
is running with the liquor crowd. He is a
member of the committee which favorably
reported the Francis bill, aud voted to
give the measure a favorable report. Some
of the prohibitionists in the district might
let Senator Dunagan hear how they feel
about the matter. . 81.
The chicanery and hypocrisy of the fed
eral Congress in dealing with the beer IS
sue is being followed as closely as possible
in Raleigh. One evidence of this is found
in the provision in the national law that
beer must not be sold to persons under SIX
teen years of age. The same provision ap-
pears in the Francis bill, with the addi-
tional provision that beer may not be le-
gally GIVEN to persons under sixteen
years of age.
It will be recalled that ''wet" Congress
men and Senators shouted themselves
hoarse in Washington to the effect that
80 per cent. beer is not Intoxicating. That
course is also being followed at Raleigh.
II 3.2 per cent. beer is not intoxie Eating
if it is delightful and healthful drink, a
food, according to the publicity of the
brewers, why are persons under sixteen
years of age to be deprived of the privi-
lege, pleasure and benefits to be gotten in
swigging it?
Another thing-if 80 beer is not intoxi-
eating. if it is nothing more than a soft
drink, the federal law is unconstitu.
tional, and similar law enacted at Ra-
leigh will be unconstitutional, which
throws around its sale such restrictions as
CO lssx hs sRRlisd under the constitution