The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-09-18
RY LUCY M. COBB

citizenship of the state as whole
has not changed its mind about
the individual and social mischief
of the saloon, or the corrupt con-
troll of public affairs by the liquor
traffic" declared DR.. VIM. Louis
Poteat to me at his home a few
days ago.
| had known DR.. Poteat Cor
many years; | had heard HIM
speak in many places, had talked
to him in my own home, and ~
homes all over North Carolina,
but not until few days ago did
have the pleasure of talking 10
this college president emeritus,
and distinguished scientist IN his
own home in the beautiful college
town Of Wake Forest.
| told him l had come over t.
interview him in regard to the
sales tax and the repeal Of the
18th Amendment. but | found his
heart and his brilliant mind so
much concerned with the question
of repeal that we never did dis
cuSS the sales tax.
COLLEGE DRINKING
I asked about the amount OF
drinking in the old days now
among college students, and his
answer was:
"Of course there has always
been some drinking among col
lege students. but all college pres
idents will tell you there is not as
much as there used to be. In the
old days the boys here used to 90
over to what is now YoungsviIle
| to get whiskey."
Talking further Of enforce
ment, he related what the late
Judge Midgette said in a charge
to the grand jury in Franklin
| county:
The prohibition law is better
| enforced in North Carolina than
any other law. of the criminal
code ,"
When 7 referred to government
control by dispensaries, he spoke
Of the sad experience in South
Carolina and in South Dakota
when these states tried them.
PRESIDENT OF DRY FORCES
All North Carolina knows that
this eminent biologist, this former
college president, this present
president-emeritus,. this brilliant
speaker. this delightful conversa-
tionalist, but above all, this be-
loved citizen, is president of the
United Dry Forces of North Caro-
! lima, but the writer felt that d
personal word from him would be
! of interest not only to those who
agree with him but also to those
who do not.
To the latter he is extremely
fair. Speaking of an article for
repeal by Allan Nevins in The
New York Times Magazine of last
Sunday, DR.. Poteat said:
cts a clear, pretty sane artl-
Gle, iudicious, almost judicial, III
its attitude; it is a sensible article
to be written from the repeal
point of view"
From talk of this we went to a
discussion Of another article, an
editorial in this weeks christian
Century" "Ayers Refuses to Han
die LIQUOR Advertising" Reading
part of the editorial to me, Dr..
Poteat continued:
''This states that n. w. Aver
and Son. big advertising agency
of New York, has announced that
it is refusing to handle liquor ad-
vertising, that the members Of the
company believe that the return
of liquor will divert the nations
purchasing power from essential
commodities. They are refusing
the advertisement Of Canada Dry
Ginger Ale. Inc, because the lat
ter company has announced that
it will sell whiskey and beer after
repeal. This is from the point OF
view of good business men,"
DR.. Poteat's heart and soul are
in this present issue, and in ad-
dresses in Greensboro and other
places recently he has brought the
matter squarely up to the people
of the state. l asked him to give
me some statements he made in
Greensboro on September 3. for
know the folks of North Caro-
lima wish to hear the exact words
of a citizen of such rich expert
ence.
"a grave issue will be pre-
sented to the citizens Of North
Carolina on November 18th. In
1908 they expressed themselves
directly, and again in 1919, thru
Representatives who well knew
their will, they took decisive &C
ton on that issue. They banishei
the saloon, broke the venal ALI
ance of the government with a
nefarious business, and wrought a
happy economic revolution in
thousands of families and com,
munities in North Carolina and
the country at large.
CITIZENS UNCHANGED
"And our citizens are content
to let that decision stand. They
have not asked that the issue be
re-opened. The presidential anC
senatorial election last fall was
determined upon other issues. The
last general assembly, without
warrant as I believe, interpreted
petitions from many localities d:
: a demand from all the people tc
submit the question of convention
and repeal. Besides, the vets
urged party loyalty. and the TO,
mantle appeal. Follow the Presi
dent They were able, moreover
to quote some high-minded anc
intelligent citizens who think the
situation now demands a new ex.
| nf III ,NNN,,1,,, I'LL