The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-12-22
BIBLE THOUGHT
THE CHRISTMAS STORY
"WETn AND DRY COMMISSION
REPORT

The report of the commission appointed
TO study the States liquor problem was eX-
actly what was anticipated by citizens Ia
rmilar with the personnel of the commits
sion. The seven members of the commits
sion are divided four to three in summing
ND their conclusions after months of study
of conditions in the State. 1t is wet
(. and dry" division and report, The Times
News makes this statement without any in
tention whatever of saying anything dero-
gatory of the character or purposes of any
member of the committee, All are promi-
: nent citizens and excellent gentlemen.
40 The four members of the commission We
have designated as "wets" belong to that
I class of eminently respectable citizens who
believe in Temperance" who sincerely de-
sire to see the liquor business controlled"
!. but who are evidently unwilling to cut the
State loose from the liquor traffic as an
, outlaw business which should not be legal
lY recognized. They are unwilling to see
the liquor business entirely wiped out.
They are still possessed by the age-old de-
% fusion that the liquor business can be made
respectable; and that a, system can be de-
vised which will enable the brewers and
distillers TO 90 right along manufacturing
and selling more and more intoxicants
without making more drunkards and in
ereasing consumption. "a. ,rr. r.- -.
On the other hand, the three members
of the commission We have designated as
"dry," realizing that the ,clamor of the
"wets," the dissatisfaction of the "drys"
with existing failure to enforce the prOhi-
bition law, the setting up of the liquor
business in several counties, has resulted
in conditions which, are practically certain
to cause some action to be taken in the
next Legislature, are taking the position
they believe is the strongest that can be
occupied by opponents of the liquor traffic.
These gentlemen know there are num-
Der of wet" counties in North Carolina
and that under system of county local
option the liquor business can be estab-
zlished in these counties, They do not be-
lieve a majority of the 100 counties are
SWEET, and they are confident that in a
Statewide election North Carolina will
vote, as it heretofore has voted, against the
liquor traffic. ,,.... -..,. 90. ,,, ~
~ The Times-News, believes the four wet"
members of the committee have exactly
the same views in regard to these matters
as the "dry" members, but the effect OF
these views on their attitude and actions
is, of course, directly the opposite Of the
effect, on the dry" members. Believing
that the friends Of liquor cannot carry the
State for; liquor. but that they can carry
humber of counties for, liquor, they EN-
,aorse and stand for the, county option plan
~ This is frank, statement of the way IN
which this newspaper views the report Of
the liquor study commissions and tits made
without prejudice and with no thought Of
discrediting either. the asSwetIiS or, dry
members of the commission. They are
merely SO isot in theirSwaysD in their atti
tude to this age-old and highly controver
sial issue that it is practically impossible
for them to move from their long estsb
lished positions. q y- $50
y AS to the matter of county or State
vote ON the, issue. we herewith quote, This
Raleigh News and Observer in brief edi
torisl which may, aid some of us in going
straight In our thinking about this ques
ton. The. News and Observer says: e.. .-
"a "The division of the State Liquor Study Com
mission over the question of Statewide referen
dun on the liquor question indicates that the con
vction persists among many thoughtful men ths
the prohibition which was enacted in North Caro-
lima by vote Of the people ought to be termins
-
II s. :-Nsr. e. -r. 80 * s.s-e.E e.