The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-02-18
AND SENATE PASS BILL
TO ALLOW VOTE ON LIQUOR
Continued From Page y

should we wink at evil just because
it is popular in North Carolina?
Il would rather see bootleggers
here than see the State condone and
give its approval to the sale of Ii
quor," he continued.
Vets Present Figures
The vets commended they were not
favoring liquor but that local option
was the most plausible manner in
which to handle the problem. They
presented figures which, they said,
showed conditions had improved in
the IL counties which have operated
stores since 1885.
The measure specifically prohibits
the resale in any way of beverages
bought from county stores, and none
with more than 81 per cent alcoholic
content can be sold elsewhere.
1t also specifically prohibits drink
ing OF the beverages on the premises
OF the county stores or county
boards and on any public road or
street, but does not prohibit drink
ing liquor in hotels and cafes which
is taken there by persons purchasing
it legally.
The measure sets no limit on pos
session of legal whiskey, but in
counties which do not vote for LIQUOR
stores the burlington act limit of one
gallon for the use of bona fide guests
will continue in effect.
May Transport Rum
A resident of dry county, under
the option act, may legally purchase
one gallon of liquor in a wet county
and take it to or through a dry coun-
ty, but it must not be opened while
in transit. Purchase of one gallon
outside the State and its transporta-
ton into North Carolina is permit
ted.
The liquor bill nor any existing
statutes provide any regulation for
wines or other beverages with from
live to Il per cent alcoholic content.
Bryant said he was in favor of Ii
qu0r legislation which did three
things, and thought he had covered
the points in the county option act.
They are: ID, a law which would
command the respect of a large ma
jority of the people with enough
public support back of it to make
enforcement reasonably efficient:
(2), law to promote temperance
and discourage intemperance; and
CD law to take the handling of Ii
quor out of the hands of the Grim
inal element.
Describe 1908 Horrors
Opening the fight for the referen-
dunn, Senator Taylor of Arson de-
scribed what he said were ''the hor-
rors which existed in 1908 before
North Carolina voted dry"
He said his county was one of the
last to prohibit open bars and that
excursion trains from South Caro-
lima and Eastern North Carolina
were run to Arson county just be-
fore it went dry.
''The people who came on those
trains got so drunk, some of them fell
in cutters and to the sidewalk and
they were picked up and loaded on
boxcars and shipped home" said
Taylor.
The liquor study commission was
unable to agree, Taylor said, with
four members recommending county
option on liquor stores and three
asking for a Statewide referendum
''The people of North Carolina are
capable of voting on this question, u
argued Taylor. 1T is not right to tell
them they cannot have the right to
vote. dare any opponent of this
amendment to say the people OF
North Carolina are not capable of
voting on this matter"
Taylor also argued that "from the
standpoint of politics" a referendum
should be ordered. He said he feared
many close counties would leave the
Democratic standard of the people
are denied the right to vote.
Senator Rodman of Beaufort, an
sWering Taylor, said he knew of no
finer work by commission that the
majority report of the liquor group.
Says Dry Failed
''The so-called drys have had their
chance and failed" said Rodman.
Anyway it's misnomer to speak of
the drys,' and the vets as I don't
know many that are strictly either.
The proponents Of county option be-
lieve in the moral integrity of their
position just as strongly as do the
prohibitionists.
'"The county liquor store plan in
my county has improved conditions
and my people are in favor of coun-
ty stores"
Rodman asked Senator Martin: eff
the people of Davidson county don't
want liquor do you want to force it
on them as you would under State
wide referendum if the State voted
wet, or do you want to give them
the chance to vote against it in the
county?"