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The Wets claim that Liquor Stores will reduce drinking and promote temperance. The Drys deny this and claim that legalizing liquor increases drinking with its resulting evils.
Read the evidence from Counties that operate liquor stores.
Repealists usually refer to the Wilson County Liquor Stores as their most successful venture. The December 18th issue of the News and Observer quoted Hon. O. P. Dickinson, Judge of the Wilson County Court, as saying: “I am sure if one will look at the records of this court, they will find that there are more convictions for drunken driving in this county than almost any other county in the State.”
The public records of Wilson County show that drinking, drunkenness and other evil effects of liquor have increased since the County Liquor Stores opened.
This is to certify that the above is compiled from the official records on file in the Police Department of the Town of Wilson, North Carolina.
J. R. GARRIS, Desk Sgt., Police Dept. March 20, 1937.
These figures indicate that as far as arrests are concerned, public drunkenness increased about 70 per cent; arrests for being drunk and disorderly increased about 13 per cent; drunken driving increased about 57 per cent; and arrests for bootlegging increased about 21 per cent.
“Since the opening of the liquor store in Jacksonville, in our opinion there has been an increase in drunken driving and drunkenness generally and that it has not stopped bootlegging.”
“I. W. STARLING, J. B. SCOTT.”
It is reported that the records in one J. P. Court in Jacksonville show that during a period of six months before the liquor store opened there were 21 drunks and during six months after the store opened there were 58 drunks.
“Conditions surrounding the illicit manufacture of liquor and its allied activities in the Free Union section and in some other sections of this county were described as ‘the worst’ he had ever known by Sheriff C. B. Roebuck yesterday, following a raid in the ‘Little Peoria’ Section of Jamesville Township the day before.
“Finding a barrel of liquor in the home of Milton James, colored, in Free Union, Sunday morning, the officer, accompanied by Jailer Roy Peel, declared that the Alcoholic Beverage Control system had not effected any improvement there; that, in his opinion, conditions were even worse now than they were before.”
“I have been an official in Craven County for 38 years and I am now and have been jailer for 12 years. My records show that conditions as relates to public drunkenness and drunken driving in New Bern are at least 50 per cent worse since the liquor stores were opened here. This is particularly noticeable among white boys from 16 to 25 years old.
“We have more drunkenness because of the ABC stores.”
(Signed) G. D. WHEELESS, Policeman Rocky Mount.
Spring Hope, N. C.—“Since the opening of liquor stores in Spring Hope and Nash County. there has been an increase in drunkenness, drunken driving and disorderly conduct generally. In our opinion, the liquor stores have not eliminated bootlegging, but have made conditions worse instead of better.”
(Signed) J. J. PROCTOR, Mayor J. R. LAUGHTER, Constable JOHN R. BAKER, Merchant B. C. DELBRIDGE, Town Commissioner W. M. DELBRIDGE, Merchant O. B. BAINES, Hardware Dealer J. J. PITTS, Banker C. B. BRANTLEY, Jr., Bookkeeper
Nashville, N. C.—“Since the opening of liquor stores in Nashville and Nash County, in our opinion there has been an increase in drunken driving and in drunkenness generally. In our opinion, opening of liquor stores has not stopped bootlegging.”
(Signed) H. E. MAY, Solicitor Recorders Court MRS. ITIMOUS T. VALENTINE M. C. GULLEY, Merchant
Tarboro, N. C.—“Marked increase in drunkenness since opening liquor stores here. City Court records show undisputable evidence of increased drunkenness.”
Warrenton, N. C.—“There is fifty per cent more drinking in Warren County since the opening of the liquor stores and it is done very publicly. The liquor stores have not attracted any business to the county. Money that is being spent for liquor should be spent for necessities.”
Henderson, N. C.—“In our opinion, the opening of the liquor store in Vance County has generally increased consumption of liquor and drunkenness. It is the general impression that there is still a large number of bootleggers. The net result of the liquor store is only a convenient place to get more liquor.”
The following was printed in The Franklin Times:
January 22, 1937. “Mr. A. F. Johnson, Editor,
Franklin Times,
Luoisburg, N. C.“Dear Sir: “Answering your letter of Jan. 18, 1937, I find the following:
“For the year 1935, there were arrests in Louisburg for public drunkenness and drunk and disorderly numbering 142, while 17 arrests were made for operating an automobile while under the influence of whiskey.
“For the year 1936, there were 309 arrests for public drunkenness and drunk and disorder, and 32 for operating an automobile while under the influence of whiskey.
“Hoping this is the information wanted, I am,
“Yours truly, “W. C. WEBB, Mayor”
If you are opposed to liquor, vote “against County
Liquor Control Stores.”
UNITED DRY FORCES OF NORTH CAROLINA