The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-04-28
A Temperance Q County.

No county in Georgia had more still
houses and barrooms TO the number of in
habitants than Carroll twenty years ago.
DRINKING places were not only to be
found in the little towns, but also at the
Crossroads and country places through
out the county. No more unfayorable
place could have been selected than this
county. 1t was settled by class of citi.
zens who regarded plenty of corn whis.
key and peach brandy as essential to
good living. Liquor was sold without
scruple and drank without stint. Many
Of the poople spent all their means,
beyond bare living, for strong drink.
Education and churches were neglected.
Ignorance and vice prevailed to such an
alarming extent that the very name Of the
county became a by-word and reproach
in the State it was called the "free State
OF Carroll" The better citizens, going
from the county, were ashamed to
acknowledge where they were from. The
county Of Carroll was once synonymous
with still houses, chicken fighting, horse
swapping pony-clubs, one-ox carts,
poverty, piney woods and ignorance.
The first move toward prohibition in
this county was made at Bowden. In
4 the very act by which the town was in
corporated was clause prohibiting the
sale OF whiskcy in so many miles Of the
place.
In 1868, DIR. w. w. Pitts moved to
Carrollton, the county seat, and began
at once the abolishing of the whisky
traffic by law. He stood we'll nigh alone
for several years. With an energy that
never tired and determination that
S5ver faltered, he worked on. He was
ffoiled frequently by the liquor men, but
be never gave up the struggle. Other
men moved into the town, and united
their intelligence with his. They man.
aged the prohibition movement with
great prudence and tact. They did not
organize for one year. After an election
at which they were defeated by the i.
quor men, they did not abandon their
hopes; but began to work for another
election. BY keeping organized all the
time, they conserved their forces, and
though they did not succeed for eeveral
years, they were all the time educating
public opinion. Thus they prepared to
hold the field when the won it,
In Carrol!ton the temperance men
worked twelve years without success.
IN 1875, b''t was passed by the Leg
islature prohibiting the sale Of liquor in
! the town.
In spite Of opposition and abuse, the
temperance men succeeded, and with re-
suits that are marvellous.
i. The trade of the town has been
moro than doubled. Before the liquor
traffic WAS abolished the trade of the
place was about 100000 year, now it is
$5OO,0O0 year. There are thirty stores
III town, and do not know Of single
merchant among them who would not
vote against the liquor traffic on purely
hI1QInpGQ lob
who has made fortune here, says, as a
business man, that he would not have
liquor back for any consideration. Some
OF our leading merchants were opposed to
prohibition at first because they feared
that it would injure their trade. They
are unanimously in favor Of it now. The
$4,000 that was spent here for whisky
prior to 1875 is now spent in building
houses, improving stock, draining lands,
and paying taxes The farmers are
nearly all out of debt. Many of the men
who were spending all of their money
for whiskey have quit drinking and are
making support for their families.
z. The argument that men would drink
anyhow does not hold good but with
vcry few. Perhaps there are in every
town some few men who have. drank so
long that they are slaves to the habit.
Such men would send off and get whisky,
and drink anyhow. But we have learned
that, with nearly all the people, whisky
like watermelons-the supply creates
I the demand. Do away with the supply
! and there will be no demand, as a gener-
al thing. BY prohibiting the sale of Ii
4 quor in the town. of Georgia wo will soon
& have generation of young men who will
3 have no desire for it whatever.
4 y. We have two drug stores here; but
3 not particle of liquor is sold in either of
them. The leading druggist here told
II me that he kept alcohol in the store; but
sshs used it only for tinctures. An attempt
was made by one of the druggists to sell
5hitters; but the grand jury soon found
$50 many true bills against him that he
promised the people of the town if they
would ask the judge to be as merciful in
his finea as possible, he would never sell
another bottle of bitters or drop of whis-
Ky.
4: In moral point of view, the re-
! suits of this movement in our town have
been perfectly remarkable. The solicitor
of this judicial circuit says there is less
crime in this county than any other in
this circuit. Most of the peop- have
Joined the church. Profanity is almost
unknown. On the train that comes daily
= into Carrollton, not an officer or train
Il hand on it ever swears an oath.
q The soberness and quiet which prevail
here, even on election days and court
weeks, strike visitors as being wonderful.
at barbecue here last year, though
there were together about four thousand
people, Col. Thomas Herdeman, who
spoke on the occasion, said that he never
saw drunken man. He regarded it as
something almost new under the sun. A
; committee of good men revised the Jury
! box, leaving out the names of those who
habitually drank whisky. The county
has been electing, for the past twelve
yeas. DR.. d. B. Julian. ordinary. who
will not grant license to sell liquor any.
where in the county, for love, or threats,
8 or money. He has done gland work
for tho county, and 80 could every ordi-
nary if he would.
81 Tho prohibition movement in this
county is a grand success. Thee -fourths
of the white people in Carrollton are op-
Z posed to the sale of whisky and nearly
the same proportion in the county.
ChriStidn Statesman.
s AN INDIAN BATrI II. FIE,I N RtvRAIED