The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-04-28
A Temperance 9 County.

by r.. D. MUh1GA j
A Temperance County.
No county in Georgia had more still
houses and barrooms to the number OF ln-
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. Itwas 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 people 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 by-wora and reproach
in the State it was called the "free State
of Carroll" The better citizens, going
from the county, we're ashamed to
acknowledge where they were from. The
I 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
the very act by which the town was in
corporated was clause prohibiting. the
sale of whisliey in so many miles of the
place.
In 1868, DR.. 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
never faltered, he worked on. He was
foiled frequently by the liquor men, but
he 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 Ii
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 several
years, they we're all the time educating
public opinion. Thus they prepared to
hold the field when they won it.
In Carrollton the temperance men
worked twelve years without success.
In 1876. 8 bill 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 t6aSare marvellous.
i. The trade of the town has been
more than doubled. Before the liquor
traffic was abolished the trade of the
place was about. 500, 900 year, now it's
$500, 900 year. There are thirty stores
in town, and do not know of a single
merchant among them who would not
vote sgainst the liquor traffic on purely
business grounds. Mr.. John w. Stewart,
who has made a fortune here, says, as
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
$50, 600 that was spent here for whisky
prior to 1876 is now spent in building
houses, improving stock, draining lands,
and paying taxes. The farmers are
nearly eli out Of debt. Many of the men
who were spending all of their money
for whiskey have quit drinking and are
making q support for their families.
2. The argument that men would drink
anyhow does not hold good but with
very 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
is like watermelons-the supply creates
the demand. Do away with the supply
and there will be no demand, as gener-
al thing. By prohibiting the sale of IL
quor in the towns of Georgia we will soon
have ageneration of young men who will
have no desire for il whatever.
8. We have two drug stores here; but
not a particle of liquor is sold in either of
them. The leading druggist here told.
me that he kept alcohol in the store; but
he used it only for tinctures. An attempt
was made by one of the druggists to sell
bitte1; but the grand jury soon found
so 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 fines 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 people have
joined the church. Profanity is almost
unknown. On the train that comes daily
into Carrollton, not an officer or train
hand on it ever swears an oath.
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 SUD. 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
years, DR.. D. B. Julian, ordinary, who
will not grant license to sell liquor any.
where in the county, for love, or threats,
or money. He has done grand work
for the county, and SO could every ordi-
nary if he would.
The prohibition movement in this
county is a grand success. Thee fourths
of the white people in Carrollton are op-
posed to the sale Of whisky and nearly
the same proportion in the county
Christian Statesman.