The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-04-16
MR.. KING FIRES 4 SHOT.
HE EXPLAINS HIS VOTE ON THE ABBE-
VILE LIQUOR BILL.

HE EXPLAINS HIS VOTE ON THE ABBE-
VILE LIQUOR BILL.
ence to the Question at Issues.
Read and Satisfy Yourself IA to
the Facts.
Editor Press and Banner.
In Mr.. Glwydon's article on the "Abbe7lile
seems to place all Of the responsibility for the
passage OF thut act on Waller and myselI;
Saying that If we had "litted finger TO XII
it-it never would nave become a law. ,,,
will give you my understanding as TO VINO
was responsible for the passage OF tne acI'
Primarily the people of Abbeville village,
they by petitioning the General Assembly a.
most unanimously for the privilege OF ~;
censing Bar Rooms. The members who had
charge OF the bill were determined u shouiS
not fail. They introduced the Dill IN ootn
houses ON the same day so II one Ialieu ior
want of time the other could be taken up.
MIR. Rcnrt introduced the bill in the House.
1t was referred 10 the Judiciary COMMITTEE OF
which Mr.. Benet was member. he repork,
ed on It fiivorably for the commiLtee. ~ ~
should have been referred to the Abbeville
delegation for consideration, which was the
usual course with such bills. never heard OF
the petition until Dec. ~, when Mr., benet
handed IL 10 Mr.. Waller 10 present 10 tne
House. The bill had already passed the SEN
ate ut that time, Senator Hemphlli making
an earnest speech in behalf OF the Bill. mao
ut least two con versations with Mr. Benet III
reference TO this bill. TOLD MIN IL Wouia ere
ate n great deal of trouble In Abbevllle Coun'
ty II II was made law. Mr.. Benet replled ny
saying that he would assume the responSt6iii
ty said TO Mr.. Benet am opposed To hign IL
cense; that II IT. was right to sell whiskey un-
der any circumstances. 1t was not right to
discriminate against poor man, VINO couiu
not pay the license. in favor OF Il rirh man
who could, and still say so. The converse
the passage OF the bill He was urging me 10
support tie bill, saying the people Of Aboe
willie village would not vote for me unless l
supported the bill. l said to him no one at the
village had ever claimed to vote for me eX.
crpt Eugene Gary. AS 10 the conversation IN
Mr.. Graydon's Office on the lst January, said
could easily explain myself ana u MT. gray
don had not been SO abrupt would nave ex,
plaiI.ed myself by telling him had voteo
against thebi!l Up to that. time had told NUN
bcrs of people how had voted. See certificates
OF T. G. Lipscomb and Editor Press and Banner.
Mr.. Graydon says seemed very inGigmane S, ~
bers of the Legislature. ! assure him l am
no., I have not done anything wish to hide.
II hc will remember wrote him rev Gays
before lie published his letter that l hao no
III will ut him or any one else about the mat
Now as to Mr.. j. ]. LomaX saying told
him had voted for the bill. Heis certainly
mistaken. have only seen him once since
the adjournment OF the Legislature. That was
the first evening OF the January Court.
had just had an interview with Messrs; Gray
don, Benet and others about the hDoeVll,e
Whiskey Law when met him. He simply
misunderstood what was saying. lappend
certificate of Mr.. w. l.. Dukes, every word Of
which Is true. have letter from the lazy
who was in the Office at the time saying she
heard me say in the presence OF MIR. Lomax
that had voted against the bill. She is will
ing for me TO publish 1t. but will not do so al
this tine. have not seen Mr.. j. j. IomnX
since left him In the post office;
Saturday night, or rather sunday morning oi
Dec. - with not more than hny members In
the House, If that. After the bill wns READ the
second time Mr.. Waller asked me II hearn
how he had voted; answered yes. I said To
him heard you were going to call the aye:
and noes on that bill. He (Mr. Waller) said
that is all right. will call the ayes and
noes on the final passage OF the Dill. he
suid farther that If we call the ayes and noes
Tonight we will lose the larger part Of the
Legislation of the whole session, as there is
not Il quorum present.
When the Bill came up for third reading
on Monday was not In the House. On the
vote being put after the second reading l
heard number OF noes. MIR: Simon's turn.
ed his head to one side smiled and LOOKED al
Mr. Waller, and said the ayes have 1t. Mr..
Bcnet and Mr.. Frank Gary say they did not
hear u single noe vote. Messrs. Peurifoy,
YeldelL Nick kissick, Watson, Waller, and my
self say there were votes against the Bin. Mr.
WibOrn says there was division or the Ao-
bevile delegation. Now, leave II " the pub
lie TO say who was mistaken.
There was no chance TO defeat the Bill after
It passed the Senate rs the House wns strong
ly unti-prohibitiOn as the journal Will show.
Where delegations were solid from county
in favor Of prohibition II could be carried, but
If they were divided the ti-prohibitionisls
always prevailed
(pnge Biz H. ]. 1889 will show how the vote
stood. Benet and Graydon OH the side OF
whiskey, Waller and King Oh the other. In
that Bill there was large petition from the
town OF Union against the Bill headed by the
wife Of one OF the members who favored the
Bill. There were eloquent speeches for and
against It.. Country Inemhcr speaking against
Bill-town member IN favor Cf II. The Bill
was passed by Il vote of thirty. nine to sixty.
two In favor of Bill. which was u fair position
Of the House on the whiskey question. The
state prohibition Bill was defeated by about
tue same vote. Mr.. Graydon voted on the
1conec Dill 10 deny the people the right TO
vote, whether whiskey should be sold In the
county or not, (see II. j. lSSS page 299). 1t was
utterly impossible to defeat the Abbeville
Liquor Bill. It was sustained by a large petl-
ton and by four popular members from the
Court House where the whlskey was to be
sold. The sentiment OF the House was In IA
vor Of granting license where the delegation
was divided, especially so II the delegation
from the town to be effected by the sale OF IL
quor was in favor of.licenSe. SO Tar az re-
mem Der that was the rule In every case dur.
ing the last two sessions. Mr.. Fower's lei ter
which you publish today drew my atten.
tion TO fact had not noticed before, that
out Of thirty-one lawyers voting on the Un-
ion Whiskey Bill thirty voted for license and
only one against.
Ialso ask you to publish some letters have
received from members of the General AS
sembly who know my position on the liquor
question. You will see by these letters and
the records that my position was we'll defn.
cd on the liquor quest tion and at least one OF
the letters Is very positive as 10 how l stood
on the Abbeville Liquor Bill.
Soa Will see by the facts / have presented.
and the letters / send you whoever else was
responsible for tue passage OF the act, am
moi. leave IL to the people ofAbbeville COun-
Is say who Is responsible. II nave commit.
ed wrong In this matter 1t Is against myself
In not having my vote recorded but perhaps
1t was The best Tor the county that did not,
as through this agitation the cause OF prohl.
bition has been advanced, and no doubt will
be the cause OF settling the whiskey question
JAMES n. KING.
certify that I was at Abbeville G. H.. on
the first day OF the January Court. met JAS.
y. King late In the afternoon on the public
square, he asked me to 60 10 the post office
with him, on the way TO the office he was:tel.
Ing me about an interview he had just had
with MesSrs. Benet and Grayd and Gary In
reference to The Abbeville Liquor Law.
Near the entrance to the post office we came
up with Mr.. j. ]. Lomax. Mr.. King spoke to
him and asked If he had Just arrived In town
Mr.. LomaX said no he had been here all day.
AR In Gull 7 hn n Mt r