The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-06-29
PROHIBITION MOVEMENT.
Meetings to be Held I'm the Various
Counties to Ventilate the idea.

Counties to Ventilate the idea.
The movement to secure at the hands of the
next Legislature State prohibition of the IL
quor traffic, which was lnaugurated by the
convention which met ir Columbia on the
26th of May, has assumed definite shape and
such proportions as promises to make 1t an
interesting factor in the Democratic primary
in August.
1t will be remembered that tho convention
emphaLiCllly declined to nominate q State
ticket or 10 make any issue which might place
the adherents of the movements In an aiti-
tude antagonistic TO the Democratic party In
the State.
1t adopted an address and platform which
declared their purpose as Democrats to seek
the solution Of the question of prohibition
within the party, If permitted to do so. The
purpose Is expressed in simple and direct
terms in the following passage from the ad-
dress
"We call upon all lovers of righteous gov
eminent In the State to use every effort for
the prohibition of this traffic In this State.
I'VE recommend that the public demand
that nl candidates for the House and Senate
place themselves on record on this question
to the end that the prohibition votes Of the
country may be intellgently cast"
And also to the same effect in the platform
as follows:
ave therefore earnestly favor and will work
for the enactment OF such laws as Will prnllib-
it the manufacture and sale of intoX icating H.
quors for use as a beverage In our State.
I'VE cordially invite the cooperation OF all
Democrats in this laudabe effort for State pro-
hibition, irrespective of tine opinion on other
issues as already made up in the State"
The convention appointed members OF the
Stale Executive Committee who would also
be chnirmen OF the respective county commit
Lees from counties represented In the conyen-
tion, with authority To select members In
such counties as were not represented. The
committee elected Hon. l.. d. Childs of Rich
land chairman. The executive committees
have now been organized in marry all the
Stale
counties will be completed within q few days.
In several count es active work followed i'm
mediately upon the organization of the com.
mittees,a and in the counties of Barn well, Flor
ence, Newberry, Sumter and York conven-
tions have been called TO meet during the en-
suing month, with indications that they will
be well attended.
In Il number Of the counties public meet
ingS will soon be held for the purpose OF
reaching the people and impressing the prohi-
billion idea upon them.
Many or the county papers have freely ac-
corded the use of their columns to the prohi-
bitlonists. and arrangements are being effect
ed in each county to keep the papers supplied
with items pertinent TO the movement
Chairman J.. ID Childs has addressed q cir
cuIar letter 10 each of the County Chnirmen,
embodying the general purpose contemp plated
by the convention, with suggestions as lO-thc
several methods by which this purpose is u
effected.
The circular In the main is as follows
The short time intervening before the occur
renee OF the first Democratic primary cleo
tion. August 3Dth, which will determine the
result OF the movement for prohibition set on
foot by the recent convention, imposes upon
the friends of tho movement an urgent de-
mand for imm edlatc, persistent and energ" tic
work. II our hopes for State prohibition are 10
be realized. Upon the State and County En-
ecutive Committees, organized under authOri-
ty of the convention. rests the responsibility
for the direction OF the movement In the sew
eral counties, by which the plan of the con-
9 n q on irpS 4
form, Is to be carried into effect. In my judg
ment II will not be wise or prudent for the
State Executive Committee 10 attempt To for
mulate plan to be carried out in drtaI In
each OF the counties with any fair promise o.
success. The conditions In each county are
varying, and the methods adopted should he
flexible, readily adapted TO meet these condi-
tiUns rs they may exist or arise during the
progress OF the campaign. 1t is evident that
The county committees. carefully selected as
they have been, and composed OF men famil-
lar with all the peculiaritieS OF circumstances
existing In their counties, are better prepared
TO avail themselves OF favorable opportunities
TO give effect to the movement In their respec-
tive counties than the State Committee could
br.
In view of this state OF facts, therefore,
have thought II best, at this stage of our
movement, TO present to your committee a
few general suggestions, the observance OF
which Will tend 10 preserve the unity or the
movement throughout the State, and prevent
any jarring or misconccptiOn among our
selves, or misunderstanding or conflict with
the Democratic party. within whose ranks we
propose to move loyalty. recognized as Demo
Gratis, working as Democrats, and as true
Democrats abiding by the issue upon the
question Of prohibition which we have In
yOk ed, go fnr as IL shall be determined by the
vote Of Democrats at the approaching cleo
ton. The aim OF each county committee
should he primarily TO reinforce the existing
public sentiment OF the county in favor Of
State prohibition by every justitable method.
Among these you will avail yourSclv yes OF the
county press To appeal To the people, address
them at public meetings, conventions, etc.,
especially securing when pOSsiben hearing at
the Democratic campaign meetings and other
gatherings throughout the county. Sermons
by the clergy OF The different determinations,
enforcing the duty of Christians 10 aid In ev-
cry effort To suppress the liquor traffic, are po-
tent agencies by which TO increase the prohi-
btion vote.
Work assduously to bring out the prohlbl.
tion vote In It's full strength at the first pri
mary lection in August, and see that 1t Is de.
posted In the box which the Democratic En-
ecutive Committee will provide to receive II
at each precinct, and alsU see that 1t Is proper.
~ counted and tabuated In the returns made
by the managers Note here the impor rlant
fact that this provision for taking the prohlbi-
ton vote at the Democratic party. made by
the State Executive Committee ut the request
OF the prohibition convention, Is full recog-
milton of the position that our movement Is
one legitimately TO be made within the DEM
ocratic party, and of the right of every Demo
crat 10 give expression to his views In this
form without let or hindrance.
Appoint one of your own number, or some
other competent man, to keep the space ac-
corded 10 you In your county papers well sup
piled every week with items, communlca-
lions, reports OF meetings and other matter
c;l Iculateu to educate and strengthen the pub
lie sentiment on this movement, and 10 cor
rect errors nd Misrepresentation which may
be put forward by the opposition. Your com
mittee will have TO exercise q very cautious
supervision over this department, lest by
some injudiciouS publication our movement
should he committed to Il false or untcnable
position before the public, and thereby much
harm result.
Tie objective point in all our work Is to Sc.
cure dn uudoubied maIority in each branch OF
the next General Assembly pledged to vote
for some proper measure for State prohbi-
lion. In pursuance OF this object. let II be
your first duty to ascertain, us soon as a can
dillatc Is announced, whether or not lie Is in
favor of our movement, and secure from him
this assurance in writing Ii possible, or by
some unequirocal public utterance. If he de
clines. or fails To tnKe this position, let him
understand that we are seeking To enlist the
cooperation of good Democrats in this fight.
and that to he OutSpoken and pronounced on
this subject irrespective of their views on 9th
or questions which may be raised within the
party, Will secure the support Of prohibition.
| lists. Seek to induce some good prohibition
| Democrat, the best y"u can find, 10 run for
! the House or Senate, If none of those already
announced are with us in the fight for prohi
bitiOu.
Each county has been requested by the eX.
ecutive committee 10 raise 1T least so to meet
| the necessary expenses of conducting the
work in the State, and each county commit
| tee Will endcuvor TO Iaise such sum mt the ear.
lest possible moment, forwarding the
amounts raised to :. \. Nettlcs, secretary and
| treasure, Manning. :. &.
! Very respectfully, l.. ID. Chlds.
! Chairman =. Z. EX. Committee
|