The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1892-09-29
PROHIBITION.
WHAT CHAIRMAN CHlLDS SAys
ABOUT n.

O.
phetie Vision Beholds south Caro1,ua
without Bar Room.
CoLUMBA, s. c., Sept. .17.-Chairman
Childs has issued an address in which
he gives complete review of the sit
uatlon from a prohibition standpoint.
He says:
To the Citizens Of South Carolina:
At the close of the first encounter on
the open field, where the advocates of
prohibition have met its opponents at
tho ballot box, it seems to be expected
that as the representative Of the Pro-
hibitionists should say something of
the results Of the encounter and of the
lessons Of encouragement and caution
which are to be drawn from the first
success in this movement.
The returns Of the vote on prohibit
tion have been tabulated and published
in the daily papers total vote cast III
this State was S8,474, and the prohibit
tion 1O,530. For prohibition 40,238,
twenty.seyen counties for prohibition
1888. majority in eight counties
against prohibition 5,707. Net majori
ty for prohibition in the State 1O,l4l.
When 1t is remembered that we en-
tered on this light with an organization
very imperfect by reason of the short
time in which to perfect it; without
means to meet the requirements OF q
movement covering the entire State;
with both elements of the Democratic
party, in the midst Of which our con-
test had to be made. engaged in bitter
factional strife and divided in senti-
menJ as to the principle and policy of
our movement, and with an enemy to
encounter who had all the advantages
of thorough and compact organization,
unlimited resources and no scruples as
to the means for our defeat, the friends
OF prohibition have reason for congrat-
ulatiOn In the signal success which has
resulted from this test of the strength
of their cause at the recent elections.
TIE effort to secure prohibitory Leg
lSlatlon has been marked by several
stages OF progress, each developing
some new effort to defeat it, but each
indicating clearly defined advantage
toward the ultimate success of the
movement. The course OF the last
Legislature on the question made 1t
clear to the minds of it's friends that
direct appeal to the people on the oc-
casion of the election of a new Legisla-
ture, when prohibition should be made
distinct issue, afforded the only hope
of success. That appeal was deter
mined on by the Convention which met
in May, when platform and policy
were adopted and an organization
effected, the outcome of which is known
to you on the result of the first primary
election.
That result has exploded several
popular fallacies which had found
lOdgment in the minds of the people.
One of these tallacies was that the
saloon controlled elections in South
Carolina. 1t has been conclusively
shown that the liquor sellers influence
In the State is no longer a controlling
one, and that the common enemy
against whom our efforts arc directed
is not so strongly entGenched that we
may not hope by steady. persistent and
well organized endeavor TO drive him
beyond our borders. The white voters
OF the State, so long as they act togeth-
er, have ample power to protect them
selves against the demoraliZing in-
iluences which whiSkey has heretofore
exerted in elections
TO have stricken these shackles from
the hands OF the white voters; to have
liberated their minds from tho humili-
ating sense of this control, and let them
realize that they are free from the
domination Of this arrogant and tyran-
nlcal power is in itself worth ali the
effort which has been put forth by the
PrOhibitionists OF this State, as it is the
certain precursor of the complete dc
NVerance which is to crown the work
in the future.
Another fallacy was that prohibition
was "a question in which the people
took no interest. and that no sufficient
vote OH it should he given to determine
their position respecting 1t. The result
shows that the question is u popular
one, and that the people are keenly
alive TO It's Importance. y larger pOpu-
lar vote has been polled on this case
than on any single question ever before
submitted to the people of this State.
In total vote of about $1,000 over
10000 have been cast in the prohibition
box, That ought to De conclusive as
to the interest that the people feel in
this question.
Another fallary urged with great
persistency by the enemies of prohibl
tion is that where prohibition has been
tried the people soon tire of its re-
Straints, and quickly return to the old
system of licensed whiskey. The proof
winch the election furnishes as an an
s"er to this is that outside OF the cities
and towns, where the law throws wall
VI "CioilCc dUOut lne JrA1llC and en-
courages it's work Of decentralization.
the people, after ten years experience
with the advantages and inconyeni.
encts of partial prohibition, are sutli.
GENTLY recovered from the demoraliZing
etfects Of the traffic TO assert their
rights of self-defence against It's fear
full evils.
The overwhelming majority of votes
cast Dy this class (the votes IN the pro-
hIbitlon area in the State) in favor of
prohibition can only bo interpreted as
an expression of entire satisfaction
with its operation, so far as it has gone
under the existing law, and their wish
to extend it over the whole State. Out.
Side Of the counties of Charleston and
Hlchland, the centres of the liquor traf-
nc. the aggregate majority cast against
prohibition was 1851, or less than | in
III of the majority for prohibition.
In the counties OF Marion, Horny and
Williamsburg majOrities aggreQating
S54 were given against prohibition not
because the public sentiment was
against it. but because in those counties
local prohibition had been tried and the
prOhi bit iOniata fait aO al Pa that tho