The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-01-11
r;,m a Federal standpoint.

:. III. Fur1ham, the colored deputy
iI."rnal revenue collector, who WAS ap-
pointed a low months ago to fill the va
cancy in the department. caused by the
death Of John NJ. Freeman, discussed the
Evans liquor bill yesterday from the
standpoint Of a United States Official.
Major Fordbam is one Of the political
bosses of his race and is prominent
leader among the young negro politicians
of the State, and the first question asked
him was concerning the light in which
he himself and his race looked at the
Evans dispensary bill.
''I myself don't like the BILL" he said,
"and think il unconstitutional. don't
give this as legal opinion, however, for
while am lawyer and claim to know
something of the Constitution 1 don't
feel able to givo this as an opinion from
that standpoint. But it does seem to mo
that in enacting any such law tho State of
South Carolina is taking away the rights
of her citizens in the most arbitrary man
ner possible"
"How will the law affect your race?"
was asked.
"The negro has not been consulted in
the matter. He has not been asked
whether be liked or disliked the law, just
as he is never consulted or asked to OK
press his opinion on public measures.
We are here as part and parcel Of the
State; yet, as you know, we are ignored
when it comes to the ballot. But mark
what say, the time will come when we
will be able to give expression through
the ballot-box upon this very question ?"
When Major Fordham was asked to
explain this last rather idiomaticsl re-
mark he said:
"It is simple enough. Can't you see
that the fight in this State is assuming
new phase, 1t has already begun.
Corporations, railroads and whiskey men
must combine against the powers that be
if they expect to live in South Carolina.
The moment that combination takes
place the negro will come to the front.
He will be sought after and his vote then
will decide the contest. 1t will no longer
be Democrat against Republican, and the
old party lash will be powerless to whip
the voter into line"
When the deputy collector was asked
how the Evans bill would affect the Coy
ernments revenues in this State he re-
piled that was very different question:
"Right there the shoe will begin to
pinch," he said. "I will give you some
figures which have just gotten together.
We have in Charleston thirteen wholesale
and over $50 retail dealers in whiskey.
The wholesale men pay to the Govern
ment Sl25 each, which makes total OF
$1,625 for the thirteen. The $50 retail
dealers pay the Government S25 each,
making $3.50 for the entire $50. Now
add the amounts paid by the two and
you will see that the Government collects
something over $4,000 from the whiskey
men of this County alone. [ do not
include here what is paid by the Palmetto
Brewery nor the amounts paid by the
retail liquor dealers in other parts of the
State.
"Under the Evans law with ten State
bars in Charleston, three in Richland and
one in each of the other Counties in South
Carolina we have total of forty-six bars
in the State. They will have to take out
wholesale aud retail licenses, amounting
to S25 each, ora total of $3.50. Then
Uncle Sam will got $3.50 for the whole
State of South Carolina, while at present
we collect twice as much from the City Of
Charles on alone.
"What will the Government do about
it, Well, the first thing we will have to
do will be to close this Office, for there
will be no more wholesale business in
Charleston. The Office in mbia will
be transferred to either North Carolina or
Georgia. All the business in this State
will be done by one or two agents of the
revenue department there. OF course
the Government can't afford to pay Sl5,-
900 to collect $3.50 year."
Major Fordhau says that he will con-
tiuue to watch the fate of the Evans bill
with very keen interest.--NeWs and Cou-
7'ier.