Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-06-06
TAUNTS PROHIBITIONISTS.
BEARDING THE DOUGLAS
IN HIS HALL.
Prohibition Does Not Prohibit,
He Says-He Thinks the
Dispensary is the
True Solution.


June 4.-Governor Tillman, of
South Carolina, presented his
States position on the liquor ques-
ton to an audience of 1000 pro-
hibitionists at this evenings ses-
sion of the International Temper
ance Congress. The governors
hearers did not agree with him as
to the plan, but they listened
closely to the end and found some
points at which they could applaud
without doing violence to their
consciences. At other times they
loudly expressed their disapproval.
Before the arrival of Gov. Till
man, Col. Alexander S. Bacon, of
Brooklyn, made an appeal for the
raising of $4,000. At this point
the electric lights went out and the
audience was in total darkness. A
score of lanterns were brought in
and the guest from South Carolina
was led forward in semi-darkness.
He was introduced by the Rev. DR..
H. L. Wayland, of Philadelphia,
Gov. Tillman began by saying that
he wished there were more lights
SO that he could look the people in
the eye and have them look him in
the eye and tell whether be was
approved.
II have come long way and
left my official duties, for the truth
and the right. l have heard a great
deal at the sessions I have attended
of sand and 'backbone.' 1t has
been said that possess these quail
i,ies. Twill say that I will show
here tonight that I am willing to
advance my convictions on my au-
dience, and I am going to contro-
vert your dearest ideas and frmest
beliefs. I am probably the only
politician present. I have been
elected governor of a State and |
am a candidate for the United
States Senate, and expect to be
elected.
The governor then went on to
say that he was not exactly a
politician in the ordinary ac-
ceptance of the term. He said
that he always spoke his con-
victions and that was not character
istic of politicians. He said that
he was farmer, that his guberna-
torial position was his first office.
He announced that he proposed to
have his say and if any one in the
audience wanted to throw rocks at
...:-l,, ~, -. IL: :l>-shs'c: locks back
Then, drawing himself to the full
height he said in tones that made
the rafters ring:
II am here tonight to tell you
that prohibition don't prohibit,
and never will prohibit. We have
got plan in South Carolina that
completely wipes out saloons and
we have done more than you have.
Now, I am a temperance man.
(Applause.) I never drank five
gallons of whiskey, all told, in my
life. applause. I sometimes take
a social glass with my friends, but
| don't like the stnff:"
The Goveanor then produced a
bottle of whiskey with the South
Carolina label on it. He waved it
like fire brand in the faces of the
total shstainers and described d
the State dispensary plan. He
said that prior to the decision OF
the Supreme Court of the State
there was sixty-sixty dispensaries
in operation and the State had
paid out $4,000 for liquor: $57,-
900 for bottles, ard $4,000 for
labels and other expenses. From
the total outlay of $475,0OO and
with $4,000 worth of liquor on
hand, ,$567,OOO worth had been
sold and net profit of 100000 to
the State and $4,000 to the coan-
ties had been realized. He said
that the quality Of whiskey was
chemically pure so that the peo-
pie quit having debauch when
they got drunk on it. A moment
later he said people did not get
drunk on dispensary whiskey:
they got drunk on blind tiger
whiskey which, he said they hid
in holes IN the ground or "toted"
in their boot legs. He stirred up
the audience by declaring that
prohibition would never be es-
tablished by votes. "Give US a
chance said a man in the front.
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