The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-12-05

prints. The Courts are open to them,
the law provides for contests before
the County sCanvassers and State
Board. But they have not dared at
tack the legality of the election before
either tribunal, except at a few pre-
cincts which could not change the re-
suit. They simply charge fraud over
anonymous signatures, or through the
mouths of brazen tools bought to do
the dirty work of slander.
This cry of fraud, under the circum-
stances, can only emanate from hearts
reeking with fiendish malice and en-
Wy, or it is paid for by the whiskey
ring, which organized the bolt and
furnished the campaign fund. The
vote was very light, because the peo-
pie were not aroused and did not
know of the intended coup d'etut of
the allied Republicans and Independ-
ents; but when it is remembered that
the same managers who returned Ev-
ans maiorities returned large adverse
votes against the Constitutional Con.
vention. which was specially linked
to his candidacy, it can be seen how
unreasonable. and false is the accusa-
ton of ballot box stuffing and false
counting. If there had been any con-
certed or organized purpose to cheat
among the managers, these contra
dictory votes would not have been re-
turned. I assert that the election was
as fair and marked by as few irregu-
larities as any ever held in the State
since the reconstruction period.
But l cannot refrain from congrat-
ulating the people upon the opportu-
nifty now offered, after long, weary
years of waiting and struggle, to put
our beloved State beyond the reach of
ignorance and vice in controlling elec-
TONS
The Constitutional Convention has
been called by popular vote, though
by a small majority. 1t will be your
duty to provide for the election of del
egates to it, and to appropriate sum
of money for defraying its expenses
This is an additional achievement, by
and through the Reform movement,
which will have more to do with the
future veal and woe of our common
wealth than any or all the rest I have
heretofore enumerated 1t is fitting
capstone to the triumphal arch which
the common people have erected to
liberty, progress and Anglo-Saxon
| civilization since 1890.
There is one aspect of the conven-
ton expenses to which I would direct
your attention: The per diem Of its
members should be not more than
two dollars per day and one railroad
mileage to and from Columbia. II the
people are wise, they will select, for
| the difficult and delicate task OF franz
ing a new Constitution, the very wis.
ect, purest and best men we have, and
pay them only enough to defray act.
uaI expenses. In the very nature OF
things, the Constitution to be framed
will be largely the work OF few lead
ers, and the main business OF the
great majority of the delegates will
be to discuss, and reject or adopt, the
suggestions thus presented. This will
be a work of considerable length, but
il will be done much sooner and bet
ter, and the work will be pressed to
conclusion at much less cost to the
taxpayers, if every delegate is made
to contribute his time free of cost to
the State. Any man who is not will,
ing to attend to this patriotic work at
actual cost to himself is unworthy to
sit in the body.
If this suggestion is followed, there
will be no temptation to prolong the
session. Every one will work to get
through as soon as possible. :,
It is not desirable that the work
should be hurried, but it is altogether
necessary to have it cost as little as
possible.
THE DISPENsARY LAW.
I have mentioned the Dispensary
law as one of the measures which will
signalize the Reform administration.
speak advisedly when I say that nc
new and untried experiment in legis'
lation has ever gained so many friends
in SO short a time and taken such deep
root in the popular heart. The law
has come to stay, and it will depend
on its enforcement and administration
whether it shall spread to other State.
or not. 1t is the one question of great
est public interest at this time, and
shall necessarily devote much space
to it.
The liquor dealers have resisted its
enforcement and tried to evade it by
every device that cunning and greed
can suggest; and they have had as ac
| tive sympathizers a large proportion
of the people and police of nearly ell
the cities and towns in the State.
There have been some notable and
praiseworthy exceptions, and l take
pleasure in mentioning Abbeville,
Chester, Edgefeld and Orangeburg al
affording no aid or comfort to the il
licit sellers of liquor, except during
the time when the law was suspended
by the action of the Supreme Court.
The statute, as amended by the last
Legislature, has proven very satlsfac
tory as means of stopping the illicit
traffic, but there are some defects
which shall point out later on, and
recommended changes to correct them
| AS soon as the General Assembly
adjourned and the new Dispensary
| Act went into effect, 1 set about act
lively to enforce it to the letter. De
tectives were employed to obtain evi
dence, the constabulary was increased
by adding picked men to the force,
and vigorous crusade begun to drive
: the "blind tigers" from the State. II
it had not been for the animosities en-
gendered by politics, and the determi
nation of political partisans to sustain