The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-06-13
GOV. TlLLMAN ON TEMPERANCE.
He Add, ees ss an Audience of Two Thous-
ard People.

He Add, ess sss an Audience of Two Thous-
ard People.
PROHIBITION PARK, STATEN Is
LAND, June 4.-G0vernCr Tillmau, of
Seu;h Carolina, presented bis State
agency plan fer The solution OF the liquor
question to an audience OF two thousand
Prohlbltionists at this evenings session
of the international Temperance Con-
eress. The Governors hearers did not
agree with him as to the plan, but they
listened closely 10 the eGd and found
some points at which they could ap.
plaid without doing violence to their
conscierc3. Al other times they loudly
expressed their djsapproval.
Before the arrival of Governor TIL
man Col. Alexander S. Bacon, o: Brook
lYn, made an appeal for the raising OF
$4,000. At this point the electric Lights
went out and the auditorium was in
darkness. A score Of lanterns were
brought in and the guest from South Car
olina was led forward in :emi-darkness.
He was introduced by the R:Y Dr II, l..
Weyland, OF Philadelphia.
Governor TiilmAn began by saying
that he wished there was more light so
he could look the people III the eye and
have them look him IN the eye and tell
whether he was telling the truth. Con-
4i-,, he
Wgy and left my Cllcial duties N the
interest Of truth aud right. l have heard
4 great deal at the session | have at
tended of 'san0' aud 'backbone.' 1t has
been said that l possess those qualities
l will say that will show here TO night
that am willing TO advance my con.
victiops on my audience, and a q going
to controvert your dearest ideas and
frmest beliefs. an probably the only
politician present. | have been elected
Governor of a State, and l am a candid,
ate for the United States Senate, and
expect to be elected"
The Governor then went on TO say
that he was not exactly politician il
the ordinary acceptance OF the term
| He said he always spoke his convictions
and that was not characteristic Of politl
clans. He said that he was a farmer:
that bis Gubernstorial position was bis
first cffice. He announced that he pro
posed to have his say and if anyone IN
the audience wanted 10 throw rocks
at him he would throw rocks
back. Then drawing himself to his full
beieht he said, in tones that made the
rafters ring: II am here to night to tel
you that prohibition don't prohibit, anc
never will prohibit. We have got 6
plan II South Carolina that completely
wipes out saloons, and we have done
more than you have. Now, l am
temperance man. [Applause. I never
drank FIVE gallons Of whiskey all to
gether in my life. Laughter. 1 some
times take a social glass with nv friepCs
but I don't like the stuff"
The Governor then produced bottle
Of whiskey with the South Caroline
liable on in. He waved it like firebrant
in the faces OF the total abstainers ant
described the State dispensarY plan. He
said that prior to the decision by the
Supreme Court of the State there were
siXty.siX dispensaries ID operation, anc
the State had paid out $4,000 fol
liquor, $4,000 for bottles aud s37, 900
for labels and other expenses. From
the total outlay ots475 900 and with $98
900 worth of liquor on hand, $567,OOO
worth had been sold and a net profit O
$4,000 to the State and $4,000 to
the counties had been realized. He said
that the quality OF the whlakey was
chemically pure, so that the people
quit having headache when they go
drunk oa it. He said q moment later
than no one got drunk on dispensary
whiskey; they got drunk on blind tgel
whiskey, which, he said, they hid ir
holes in the ground or "toted' in then
boot legs.
He stirred up the audience by dec!ar
| ing that prohibition would never be es
teblished by votes.
"Giye US a chance" said q man in
front. This brought volley ofapplause
when the Governor shouted. "You are
not ready to remove the Government
tax on whiskeY."
"Yes we are," came from al! parts ot
the hall.
"Then you are binder than thought
you were," sai0 the Governor.
a moment later he alluded to. ''pro
hibition narroW.mindedness" and COM
planned that the audience would only
60 half way with him. Then be said:
Before YOU are dozen years older
you will see half the States in the Union
following the example Of South Car
olina."
Never" shouted woman delegate,
IF you can't get prohibition, will you
take the dispeasary?' asked the govern
or.They woe luIdIfd rces,snd one
man in the back Of the hall said yes.
That is ercouragiEg,o said the Gov
ernor. He said that iu all the country
Of South Carolina and nearly all the
towns public sentiment is in favor Of
the dispensary law, and it will be car
ried out eventually. He went on: so
far as backbone IS concerned have as
much as any other man, but when you
tackle the liquor trade entrenched be-
hind it's hundreds of millions you need
to have the backbone Of the statue OF
LIBERTY"
The Governor left for the South after