The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-08-01

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General Ellerbe then got very rash
aud proceeded to say that Governor
Tillman had "made great bluuder in
issuing the proclamation to open the
dispensary. The Supreme Court has
decided the act of 1892 unconstitutional
and tha: closed the dispeusaries. The
act Of 1898 has never been passed upon
aud think it is a mistake to open the
dispeusary until the court decides on
the constitutionality Of that act. We
could have that done in very short
time, just as we did in the bond case
The sentiment of the people is against
the opening
Il am member Of the State board
of control and [ have Fever been con-
suited on this matter. If had been |
would have told the Governor that it
was mistake and | would have voted
against it."
Then came John Gary Evans with
the electrifying statement that the
people of Columbia had newspaper
that did not represent them. If the
young men we're at the head of things
they would condemn this narrow-miDd
ed policy.
He referred to Ellerbe's remarks
about primary as the utter despera-
ton of defeated candidate appealing
to the prejudices of the people,
He declared that when Ellerbe criti-
cised the Governor for opposing some
of the Alliance demands he ought to
have been frank enough to have said
that be himself stood on the same
platform. Ellerbe was advising the
people to join the Alliance when be
himself was not member of it.
Evans said that the dispensary act
Of 1893 had not been passed upon and
that if Tillman did not enforce it he
ought to be impeached. lie thought
that the dispeusary law was the the best
ever devised and that il Ellerbe was
allowed to tinker With it be would ruin
it.
'.It's good for bellies" said be.
.They will last ten years longer that if
you had barrooms.'
He said that heretofore if any
body wanted to be-elected to office in
Columbia they had to 60 to the bar
keepers.
.On the first Of August said be,
..you will have the dispensary despite
the action of the board of control to the
contrary"
Evans complimented the good order,
peace aud sobriet5 displayed at the
meeting and said that he felt like TAX
ing Columbia by the hand and saying
we'll done.
Dr.. Sampson Pope appeared on the
campaign again after a long alb
sence. He made a notable speech in
a conservative vein aud said that ne
was not the man to excite passions in
order to get Office. He declared that
many time when the Reform move
ment was In danger Evans and Ellerbe
could not be found.
Taking up the dispensary matter be
said Il am law abiding man and I
intend to obey the decisions of the
Supreme Court of the State. That
court has passed upon the dispeusary
act Of 1892 In pursuance Of that Gov
eruor Tillman had the dispeusaries
closed. Under section 2 it is left not to
the Governor to manage the dispensary
but to the board Of control, and 10 my
judgment it cannot be opened without
two of those gentlemen sanctiouing it.
I am opposed to opening it, though |
favor the law, am .peace-loving
citizen and | had rather see peace in
this State than any other thil.
Cloud applause That's Christianity.
l don't care what faction you belong to,
you have DO right to lose sight Of the
divine admonition to love peace. |
think to open the dlspensary again WILL
simply turn loose the aoodgates of the
devil upon the people and cause the
spilfing of blood. '.Shake not thy
CORY locks at me. Thou caust not say
l did it." With the decision standing
as it does it will cause men to risist the
officers Of the law. God grant that it
will be averted.
DR.. Pope then got down to business
I asked the committee, said be, to re-
scind the order for a convention and |
absolye Tindal and Ellerbe from doing
so. did so because the Conservatives
put out no ticket. l believed they we're
in earnest. When Larry CAN'T went
home after the committee refused to
grant my request he stuck rooster at
the head of his paper and declared it
was victory for John Gary Evans! I!
AS soon as saw that saw that the
Gordiau Kuot should be cut and |
thank God | have the courage to cut
it.
IL Ill .,ot oo bafnra that