The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-06-06
GOV. TILLMAN BEFORE
PROHIBITION AUDIENCE.

1Oys Ix1llMAN ox1G 0&Ao a
PROHIBITION AUDIENCE.
He Defends che Dispensary as q
Means of Promoting Temperance
and Making Money. He Doesn't
Convince.
Prohibition Park. Staten Island.
June 4.-Governor Tiilman Of South
Carolina presented State agency plan
for the solution Of the liquor question
10 40 audience Of 1000 Prohibitioniste
at this evenings session Of the Interua.
tional Temperance Congress. The Gov.
errors hearers did not agree with him
as to the plan. but they listened close
II to the end, and found some points
1t which they could applaud without
doing violence to their conscicnces. Al
other times they loudly expressed their
disapproval.
Before the arrival of Governor Till
man, Col. Alexaader S. Bacon. Of
Brooklyn. made an appeal for the rails
ing Of $500. AT this point the cleo
trio lights vent ont aud the auditorium
vas IN darkness. A score Of lanterns
we're brought in and the guest from
South os1olipa 1as led forward in
sem-dsrfness. Msv vas introduced by
,of Phila-
delphia. Governor Tillman began by
saying that be wished there we're more
light 60 that be could look the people
in the eye and have them look him 10
the eye, and tell whether he was tell
ing The fralh. Continuing be said al
have come a long way and left my off
cial duties in the Interests Of truth and
right. I have heard ! great deal Of the
sessions | have attended of Sand"
and backbone" It has been said
tha. I possess those qualities. l will
say that I will show tonight that |
am willing 70 asser. my convictions in
anyNaudience. and I am going to con
troveft your dearest ideas, and 6rmest
beliefs- I am probably the only poll
tician present. I have been elected
Governor of : State. and I am a can
didate for the United States Senate and
expect to be elected"
The Governor then went on to say
that he has not -exactlysa politician in
the ordinary acceptat6pn of the term.
He said that be always spoke his con-
yictions, and that was not characters
tic of politicians. He said that be was
q farmer, that his gubernatorial posi-
ton vas his first office. He announced
that hespreposedsto have his Say and If
any one d the audience wanted to
throw rocks at him be would throw
rocks back. Then. drawing himself to
his full height. he said in tones that
made the rafters ring:
81 am here tonight to tell you that
prohibition don't prohibit, and never
viii prohibit. We have got 3 plan in
South Carolina that completely wipes
ont saloons. and we have done more
than you have. Now I am a temper
ance man. ~(Applause.) never drank
i've gallons of whiskey. all told. in my
life. Qaughter-) l sometimes take .
social glass With my friends, but don't
like the stuff"
The Governor then produced a bottle
Of vbiskey with the South Carolina la
bel. He waved it like a 6rebrand in
the faces of the total abstainers, aud
described che State d~ispeDsary plan.
he said that prior to the decision by
the Supreme Court Of the State there
we're ~sixty-six dispeparies IN operation,
and the State had PAID out $685.
600 for liquor ; $57. 900 for bottles.
and $37, 900 for labels and other ex-
penses. From the total outlay of $475.-
900 and with $685. 600 worth Of liquor
on hand. 1861, 600 worth had been
sold, and q net profit of 800. 600 to
the State and $84. 00c to the counties
had been realized. he said that the
quality Of the vhiskey was chemically
pure. 80 that the people qnit having q
headache when they gos drunk on it.
he said . moment later that 20 one got
drunk on dispensary vhiskey; they got
drunk ON blind tiger whiskey, which he
said they bid in holes in the ground or
sosed in their boet legs.
he stirred up the audience by declar-
ing that prohibition would never be
established BY votes.
'.Give as a chance" said a man in
front. This brought forth . volley Of
applause.
Then the Governor shouted : ..You
are not ready to remove the government
tax on wbiskey." "Yes. We are,"
came from all parts Of the hall.
Then you are binder than | thought
you were," said the Governor.
A moment later he alluded to pro-
hibitiop as marrow mindedness,' and
eomplsiped thatthe audience would only
60 half way si,b him. Then be said !:
..Refore Yen are a dozen years older