The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-07-25
CRISIS IN SOUTH CAROLINA
Tillman'S New EdiCt Threatens to
Cause Turmoil.

Columbia, S. c., July 24-The procla-
nation issued by Gov. Tillman yesterday
ordering the opening of the dispensaries
on Aug. l has created a profound sensa-
ton in the state Not one Of his ieuten-
ants agrees with him as to the wisdom of
his act, and he issued his proclamation
without consultation with anyone. He
stands alone in his opinion, but declares
that he has the people with him and that
they will sustain him in his acts.
There are prophecies of more turb-
ulent times than have yet been
seen, and prospects of much bloodshed.
There does not seem to be as great dis
position on the part of the better class of
people 10 oppose the law as there was
formerly, but the liquor dealers seem to
be at bay, and the prospects are that they
will resist with force attempts to search
and seizure. Some declare that they will
take the advice of their attor-
neys, who have advised them
to resist with force of arms, if need be,
all attempts to seize their goods or to
search their premises. Their attorneys
take the ground that the liquor men have
the old common law right to resist with
force needed to repel a search or seizure
of property without a warrant, or with a
warrant known 10 be illegally issued, that
the dispensary law having been declared
unconstitutional is null and void, and that
all warrants issued under 1t are illegal.
HIS PAPER GOES BACK ON lin.
The Columbia Register, which has
been considered Gov. Tillman's official
organ, and has hithereto commended
everything he has done, says editoriaIly
this morning: Before the decision of the
supreme court it was difficult to enforce
the dispensary law. II has cost the lives of
FIVE or six men and the wounding of sew
veral others TO enforce 1t. But it will
be ten times more difficult to enforce
the law now than I ever before,
forthe disregarded for It Of
it's opponents has been increased by the
decision of the supreme court, and liquor
men now feel that those who attempt to
break up their business have no warrant
of law for their action, and will be ten
times more desperate in resisting all such
attempts. The result will be endless tur-
moil and strife, with frequent callings
out of the militia"
Many feel that Gov. Tillman is ap-
preaching his Waterloo, and that he has
overreached himself in attempting to
force the dispensary law down the Threats
of his people.
SNAP DECISION
Habeas corpus proceedings were
brought before Supreme Court Justice
Pope, formerly attorney general under
Gov Tillman, to-day in a case of the state
against Silver of Orangeburg, charged
with violating the dispensary law in June
last. The justice in a verbal decision
decided that the act of 1893 was still in
force, and that it had not been
hyT hn Ny
An appeal will be taken to
! the whole supreme court, and the case
will be heard as soon as Justice-elect
Gary. formerly lieutenant-governor, takes
his seat on the bench. 1t is a case made
up by the state. and was devised TO give
some color of right to Gov. Tillman in is
suing his proclamation. No intimation
was given that the case was to have been
brought, and the public heard nothing Of
it until Justice Pope'S decision was made
known this afternoon.
NO FURRY IN CHARLESTON.
Charleston, S. c., July 24.-There was
no furry among the saloon men this
morning over the proclamation of Gov.
! Tillman declaring the dispensary act of
| 1898 of force and effect as a law, and an
nouncing his purpose to enforce it after
| Aug. /.
| The saloonkeepers are so used to being
|
| regard it as somewhat of a matter of
course. No concerted action has yet
been discussed among them, but it was
! said this morning that it was likely that
a meeting of the Retail Liquor Dealers
Association would be called at once
and legal advice taken as to the proper
| course of action.
Various expressions of opinion were
given by the legal fraternity on the gov
ernors action and one lawyer expressed
| the opinion that he was virtually in con-
tempt of court, and should be landed in
! jail The commonest opinion as TO the
course of action that should be taken to
head Off tie governor was that he should
! be enJoined from carrying out the purpose
! of his proclamation. There are agents
here it is said, of foreign business con-
Germs who would probably apply
! to the United States courts for an
injunction against the proceeding as af-
fecting their rights and interests of nom
! residents.
TALK WITH wHALEY.
w. Gibbes Whaley, the chairman of the
county board of control, and legal ad wiser
/ of Gov. Tillman, was asked his opinion of
/ the governor course. He was not pre-
| pared TO pass a professional opinion on il,
but he suggested plan of action which
he thought the newspapers would do we'll
/ to propose and both sides to adopt, that
pending the proceedings to test the legal
merits of the governors action, both
dispensaries and the barrooms, or blind
tigers pursue, and continue their op-
creations without interference from either
side He deprecates the Inauguration
and resumption of active hostilities and
prosecutions while the question remains
unsettled definitely. Meanwhile, lie
thinks, too, that it would be good move
to suggest a separate box at the coming
election whereby the people can express
their preference for "Dispensary'' or
No Dispensary' on its own merits, and
free and separate from any other consid-
GRAFTON.
One important feature of the legal
phase of the situation was cleared up by
the gossip to-day, and that is, that the
decision on the law by the state
courts, if, as anticipated, JUS
tice Gary comedies in Justice
/ Pope's view as to the constitutionality of
/ the law, can and will be carried TO the
United States supreme court for revision
in the last resort. In the former litiga-
ton an appeal did not lie for the state to
the supreme court of the United States
against the construction of its constitu-
tion by its own supreme court, but should
the court decide that the law is constitu-
tional the defeated parties would have
the right TO carry the question to the ma
tiOnal tribunal