The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1896-03-04

Whenever an opinion is expressed
about the enforcement of the dlspen-
sary law, right of; certain newspapers
endeayor to jump on the one that
has expressed such opinion with both
feet. There is no one in the State
more anxious for the success OF the
law than we are, because we honestly
believe it is the best whiskey regnla-
tion that has ever been put iu opera
ton. People will have whiskey aud
the dispepsary system Is the best
way to give it to them. Rev. Sam
Jones says "wbiskey is good thing
in its place, but its place is in hell.
We disagree with this distinguished
divine; il the people find out that the
place for whiskey is in hell, they
will be wrangling and lighting for
tie best place nearest the gate, and
all>of the pathos and eloquence OF
Dir. Jones and his prohibition col
leagues can not stop them; hence 1t
is a bad policy to teach such doc
trine. The dispeusary system can
become obnoxious by laxity IN the
enforcement; for instance: Members
OF the county boards OF control can
bring the law into disrepute by wink
ing at and patronizing blind tigers,
constables can bring the law into
disrepute by accepting bribes from
blind tigers. The law can also be-
come obnoxious when the officers
whose duty it is to enforce it make
bone OF the negro and flesh of the
white man, and to charge that this IS
being done needs no further proof to
convince the masses than to watch
the proceedings of the courts.
The law is here and If it IS
not honestly enforced every
citizen has the right to crit
icize, bat according to some news
papers those who criticize are trying
10 scrush out the law" Take the re-
cent ire at Florence where 1t Is
openly charged that one Berry kept
a gambling hell and 0lind tiger,
and in this den of iniqulty the ire
originated; but while this charge Las
been published, yet We have not seen
where the members Of the Florence
board CT control have taken any steps
towards bringing Berry the gambler
and blind tiger to justice. However, We
have seen an editorial III the Reform
Advocate published at Florence by
Mr.. Clayton who is also a member OF
the county board Of control, asking
Hon. John L. McLauriu to define
his position on the dispensary law;
the editorial intimates opposition CD
tue part OF NcLauriu. Well MIR. Nc
Laurin came out like man and
stated bis opposition 10 the way tic
law was being enforced sometime
ago, and from the way the admins
tration changed its tactics it proved
that alcLaurin was right; We do
think, that before AlcLaurin is ques-
toned Oh this subject Mr.. Clayton
should be put on the stand and give
his reasons for the number of blind
tigers in Florence, and why it is that
they are not suppressed. McLaurin
has nothing 10 do with the law, his
duties take him away from the effects
OF the law, Mr.. Clayton not only
lives where the law is in operation,
but he receives pay as an officer to
carry out the law and to see that the
law is honestly enforced. Take the
stand ,Ar. Clayton and state whether
you know of blind tigers being in
your city, where they are, and what
knowledge have you OF their ex-
istence and the quality of stuff they
keep?