The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-04-13
HAVE LOST GROUND.
Prohibitionists Not as Strong as They
Were-Some Unwise Moves.

state. and after close scrutiny OF
the returns this correspondent does
not see any reason to alter the opin-
ion expressed a few weeks ago that
the prohibitionists had played their
trumps badly and are in q fair way OF
suffering defeat that will surprise
them in the coming campaign. In
short, it does look as ifsuper-inhation
had bursted the balloon of this ele-
ment in the fight, and something has
been heard to drop.
The meetings, as rule, to which
there have been very few exceptions,
have been slimly attended, and even
the urgent appeals to the clergy to
make this "crusade" have failed to
raise any marked degree of enthusl-
asm or action.
The dispersary received a little
boost during the last few days which
cannot fail to send its stock up few
points, and that is the report so many
original package dealers withdrawing
from the State on the ground that
they could not afford the competl-
ton. Again many original package
men have been strongly suspected Of
making up original packages" in
their back rooms, and some OF these
have recently been run down by the
sleuth hounds of the law.
AS all offset to this, however, and a
blow equally hard at prohibition is
the reported number of blind tigers
in the State operating under United
States licences, to say nothing OF
those operating under no license at all.
These institutions, 1t seems, are like
the poor, we have them always. Even
under the most vigorous admlnlstra-
ton Of the dispensary law by the liq-
uor constables there were probably
as many, if not more, blind tigers
than there are to-day, which is some
what in the nature of an answer to
those who urge the machinery of the
dispensary law to enforce prohibi-
| ton.
The only other plan for regulating
liquor sales that will be before The
people this summer will be the May
field plan, which does away with the
State control of liquor and its sales,
and while declaring absolute prohibi-
ton, provides that any community
that is determined to have liquor may
have it under the dispensary regula-
tons and restrictions; and, further
more, the point regarded as the
strongest in the bill is placing the
responsibility for proper control of
the traffic on the shoulders Of those
who have asked for such benefits as
may be derived from its sale. This
is called the home rule or the local
option plan.
Unquestionably prohibition has lost
ground lately, but whether the
strength has gone to the dispensary
or not cannot be said. The local op-
ton plan has not been discussed very
much so far, and the people are not
ready to accept any new plan without
fully understanding it, and without
being Convinced that it will be an
improvement on what bow exists.
1t is generally accepted now that
Senator Tillman will take an active
part in the canvass this summer,
without openly supporting any can
didate, but ostensibiy in defense Of
his pet measure, the dispensary. He
will make it warm, but the opponents
of that measure contend that all dis
cussion of its merits must result in
more complete exhibition of its short
comings, and they are not afraid to
meet the issue. The presence Of Sen
ator Tillman in the canvass will call
out many hard hitters, who would
otherwise take no active part in the
fight. Within the last few weeks
nearly all of the candidates for Gov
ernor have been heard from, all to
the effect that they were still in the
ring.
It has been authoritively stated
that Capt. Henry T. Thompson of
Darlington will be candidate for
Adjutant and Inspector General and
that his announcement would soon be
made. Capt. Thompson is a very
popular man and will make good
run. The friends of the veteran SER
geant-at-arms of the Senate, Col.
Floyd, say that they have lost none
of their confidence on account of this
announcement, however.
1t has been re-afirmed recently
that Hon. H. H. Crum of Bamberg
county will be candidate for Col.
Meals place when the election for
Superintendent of the Penitentiary
comes round again.
Sergeant-at-Arms Stansell of the
House Of Representatives is keeping
bimself we'll in evidence as candi-
date for Railroad Commissioner. It
is said that there will be several can
didates for this Office whose names
have not YET been mentioned in con-
nection with it. The Office is good
one and the term very comfortable
QUE.
It is predicted that the prohibition
fight will be transferred from the
State officers to county campaigns,
and that in view of recent develop
ments which make a State canvass
rather in conflict with Democratic
laws and the constitution of the party,
the candidates for the Legislature
will be reqired to walk the plank. 1t
is contended by many that even the
election of an entire State ticket
would accomplish nothing for the
ooueo with T,eoisletnra ODDOSed TO