The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1899-12-20
ADDRESS TO PRoHIBIrIoNIsTs.

ADDRESS TO PROHIBITIONISTs.
Chairman Jones Urges the Prohibi-
ton Democrats to Organize for the
Next Campaign.
To the Prohibition Democrats of South
Carolina:
AS the State Prohibition Executive
committee, has published declara-
tlon OF their position, as they under
stand that position to be, after con-
ferrlng with their friends, and as pre-
llminary steps are being taken to re-
organize the prohibitionists of the
State, L desire to urge upon the rank
and file Of the prohibition Democrats
the individual voters--to whom we are
lnde bted for the election of the present
prohibition members OF the general
assembly, and the large vote given Mr..
Featherstone in the first and second
Democratic primaries of 1S9S-to begin
at once to organize their forces in
every voting precinct in the State
with the view OF winning the fight in
leOO. We began too late in 1898, and
In consequence, the counties were
never thoroughly organized-in fact,
In some OF the counties there was 20
organization, and there is none yet,
not even corresponding member OF
the State executive committeeman
even with this disadvantage and all
the Democratic party machinery
against US, Mr.. Featherstone would
nave been elected but for tho deal
made by the Local optionists, or part
OF them, through The State news-
paper, with the friends of tho dispen-
sary. The party machinery Is still In
the hands of the dispensary and the
administration, and that means today
that the State Democratic party machi-
merry as now constituted, stands up Tor
the dlspensary monopoly and whiskey
against the interest of the good name
OF the party, the churches, the schools
and colleges and the homes of our pso
pie and In the eyes of the Democrats
outside OF this State we are party to
II, Just as though we were directly en-
gagged In the sale OF 1t. l don't think
the people will permit this condition
OF affairs to exist much longer, and it
Is my Judgment, after ming.'ng with
men Of all sections of the State, that
tne present is the golden opportunity
10 move for the repeal Of the dispen-
sary law ana the passage Of State
prohibition law. We ali agree that
the question must be settled In the
Democratic primaries, as all Of our party
questions are settled. This being the
case, how shall the issue be madep l
oelleVe II Will! be the fight of 1898 over
again that is, the fight must be- be.
tween the prohibition Democrats and
the dispensary Democrats. In 1892
the contest was made 10y the local
optionlsts, and the prohibitionists, and
with every influence the local option
element could bring to bear, the pro.
hibitionist defeated them by over ten
Thousand votes. The will of the peo.
pie was defeated in 1892, and party
pledge repudiated, by Mr. Tillman
forcing the senate to accept the dis.
Pensary law as q substitute for the
mouse prohibition bill, claiming that
the dispensary bill was prohibition
measure, and that they must accept
this or nothing. Mr.. Tillman being at
This time supreme dictator, his will
was law and the Senate and house had
to obey his orders. Things have
changed little since then, and the
question which comes up again for our
earnest consideration, is whether the
whiskey trusts and whiskey rings out
SIDE and inside the State, through the
state ana county dispensaries, shall
control and corrupt the Democratic
party In the State, or whether the pro.
hlDltlon Democrats and the Christian
people OF our State shall control it.
Inc honor OF the party and the good
name OF the State Is involved and the
Intelligent masses must settle 1t, and
the people are generally right.
WORD, PERSONAL
When at the Prohibition State con-
vention In April, 1898, the mem bera OF
the State Prohibition executive com.
mlttee eleCV unanimously requested me |
to serve rs chairman, the late Hon. l.. |
u. Chllda being forced to retire on &C.
count OF his health, I hesitated, be.
cause know the difficulties before me;
with little or no organization and the |
aispsensary In control Of the Demo.
cratic party machinery, but I deter
mined to do my best 40 promote the in
terests and uphold the principles com
mltted to my care, and while | have
not done what l would like to have
done, have succeeded In keeping our
forces Ia Inc, and II they will stand
together they should succeed. NV in
terest In prohibition, In Democracy
end the good name Of my State Is but
continuation OF my work from my
ooyhood up. have no desire to hold
once and Will as soon as the prohibit
uonlste can be reorganized give way to
some one more capable of filling the
position as chairman and fall into the
ranks, where have always worked,
and stand with the good people of INV
State against intemperance, immo-
rallty and corruption in high places.
The, fprohibitioniste and my friends
need never fear that will be bur-
Den TO them, or that will be scram.
tNlipg for office. I would never have
being q possible candidate
Tor the United State Senate IL some of
my enthusiastic friends had not, In
giving me moro credit for the result of ,
The primary election In 1893 than I | j
vas entitled to, insisted upon getting | {