The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-02-09
LIEF THE PEOPLE DECIDE.

+ cathcrstono Agrees to County Local
Option-iIo Believes 'Fhree-F'ourths
"rthe Counties VIII Vote for Prohi-
bition.
10 the Editor OF The State:
Will you please allow mo to explain
my position on tho whiskey question
" nat tnc reporter put me down as
saying does not do me Justice. In
lact, what said was not Intended for
: publication at all. TO start with, let
me stato that nave no desire or au-
} Lhority to speak for the Prohibitionists
OF tho State. Any views | may ex-
press arc mlnc as an individual, and
the PrOhibitionists are not responsible
for tbcm in any shape, form or fashion.
at the same time | would not know
ingly take any position that might be
calculated to injure the cause OF the
Prohibitionists, for | am as stanch
believer in prohibition, upon principle,
as ever, and will do rs much for It's
sake as any man in the State. My
| friends, or sOmo of them, may differ
| with me as to the means of accom-
plishng our ends, but they will not
question my motives. What Is the
situation that confronts us We have
tho dispcnsary system. Under the
Constitution OF 1895 wo cannot 60 back
to tho old bar room system. II we let
matters remain in their present shape
what have we accomplished The dis
| pcnsary system can never lead to pro-
hibition. 1t has fought us heretofore
at every step. 1t has done more to
make tho whiskey traffic appear re-
spcctablo than any system that we
have ever had. Tho longer tho system
stands tho moro power will 1t acquire
and tho moro influence will it exercise
in political circles. Tho tremendous
power it already has can only be known
fully by those who have come in con-
tact With it's practical workings in
campaign. How eagerly are the posi-
tiOns upon tho board Of control sought
aftcr. Why? Partly, at least, be-
cause they realize tho power OF the
dispcnsary IN elections, and they want
its influence cXertcd in their behalf.
| If allowed TO stand will It's influence
along these lines be decreased ? re-
peat tho question: What have the
t'ruhibitionists to gain by allowing the
present system to stand Absolutely
nothing. II it stands thoy have gained
nothing, and their fight OF last year
counts for nothing.
| On tho other hand, what would the
repeal OF the diSpensary mean to US ?
With it repealed, and with no other
law enacted, we would have prohibit
tion in cvcry county In the State. The
| 1aChlhB pn VI a. lUCHl OpLlOn feature
. would mean that in those counties
wher" public sentiment is not suf-
+ hclcntiy strong TO give us prohibition;
Z the license system or tho county dis
Il pcnsary system would bo in force.
y Under either OF these systems We
would have all OF the good features OF
II the present dispcnsary, for under tho
u Constitution they will havo to remain.
| II prohibition wore forced upon said
e counties it could not bo enforced, for
/ IT Is nonsense to talk about enforcing
l. any law which is not supported by
q public sentiment. The non. .enf forco-
y ment OF prohibition law In those
e counties would do our cause harm, be-
c cause wo would be held responsible .cs
d It's enforcement True, we might have
Il whiskoy rings to fight in those particu-
! lar countics in tho future o, but what
=, would they be as compared to the great
h State whiskcy ring now In existonce =
II | believe that at least three e-fOurths OF
q the counties in the State would remain
- undcr the operations OF the prohibition
e law. Would that not give us three
q iourths OF victory, which is better
81 than no victory at all u? Again, those
n counties would give us Il tremendous
: leverage in our future fights. The
a only sound objection that can be urged
u against the Wow that | present Ia that
h the present Administration is hostile
d to prohibition, and that, therefore, the
- law might be killed by Weak-kneed
enforcement thereof There Is some
e force in such an argument, but in my
II Judgment that objection will be more
5 than offset by tho benefits that will
y, accrue. Remember, we get rid Of the
5 tremendous influence of tho dispensary
/. in poliJics. With tho dispensary out
to Of our way and with three -faurths o
Mt the counties in the State at our back
~ surely We will be in bettr position tt
I'D push on to complete victory: The plar
IN which advocate, In Is nut shell, meani
lc to make the most of our present op
W. portunitics-to take three fourths of
.y loaf rather than no loaf at all take
m and occupy tho position from which
f. We can mako tho best fight In the
~ future. Ii docs not moan n sacrifice O.
10 principle. IL means that as practica
r. mon wo arc to soize what Is best for us
SO when tho opportunity Offers it meanf
~ that in our judgment It is better not tt
IS have whiskey legally sold in three
81 fOurths OF tho c)unties than to have Il
to sold in all. 10 urge that by doing q,
- | advocate We become allied with the
-. whakcy men is all bosh and sentiment
y We do nothing OF the kind. On thu
ly other hand, il wo are offered prohibi
ic ton in thrcc-fourths OF the counties II
st tho State and fail to take it, wher,
~ docs the responsibility lie? For m,
IN part am willing to take all that w
1" can get, and then keep on fighting
=, !lntil we get 1T all. | repeat that thor
nc is no sacrifice Of principle involved. I
D, Is question OF cxpediency, whioI
H. must DC settled in practical way.
II. G. 9. FEATHERSTONE.