The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1899-08-23
shsriRs and Others Mus: Give Sup
port.
The Governor Will Not Tolerate
Any "Wlnkipg at Violation Of
the Dispensary Law

cooperation in the proper enforce
ment of the di>pensary law:
Dear Si,: 1t should not be neces-
sary to call the attention tf officers
to the importance of enforcing any
law. It should be the purpose OF
tvery law officer to do bis duty. 1t
is the plain and sworn duty of every
officer commissioned by the State to
uphold the constitution and the laws
of the State. It is no more the duty
of the governor than it is OF every
other officer of the State to see that
the law is properly enforced and ad
ministered. In the performance OF
this duty the law officers should have
the support, encouragement, endorse
ment, and aid of every good and law
abiding citizen. .
Those officers, whose duty it is to
enforce and administer the law, have
no business to Question the wisdom
of the law making power in placing
any law upon the statute books
Their business is to see that the law
is enforced, so long as it remains on
the statute books. AS governor it
shall be my constant purpose to see
that the law is administered and en-
fo ced wisely and judiciously and in
this purpose I seek the aid Of every
officer and of every citizen Ct the
State. So far as I am able there
sh all be no discrimination in favor OF
any law.
There seems, however, to have
prevailed in this State since the
adoption Of the dispensary law a
sentiment that it was an exception,
and inasmuch as certain State con-
stables have been provided for with
q view to it's better enforcement,
therefore, other law officers were not
charged with the apprehension and
prosecution of violations of this law.
This is a mistaken view, as / under
stand it, and I shall expect every
magistrate and constable and sheriff
and every other officer to aid in the
enforcement of the dispensary law
lust as he would the statute against
burglary or murder. And not only
so but I call upon every good citizen
to frown down the violation Of the
dispensary law jast as he would the
violation of the law against stealing
or murder and to aid the officers ir
bringing to justice those who violate
it. The constsb!es are simply te
aid in it's enforcement. We may
differ as to the wisdom of the law
but that should make no difference
when it comes to the prosecution o
yiolators of it. I feel that if proper
ly enforced it is the best solution o
the liquor question that has ye
been devised, and I desire to hav
the aid of all officers and citizens il
an honest and earnest effort to en-
force it wisely and judiciously.
I have reduced the constabular
force and hope to be able to reduc
it still further, but this reduction
can only be made and remain perms
nent by the cooperation and aid 0
the law officers of the State in er
forcing the dispensary law as othe
laws are enforced.
This communication is addresse
especially to magistrates and consts
bles and sheriffs upon whom [ ca
to aid me in the enforcement of th
law. If I have evidence that an
magistrate or constable is winking a
the violation of the dispenssry lay
and is rot making proper efforts t
brig to justice those who violate
T shall at once ask for bis resigna
ton. I hope this will not be nece
sary.
I firmly believe that if the law i
wisely and judiciously administere'
and violators of it are promptly az
pretended and punished through
the proper legal channels providet
for the trial of criminals that
healthy public sentiment will prevail
in it's favor, and violators Of the Law
will be looked upon as other crimi
mails, and there will be no more rea
son to have special officers to enforce
it than it is to have special officers K
enforce the law against stealing
However, let it be remembered thai
this law must be enforced, and those
who violate it must be brought t
trial and punished. II this cannot
be done through the established and
ordinary legal channels, then extra
ordinary means must be used. As
far as my poser and ability go ii
shall be my purpose to see that all
laws are wisely, judiciously, and
rigidly enforced. To this end let