The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-08-23
MUST BE ENFORCED,
Violations of the Dispensary Not
to be Tolerated.

Gov. McSweeney has written the fol-
lowing letter to each sheriff and magis-
trate in the State, asking for coopera-
ton in the proper enforcement Of the
dispensary law.
| Dear Sir: 1t should not be necessary
to call the attention of officers to the
| Importance of enforcing any law. 1t
should be the purpose of every law Of
| fcer to do his duty. 1t is the plain
and sworn duty of every officer com
! missioned by the State to uphold the
| constitution and the laws of the State.
| 1t 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 administered. In the per-
formance Of this duty the law officers
should have the support, encourage
ment, endorsement, and aid of every
good and law abiding citizen.
Those officers, whose duty it is to en-
force 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 admits
tered and enforced wisely and judi
ciously and in this purpose | seek the
aid Of every officer and of every citi-
zen of the State. So far as | am able
there shall be no discrimination in fa-
vor of any law.
There seems. however, to have pre-
vailed n this State since the adoption
of the dispensary Law a sentiment that
it was an exception, and inasmuch as
certain State constables have been pro-
vlded for with view to its better en-
forcement, therefore, other law officers
were not charged with the apprehen-
sion and prosecution of violations Of
this law. This is mistaken view, as
l understand it, and l shall expect ev-
cry magistrate and constable and sher-
if and every other officer to aid in the
enforcement Of the dispensary law just
as he would the statute against bur-
glary or murder. And not only so but
| call Upon every good citizen to froWn
down the violation Of the dispensary
law just as he would the violation OF
the law against stealing or murder and
to aid the officers in bringing to jus.
tice those who violate it The consta-
bles are simply tc aid ia its enforce
ment. We may differ as to the wis
dom of the law, but that should make
no difference when it comes to the pros
ecution of violators Of it. l feel thatif
properly enforced it IS the best solution
of the liquor question that has yet been
devised, and l desire to have the aid
of all officers and citizens in an honest
and earne:t effort to enforce it wisely
and judiciously.
I have reduced the constabulary force
and hope to be able to reduce it still
further, but this reduction can only be
made and remain permanent by the
cooperation and aid of the law officers
of the State in enforcing the dispen-
sary law as other laws are enforced.
This communication is addressed es
pecia.ly to magistrates and constables
and sherlffs upon whom ! call to aid
me in the enforcement Of the law. If
l have evidence that any magistrate
or constable is winking at the viola
ton of the dispepsary law and is not
making proper efforts to bring to JUS
tice those who violate it l shall at once
ask for his resignation. l hope this
will not be necessary.
l firmly believe that if the law is
wisely and judiciously administered and
violators of it are promptly apprehend-
ed and punished through the proper le-
gal channels provided for the trial Of
criminals that healthy public senti-
ment will prevail in its favor, and vio-
lators of the law will be looked upon
as other criminals, and there will be
no more reason to have special officers
to enforce it than it is to have special
officers to enforce the law against steal
ing. However, let 1t be remembered
that this law must be enforced, and
those who violate it must be brought to
t1ial and punished. If this cannot be
done through the established and ordi-
nary legal channels, then extraordinary
means must be used. AS far as my pow
er and ability go it shall be my pur-
pose to see that all laws are wisely,
judiciously, and rigidly enforced. To
this end let every officer and every
good citizen of South Carolina lend his
encouragement and aid.
NJ. B. McSgeeney,