Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1900-09-05
COL. HoYr ISSUES A STATEMENT.
The Prohibition Candidate Gives His Views on
the Election.

James A. Hoyt, prohibition candidate
for Governor, before leaving hero to re.
turn to bis home in Greenyille, issued
the following statement:
81 desire to express my cordial and
support received in the first primary,
which has met my expectations 30 far as
my own vote was concerned, and is fully
as largo percentage as could have been
counted upon. Tho odds against me in
tho campaign were difficult to overcome,
and the onset made in the last few
weeks was almost unprecedented in the
primaries of this State, for no stono was
left unturned that would operate to my
disadvantage / was compelled to meet
tho onslaughts Of the other candidates
for Governor, and in addition to parry
the thrusts Of Senator Tillman. The
outcome of tho concentrated attack upon
my position in the contest may be left to
conjecture, but it is assuredly crafty
ing that 80 largo proportion Of my fell
low-citizens with their own free will and
accord cast their ballots and threw tho
weight Of their influence against politi-
cal bossism in South Carolina. 1t ought
to be well understood that my election
stands for thorough independence of
action in the executive Office without
tho dictation and manipulation of any
man, and without the ontrolling bias of
factiOnal interests.
'"rhc time has come for the assertion
of manhood and personal choice in the
| election of a chief magistrate, and while
my vote largely represents a positive
conviction as to the management of the
liquor question in South Carolina, tho
Prohibition Democrats are also in sym
pathy with that sentiment which rcsents
the domination of political leaders, who
would suppress individuality and make
tho bulk of the voters subservicut to the
will of few mon. Only in certain To-
calitics in this State can machine politics
prevail and we have striking instance
now that extremes can be made to meet.
The dispcnsary law has been fought with
rancor and persistence in the city of
Charleston until quite recently. SO long
as there was any real attempt ut the en-
forccmcnt of the law, the opposition in
Charleston was positive and undcniablc,
backed by the power of the political
machine which held sway for so many
years. Governor McSwccncys admins
tration has changed this aspect Of
affairs, not as measure Of "pcace and
unity but az a realization that both
elements can find more satisfaction in
pursuing different lac of policy. The
blind tigers are practically unmolcstcd,
while dispcnsarics flourish from the I'M
ccasing patronage Of the tigers. The
increased consumption Of liquor thus
sold by the dispcnsarics enhances the
revenue of the city and county, which
receives 80 per cent Of the dispcnsary
profits. In return for this happy state
of affairs more than 70 per cent of
Charlcston's vote has gone for McSwcc-
ncy, who is the beneficiary in this in
stance, and will remain in political favor
so long as he creates no disturbance Of
the present situation.
''South Carolina furnishes the humili-
ating spectacle Of a chief magistrate re-
coivng support by reason OF the non
enforcement Of one of it's most mpor-
tant laws. His connivancc at open and
general violation Of this law has been
constantly rcbukcd on the hustings by
Mc Mcssrs. Gary and Patterson, and he has
been challenged time and again during
the campaign to issue instructions to the
| constablcs to make raids upon the places
where liquor is openly and illegally sold, +,
al M iIin f<,
coniiscatc supplies. Governor McSwcc-
ncy's response has been to read nstruc-
tions issued to constablcs in June, 1895,
which instructions have been notoriously
disrcgardcd, and to make the plea that
the cOnstabics must furnish bonds in
scizing fixtures, which he seemed to re-
gard as a hardship. The State has
reached a low ebb when it's officials can
not be provided with the necessary
backing to carry out a very ordinary
provision Of The law. 1t is pitiable
confession on the part Of the Governor,
but not more so than his frequent adj
missions in the campaign that the dis
pcnsary law cannot be enforced in
Charleston, while in almost the Same
breath mo a5oGrtci IOdntiiy thai tie law
was better enforced under his admstra-
ton than at any time since it has been
on the statute books. The people can
take their choice Of these declarations
while they arc considering the election
returns in Charleston.
"a great deal has been said in the
campaign about the support which
would be given mo by the liquor interest
and the public will recall a famous dc
claration at l'cnncttsvillc that the
preachers and the whiskcy men were in
an unholy alliance, led by Col. IIoyt.'
What are the facts The dispcnsarics
constitute the chief liquor interest in
South Carolina, and their support GER
tainly did not come to me. No ono can
produce disponsary constable who
voted or worked for me. Tho whskcy
certainly against me, and it is freely as
serted that their liquor was used i'm be-
half Of Governor McSwccncy. The
blind tigers in Columbia and Charleston
arc said to havc been unanimous for the
Governor, and so far as know not a
man who is dealing in liquor, either
legally or otherwise, cast his ballot i'm
my favor. What became OF the 'unholy
alliance " Tho fusion Of liquor inter
csts has been obvious to any man who
has watched tho progress Of events, and
tho roundup Of Senator rillman has