The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-07-04
Wednesday, July 4, 1900.
Where Does Colonel Hoyt Stand

The fact that The Mountaineer very recently
invited all opponents OF the dispensary to
unite in breaking down that Institution; the
endorsement OF Colonel Hoyt's candidacy py
The State on the ground that he was not
fanatical prohibitionist and that people OF Ihe
States way of thinking on the liquor ques-
tion. would be better pleased with him tnan
with McSweeney, together with the utterance
of Colonel Hoyt's paper on high license. left
no doubt on our mind as TO Col. Hoyt's posi-
tion, but now the fact that Mr.. Keys attempts
to explain away Colonel Hoyt's RESPONSE
bility for the "high license" editorial raises
other questions.
/. II Col. Hoyt was not in favor Of high
license, and did not endorse the "high
license" editorial, why did he not make the
explanation at the tine? He allowed that
impression to GO abroad uncorrected for four
teen years, tuntll he became candidate)
2. II Col. Hoyt is q prohibitionist, pure and
simple. why did The Mountaineer, OF which
he was sole editor, propose to unite with all
persons who are opposed to the dispensary?
s. If Colonel Hoyt is an unqualified pro.
hibitionist why has he not corrected The
States editorial in which 1t was stated that
he was not q "fanaticar" prohibitionist, but
would please the license people better than
Gov. McSweeney?
4. Why does he not state his position,
40 that there may be no misapprehension as
to his principles?
5. Where does Col. Hoyt stand, anyhow
Has he made any declaration Of principles
If Prohibition Legislature Is not elected
does he intend TO enforce the dispensary law
or does he expect then, as now, to coquel
with the saloon men? To which OF the op
posing factions does he proprose to align him.
plain to the public the reason which impels
the saloon men to espouse his cause?
The saloon men are not natural born fools,
II he has made no promise or held out nc
hope to the saloon men for favors from him
II elected Governor, why are the we'll known
bitterest opponents of prohibition support
ing him? Col. Hoyt ought to explain this
most extraordinary proceeding.
Col. Hoyt in his address had much 10 say
about the wickedncss OF the dispensary. Did
he tell anybody how he stood as to prohibi.
tion, II elected. and If We cannot have pro,
hibition, whether he would enforce the dis
pensary or continue to cater for the 8oot
graces Of the license men.
This campaign has been called q CIRCUS. II
all circuses there are horse back riders. II
some of the circuses men ride tvs horses
going the same way, but we have Aever seer
a man try to ride two horses thsX were run
ming in opposite directions. TIE Temperance
horse running with the liYdor horse is some
thing unheard of before, and II the man VIII,
! attempts to ride these two horses doesn't ge
I a fall he will certainly be an expert rider.
! nCol. HoYt was not responsible for the
editorial - the Baptist Courier, and If he hat
I nothing to do with extending the invitation
to all opponents OF The dispensary to join to
lgether in grand effort to put new men il
Aofice, and If he is simon pure prohibition
}ist from principle, then he should have cor
(rected the utterance by The State. whicl
lolaimed him as the saloon candidate, o
words to that effect. He should have sait
something like this in reply to The State:
"Don't be mistaken; am prohibitions
frpm principle, and will never align mysel
with the saloon element of The State. If th'
LEGISLATURE does not enact a prohibitory law
shall enforce the dispensary law more vigor
oulsly than 1t has ever been done before.
anh prohibitionist from principle and will
do nothing to lessen the present restriction
placed on the sale OF liquor"
f Col Hoyt had made speech like that h
would have commanded public confidence II
s&ch degree that his prohibition principle
would not have been doubted by anybody
lf Col. Hoyt runs with the liquor men an,
the prohibitionists at the same time, an
gains the coveted prize, he will be q most n
parkable man.