The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1900-04-18
IS CLARENDON FOR PRoEIBITEoNe

Under the call OF the cOuuIt cHaiA
man as required by the constitution OF
the Democratic party. the clubs w ss-
semble on Saturday, 18th inst, al ,helr
respective places Of meeting for the
purpose of sending delegates to the
county convention which assemblies at
the court house on Monday, 1th day OF
Nav. This convention will proceed to
elect county chairman, memoer OF
the State Democratic committee and
delegates to the State convention, which
assemblies in Columbia on the 10th day
of May for the purpose OF electing
State chairman and delegates to the
national convention which meets at
Kansas City on the 4th day OF July.
At present we know OF no open tight
being made on any particular issue, but
we believe that there is fight going
on by the way Of a still hunt. We be-
lieye the Prohibition element is quietly
taking advantage OF the political calm
to capture the party organization,
that element Of the party relying on
the peoples Indifference more than on
the numbers in their own ranks, and if
they can succeed in capturing the par
tvs machinery they hope thereby to
get an advantage.
Now, if the people OF Clarendon are
ready to try the prohibition experiment
there is no use in hiding about it-they
can come out square and make the IS
sue. It is a question OF opinion solely:
as far as we are concerned we do not
believe prohibition at all practicable,
and were such law enacted it would
amount to very little less than farce.
The country would have liquor flowing
in every by-path and drunkenness would
increase, and besides, we would not
only put upon our statute books law
which amounts to naught as far as its
practicability is concerned, but we
bring about condition which cuts of
our revenue and thereby increases
taxes. The people are now groaning
under the heavy yoke OF taxation and
our Representative are faithfully try
ing to tighten this burden. How can
they do so if the people cut off very
important portion Of the revenue?
Does it need any calculation to show
the people where the revenue is cut OF
and the expense Of running the govern
ment must go on that an increase in
the tax levy is bound to be made to
meet this expense? II prohibition
would decrease the expenses Of the
government, then there might be some
reasoning in favor OF cutting off reve-
nue., but we do not believe it will de-
crease the expenses Of the government
one cent, and such q law may make an
increase in the expenditures without
accomplishing the results hoped for by
men who are sincerely working for pro
hibition.
If the democracy OF Clarendon is for
prohibition, we know of no better way
of indicating such q view than at the
coming convention = make the issue
square in the election of county
chairman. The county chairman should
by all means represent the wishes of
the majority On any public question.
We donot believe in any ''shilly-shally"
policy, and if there is to be a contest
on the question OF Prohibition or Dis
pensary let every delegate enter the
convention representing the wishes of a
majority of his club and not himself.
We have made a study OF the views
OF the Democrats of this county and un-
less we are wofully mistaken, it is our
opinion that at least so per cent Of the
voters favor continuance of the dis
pensary system-they are satisfied the
system has dore good and is continuing
to do so. and they are not yet ready to
plunge the country in a condition of
chaos, Notwithstanding the sophistries
Of some good men whose zeal has
warped their Judgment on this question,
and when the issue is made, whether in
the county convention or in the pri-
mary, the majority holding such views
will vote against prohibition.
If, in the coming county convention
there is an issue made on the questions
of Prohibition and Dispensary, do not
allow the personal popularity of indi-
viduals to becloud the issue. Vote for
the issue you believe to be the wishes
of the club you represent, and not for
a man or set OF men. To Illustrate; if
a man is nominated for county chair
man, and he favors the continuance of
the dispensary system, matters not
how much you like him personally, vote
against him il you are representing q
club, a majority of the members of
which are for prohibition; if you do
not, you are misrepresenting the wish
es of your constituents and YOU have
abused the confidence reposed in you.
Then ON the other hand, if your clubs
favor the dispensary system, it is your
duty, and you owe it to the people who
have entrusted you to represent them,
20 vote against a man for county chair
man who is for Prohibition.