Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-06-16
Miseellanenns geaaing.
WHERE MesWEENEY STANDS.
Asks For REELECTION as Endorsement OF
His Record.

After filing his pledge last Tuesday
Governor McSweeney gave out state
ment of the grounds on which he asks
for reelection. He points out that il
has been the custom to re.elect gov.
ernors whose first term has been sue
cessful, and invites the closest scrutiny
of his administration. He invites the
closest scrutiny of all his official acts
and stands ready to defend himself
against unfavorable criticism. His
chief plank has been to honestly do
right according to the best lights be.
fore him. Getting down to the proba-
BILE real issue of the campaign he says :
GAS to the dispensary, my position
on this question is well-known. In a
circular, which issued in August of
last year to the magistrates, stated
that I believed that the dispensary
system, if properly and wisely en-
forced, was the best solution of the
liquor question yet devised. took
the same position In my message to the
legislature, and I have had no occasion
to change my views on this subject.
Much of the opposition that formerly
existed to the dispensary system has
now been changed into its hearty sup
port, and even many of those who still
oppose it are willing to give it further
trial and have ceased their active op-
position.
1T also issued last year circular
letter to the mayors and intendapts Of
the towns and cities of the state ask
ing their cooperation in the enforce
ment of the law. They, with one ac-
cord, promised their hearty co.opera-
tion, and I believe the records will
bear me out in the statement that the
law has been better enforced during
the past year than ever before since it
was put on the statute books.
"I reduced the constabulary force,
and in the selection of constables have
endeavored to secure men of character
and standing, and am glad to say
that in the enforcement of the law
there has been no conflict between the
constables and citizens. The constab-
ulary force is now considerably smaller
than it was when I came into Office,
and I believe I can truthfully say,
without invidious comparisons, much
more efficient.
SIN the city of Charleston, by wise
and discreet management, we were en-.
abled to show that the United States
officers were using the custom house
as storage for the blind tiger whis-
kys, and, without conflict between the
state and the national authorities, and
as a result of the investigation in this
case, the most notorious Republican in
the state was removed from Office and
another, and, I hope, better man put in
his place.
"Of course there are still violations
of the law but whenever it has come
to my knowledge that the law was be.
ing violated, and the illicit sale of
whisky was being engaged in any com.
munity, have promptly sent officers
there with instructions, if possible, to
stop the illicit sales.
aI know there are good and true
men and Democrats who are honestly
and sincerely advocating prohibition /;
but am fully convinced that probibi-
tory laws will not promote temperance,
the object sought by these people, but
on the contrary, if prohibitory law
was enacted, blind tigers and the lille.
| it sale of whisky would increase, and
there would be no machinery and no
revenue with which to put stop to it.
For this reason many of those who are
in favor of the open barroom and the
sale of whisky are advocating prohibi-
ton, because they are convinced in
their own minds that prohibition will
he a failure, and if they can by these
means repeal the dispensary law they
feel that they will then be in posi-
tion to secure what they want-the
sale of whisky under license system.
I do not believe that it would be wise
or good judgment at this time to have
the state torn up by change of sys-
tenn for the handling of the liquor
question, and for that reason, if no
other, 1t would be better to let the dis
pensary system stand. If the honest
and sincere advocates of temperance
would stop and consider, I am sure
they would reach the conclusion that
the dispensary system, properly man.
aged and enforced, is better temper.
ance measure than prohibition would
be.
"In addition to this it is not the
province of the governor to enact laws !;
but simply to see that those placed on
the statute books by the legislative
department are enforced, and the cleo
ton of Prohibition governor would
not mean necessarily the enactm ent Of
prohibitory law.
1T will attend all of the campaign
meetings where they do not interfere
with my official duties"
ENCOUNTER BETWEEN SNAKE AND
RABBIT.-Mr. D. A. Leach, of Hoover
Hill. writes us of fight between q