Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1900-08-01
but covered the ground.

or him, but he was delighted at these
expressions. He did not pose us be-
ing better or holier than others, but
he would allow no reflections to be
made as to him. He warned the peo-
pie to send members of the House
who would bring the situation back to
1892 when the voters stood for prOhibi-
tion. Until there is a fair and square
election on the liquor question II will
continue to come up. Too much
power to establish dispensaries he said
is given to county boards. He wanted
the dispensary wiped out and prohibi-
tion put on the books The dispen-
sary has good features, but they are
not enforced. The dispensary is used
for everything and would supply the
tigers in order to increase the sale OF
liquor.
G.. Walt Whitman kept the crowd in
a good humor by arguing that what
the people wanted was temperance and
not prohibition. The chief objection
was to drinking TO excess. The dis
pensary has beep ehamed In the house
of its friends. The best regulation he
now thinks Is to license individuals
and corporations to sell liquor under
the constitutional regulations
The meeting adjourned for dinner.
After dinner Col Knox Livingston
spoke OF the express telegraph bill,
which be had passed. and fathered. He
complimented Senator Ragsdale. of
this county, and then discussed his
own work
Tol. James Fl. Tillman joked about
Col. Livingston and his platforms He
wanted TO reterate that be thoug..t all
negro schools ought to be closed. He
would never vote for appropriations for
cOlored college. He favored the dispen-
sary.
Mr.. Wlnkler was glad TO hear of the
new railroad between Kershaw and
Fairfield. He said his record was clear
in voting for increased pensions.
Col. John Sloan spoke OF the distin-
guished sons OF Fairfield and his re-
cord. The people Of the different coun-
ties should have what they want rs to
liquor. He knew the people could be
counted on and that would be the only
settlement
Mr. Cole l. Blease argued that the
preachers should talk for temperance.
but keep out OF politics. The whole
fight OF the Prohibiionists now was to
kill the dtspensary and that would
bring high kconse.
Senator Brice insisted on varying
the programme and presented Senator
Tillman and asked for three hearty
cheers. which were given. AS soon as
he was presented some one said: "Get
mad. Uncle Ben. and give it to EN-"
He thanked the audience and said he
was embarrassed by the existing con-
dtions. A campaign had been ordered
and he was expected to be present II
he did not attend his enemies would
says he had the swell head and that
sort of thing, md when ne did come
some said he tried to play boss and
dictate. and il was the same old thing
he would be damned If he did and be
damned If he did not. He owed the
people duty. He said: You are
mighty prone to 40 to sleep and if
can keep your eyes open 1t is my duty
| The News and Courier and the State
say I should keep out of the fight
am not here contending as to men 1t
is my duty to point out wherein and
why certain advocated policies ought
not to prevail. and | am present in de-
fence OF my administration. 7 am
charged with defeating prohibition
when il was voted for. Must remain
silent under all sort of charges and
| sermons? | think not"
Then Senator Tillman explained the
Prohibition vote of 1892 and how the
dispensary law was enacted II ma
jority had voted SOr prohibition he
would never have stood against II. He
cereainly needed no machine now, as
charged as no one would even run
"a on lrG L.. hn Il no
cause he had convictions and he simp-
ly spoke against prohibition because 1t
is no good He never was told he was
| TO be gagged after he got TO Washing
ton, and especially after he was under
fire and attack. His enemies did not
give him credit for any honesty or pa
triotism such as they claim for them
/ selves. They have used bad words
and sneered about me. The ministers
are good men. but they are wrong up
here. pointing 10 his hcad) They
had no right 10 attack him and he
would say nothing harsh or rude about
them. If he were "a self-seeking poll
tician and wanted to look out for him
self and not the people. he would go
around and talk sweet and not talk as
he did This abuse was enough to
make him mad. but he would not get
mad. He would be a coward if he did
not talk out. and was only sorry he
could not get where some people have
already been bamboozled. He knew
prohibition could only be farce ana
that was why he wanted the dispen-
sary. He did not want to make liars.
because he knew the people would
have thoir liquor. He was common
sense man and always acted as he
thought He differed with his miniis-
terial friends. or enemies. as they pre-
fer, about there being anything wrong
in selling liquor or the Bible opposed
its sale rs sin. He went over his
conclusions as the best method of
| teaching the people to use liquor mod
erately. The dispensary was then de-