The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-09-06
COL. HOYT ISSUES A
STIRRING APPEAL
THE TIME HAS COME FOR THE
ASSERTION OF MANHOOD

"THE TIME HAS COME FOR THE
ASSERTION OF MANHOOD"
He Has met Concentrated Attack
Odds Were Against Him, But On
| slought OF tho Other Candidates
and Tillman's Thrusts were Par
rtod.
Columbia State.
Col. Jas. A. Hoyt, the prohibition
candidate for governor, has been in
the City Tor day or 30 and before
leaving for his homo In Greenyille ves.
| terdsy he was asked II he had ANYTHING
to say for publication in view of the
second race for governor. He made
this statement In reply:
Yes, l desire to express nv cordial
and hearty appreciation Of the fiatter-
Ing support received In the first prl-
mary, which has met my expectations
30 far as my own vote is concerned,
and Ia fully as large percentage ss
could have been reasonably counted
upon. The odds against me- In the
campaign were difficult to overcome,
and tho onset made in tho last few
Weeks was almost unprecedented in
the primaries OF this State, for no stone
was left unturned that would operate
to my disadvantage. l was compelled
TO meet the onslaughts OF the other
candidates for governor, and in addi.
tion to parry the thrusts OF Senator
Tlllman. The outcome OF the concen-
trated attack upon my position In the
contest may be lefs to conjecture, but
1t is assuredly gratifying that 80 large
proportion OF my follow -citizens Of
their own free will and accord csst
their ballots and threw the weight of
their influence against political boss.
ism In South Carolina. 1t ought to be
well understood that my election stands
for thorough independence OF action in
tho executive office, without the dicta-
tion and manipulation Of any man, and
without the controlling bias of factional
interests.
The time has come for the ssser
tion OF manhood and OF personal choice
IN the selection Of q chief mag istrate,
and while my vote largely represents
positive conviction as to the manage.
ment of the liquor question ip South
Carolina, the prohibition Democrats
are also In sympathy with that senti-
ment which resenta the domination of
political leaders who would suppress in
dividuality and make the bulk of the
voters subservient TO the will OF a few
men. Only In certain localities In this
State can machine politics prevail,
and we have a striking instance now
that extrem.s can be made 10 meet
The dispensary law has been fought
with rancor and persistence In the city
Of Charleston until quite recently. So
long as there was any real attempt at
the enforcement Of the law, the ov-
position in Charleston was positive
and undeniable, backed by the power
Of the political machine which held
sway for 80 many years. Governor Nc
Sweeneys administration has changed
this aspect OF affairs, not as q measure
Of peace and unity" but as a realiza-
tion that both clements can find more
satisfaction In pursuing different line
Of policy. The blind tigers are practi-
cslly unmOlested, while the dispen-
saries flourish from the unceaslng pa
tronage OF the tigers. The Increased
consumption OF liquor thus sold by the
dispensaries enhance the revenue OF
the city and county, which receive 90
per cent. OF the dispensary profits. In
return for this happy state of affairs
more than 70 per cent. OF Charlestons
vote has gone to Governor McSweeney,
who is the beneficiary in this instance,
and will remain In political favor 90
long as he creates no disturbance of
the present situation.
"South Carolina furnishes the hu.
initiating spectacle OF chief magic.
trate receiving political support by
reason OF the non-enforcement OF one
of its most important laws. Hie conni-
vance at open and general violation of
this law has been constantly rebuked
on the hustings by Messrs. Gary and
Patterson, and he has been challenged
time and again during the campaign
to isaue instruction to the constabies
to make raids upon the places where
liquor is openly and illegally sold, au-
thOrizinR them to seize fxtures and
confiscate supplies, Governor Nc.
SHeepey's response has been to read
Instructions Issued to constsbles In
June, 1899, which iustructions have
been notoriously disregarded, and to
make the plea that constables must
furnish bonds In seizlng fixtures,
which he seemed to regard as hard
ship. The State has reached q low ebb
when It's officials cannot be provided
with the necessary backing to carry
out very ordinary provision OF the
law. 1t Ia o pitiable confession on the
part OF the governor, but not moro 30
than his frequent admissions In the
campaign that the dispensary law can
not be enforced In Charleston, while
In almost the Same breath he has as
serted thai the law was better en-
forced under his administration than
at any time 1t has been on the statute
books. The people can take their
choice Of these declarations while they
are considering the election returns in
Charleston.
" A great deal has been said In the
campaign about the support which
would be given to me by the liquor In.
terest, and the public will recall o
famous declaration at Bennettsville
that the preachers and the whiskey
mon were in an unholy alliance, led
by Colonel Hoyt.' What are the faotsP
The dispensaries constitute the chief
liquor interest in South Carolina, and
their support certainly did not come
TO me. No one can produce o dispen.
ser or dispensary constable who voted
or worked for me. The whiskey dis
tillers in the mountain counties were
certainly against me, and it is freely
asserted that their liquor was used In
behalf Of Governor McSweeney. The
blind tigers In Columbia and Charles
ton are said to have been unaninoua