The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-09-05
COL. HOYT ISSUES A
STIRRING APPEAL
THE TIME HAS COME FOR THE
ASSERTION OF MANHOOD"


He Has Met Concentrated Attack
Odds Were Against Him, But On
slaught OF the Other Candidates
and 'Tiliman's Thrusts Were Par
ried.
Columbia State.
Col. Jas. A. Hoyt, the prohibition
candidate for governor, has been in
the city for q day or so and before
leaving for his home In Greenville yes
to say for publication in view OF the
second race for governor. He made
this statement in reply:
" Yes, | desire to express my cordial
and hearty appreciation Of the Halter
ing support receiyeI in the first pri-
mary, which has met my expectations
so far rs my own vote Ia concerned,
and is fully as large percentage as
could have been reasonably counted
upon. The odds against me in the
campaign were difficult to overcome,
and the onset made In the last few
weeks WAS almost unprecedented in
the primaries OF this State, for no stone
was left unturned that would operate
to my disadvantage. | was compelled
to meet the onslaughts Of the other
tion to parry the thrusts OF Senator
Tillmau. The outcome of the concen-
trated attack upon my position in the
contest be left to con lecture, but
it is ass. ,uly gratifying that so large
proportion Of my fellow-Litizens OF
their own free will and accord cast
their ballots and threw the weight OF
their influence against political ooss-
ism in South Carolina. 1t ought to be
well understood that my electiC stands
for thorough independence OF action In
the 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 asser
tion OF manhood and OF personal choice
In the selection OF chief magistrate,
and while my vote largely represents
poeitive conviction as to the manage.
ment OF the liquor question in South
Carolina, the prohibition Democrats
are also in sympathy with that senti.
ment which resent3 the domination of
political leaders who would suppress in
dividuality aud make the bulk OF the
voters subservient to the will OF u few
men. Only in certain localities in this
State can machine politics prevail
and we have q striking instance now
that extremes 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 op
position in Charleston was positive
and undcniable, backed by the power
OF the political machine which held
sway for so many years. Governor Nc
Sweeney's administration has changed
this aspect OF affairs, not as measure
OF peace and unity but as u realiza-
tion that both elements can find more
satisfaction In pursuing a.diiferent line
Of policy. The blind tigers are practi-
cally unmolested, while the dispen-
saries flourish from the unceaslng pa.
tronage OF the tigers. Tho increased
consumption of liquor thus sold by the
dispepsariea eg4dhhht3CH wtlGh hreyepiHe yGi,f OF OF
per cent. OF the dispensary profits. TU
return for this happy state OF affair
moro than 10 per cent. Of Charlest0o,s
vote has gone to Governor McSweenev,
who Is the beneficiary In this instance,
and will remain in political favor so
long as he creates no disturbance of
the present situation.
South Carolina furnishes the hu-
initiating spectacle OF chief magis-
trate receiving political support by
reason OF the non-en forcement of one
OF its most important laws. His cCra!-
vance at open and general violation of
this law has been constantly rebuked
on the hustings by Messrs. Gary ard
Patterson, and he has been challenged
time and again during the campaign
to issue instruction TO the constabi
to make raids upon the places where
liquor is openly and illegally sold, au
thoriZing them to seize iXtures and
confiscate supplies, Governor Nc
Sweepey's response has been to read
instructions issued to constsbles in
June, 1899, which instructions have
been VIGOROUSLY disregarded, and To
mt Ike the plea that constables must
furnish bonds in seiZing fixtures,
which he seemed to regard as u hard
ship. The State has reached q low ebb
when Its officials cannot be provided
with the necessary backing to carry
out very ordinary provision OF the
law. 1t Is q pitiable confession on the
part OF the governor, but not more so
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 that 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 thew
are considering the election returns In
Charlt ston.
= 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 a
famous declaration at Bennettsville
that the preachers and the whiskey
men were In an unholy alliance, led
by Colonel Hoyt. What are the facts?
The dispensaries constitute the chief
liquor interest in South Carolina, and
their support certainly did not come
to me. No one can produce dispen.
ser or dispensary constable who voted
or worked for me. The whiskcy 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 unanimous
Tor the governor, and SO far as know
not man who Is dealing In LIQUOR,
either legally or otherwise, cast his
ballot In my favor. What became of
the 'unholy alliance? p The fusion of
liquor interests has been obvious to
auy man who has watched the progress
nf ha 4 d