The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-10-26
Is 1t Not Time TO Abate the Nuisance L:

Is 1t Not Time To Abate the Nuisance:
Mr.. Thos. T. LaMotte, of Columbia, is great.
ly exercised over the increase OF crime in
this State, and, like a good Christian in the
discharge OF duty 10 his Maker and to his
fellowman he seeks TO find out the cause o.
the decadence in good behavior in South
Carolina.
In looking around and surveying the field,
Mr.. LaMotte has come to the deliberate opip
ion that the dispensary, and not The blind
tigers, has something TO, do with crime. lp
his opinion we are certain that our good
brother is in error. And we think we cap
prove it.
Immediately after establishment of the dis
pensary the official reports from towns ali
over the State indicated a great reduction in
crime, and the number of arrests for drunken,
ness was reduced to a minimum. We be.
lieve that nobody will deny this.
Now. let US look into the Law and Order
League, Its history, and Its effect on the pub.
lie morals.
Mr.. LaMotte proves by specific and definite
figures that crime has greatly Increased with
the passing months ever since the organiza-
ton OF the Law and Order League.
II facts are figures are worth anything they
prove conclusively that MIR. LaMotte's favor
lite organization is simply sending this coun.
try to the demnition bow-wows.
Since the organization OF that League crime
has greatly increased and, outside of the
presence OF the Law and Order League, We do
not know OF any cause for 1t. Drunkenness,
has increased, and hasn't lawlessness and
crime increased at an extraordinary rate
since the League came into existence ?
II that League is not responsible for the in
crease in lynchipg we would like to know
who is responsible for the reprehensible
practice.
The dispensary has been here for years, and
we were getting along very nicely Until the
Law and Order League came on the scene.
We have q fearful condition Of lawlessness
from one end OF the State to the other. The
fact is, that matters are getting SO bad that
somebody ought TO be arrested. If, then.
anybody ought TO be arrested, why not lock
up the Law and Order League until such
time as their activity and doings can be IN.
vesiigated. 1t is time an example was made
OF such people as show that crime has so
much increased since they organized for the
bpcCluC puIpOsC VI LuCuullue Will IL
administration Of the law of the land.
Seeing the fearful effects resulting from the
actings u doings of the Law and Order
League, the United States Government may
class that League with the Kuklux Klans,
and send Merrill back to South Carolina
where, about twenty years ago, he gave the
law and order people of that day the jim
jams.
The United States should not be encouraged
in intermeddling with State or local affairs
is 1t not therefore the duty of the Governor
and the Legislature to look after the Law and
Order people and require the members TO re-
frain from increasing crime and lawlessness ?
II. the Law and Order League has become
q public nuisance, and the existence OF that
.Leagne is a menace to the peace and good
behaviour of the people, then the Governor
and the Legislature should proceed at once to
abate the nuisance.
This people have borne much in the past,
but the limit of endurance seems 10 have
been reached when they were afflicted by the
presence of the Law and Order League.