The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-06-29

Entered at the Postoflce at Manning as Sec
ono Class matter
SELECT CANDIDATES lNTELLleENTly.
A few weeks ago we directed
attention to the still-hunt tactics
being employed to disrupt the
dispensary, and we still believe
there is an effort being made to
accomplish by quiet means what
failed in the open. The liquor
question at best is serious, and
if we could but get the pesky
thing settled there would be
peace, but as long as men Will
drag it into politics it cannot be
settled, b ecause politicians
whether they be Prohibltionlsts,
dispensaryites: or local optionists
will haves stalking horse to ride
in our primaries.
We believe there is an under
standing throughout the State
that the Prohibitionists put men
up for the legislature, but not to
reveal the issue, and it would
not surprise US in the least to
see men in this County candi-
dates who are known to be pro-
hibitionists. We have no objec-
tions to Prohibitionists running
but we do object, If their pur-
pose is to change our dispensary
system, without letting people
know it. If a man wants to go
to the legislature to help destroy
the dispensary, if he will make
his purpose known, and he is
elected, then he has the endorse
ment Of his people and it will be
his duty to go to Columbia and
use every effort to destroy it, but
if he keeps his purpose from the
people, and because of their
apathy, or other reasons, sneaks
his way to the legislature, and
then joins with those who are
bent upon destroying the dispen
sary, it will be bad faith. The
people should look out for this,
and when the candidates appear
upon the hustlings they should
be required to declare their posi-
ton upon this question.
AS for US, we do not favor any
tinkering with dispensary legis-
lation, except that the General
Assembly enact a law fixing a
time for all of the counties of the
State to hold an election where
by the question ''Dispensary," "
Prohibition" or License" may
be submitted to the people, and
the counties to adopt the system
they vote upon themselves. IN
less the legislature does this we
favor letting the thing alone. as
it is doing very nicely in coun-
ties where the system is wanted
Notwithstanding the fact, that in
other counties it is obnoxious.
We do not believe it is right to
force a system upon a people
against their will, and in prohibi-
ton counties, those people should
not be forced to submit to the sale
ofliouor. There are communities
in this State where the sale of
liquor is offensive, this ought
not to be, and such communities
should be permitted to be re-
lieved; other communities regard
the dispensary with favor, be-
lieving it to be a good liquor reg
ulation, and prefer it to either
license or prohibition; they re-
gard prohibition an impractical
theory and license a nuisance,
such communities should have
the dispensary. Then in very
few communities the license sys-
tenn is favored, because it is be-
lieved that by it, there woald be
a greater respect for al law, and
a better enforcement of regula-
tions for the sale of liquor
The object of this article, how
ever is not to raise the liquor issue
but to warn our readers to keep
their eyes open when they vote
for legislators that they do not
vote for man blindly. We donot
believe in permitting any man to
sneak into Office. He should be
required to show his hand, this
thing of electing men to legisla-
tive positions without question
isnot likely to sultnusatisfacto-
ry, therefore to avoid mistakes,
can do no harm to ask the candi-
dates for the legislature if they
favor breaking up the dispen-
sary.
POLITICAL GRAFT.