The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-02-10
A GOOD BILL.
The State Senate Discusses at Length
an Anti Treating Law.
TO TREAT Or NOT TO TREAT.
1t Would Be Most Excellent Thing
If Such Law Were to Be
Passed and Be Strictly
Enforced.

To treat OF not to treat" was un-
doubtedly the question in the senate
Tuesday. The bill introduced by
Representative Doyle of Oconee, which
vas threshed to a mass Of pulp in the
house, was brought up after the calen-
dar had been read, and after a good
hour and a half had been devoted to
it's merits and dement's. The bill
provides that on election days no one
shall give away or sell liquors within
three miles Of the polls. This is man
ifestly to prevent repetition of the
public scandals caused by the alleged
wholesale distribution of 'booze'' dur
ing the general and municipal elec-
tions that have taken place in South
Carolina within the last half a de-
cade.
Senator Hay provoked the down.
pour OF verbiage that ensued, by NOV
ing to accept the majority report. 1t
seems that the committee on privi-
leges and elections, With the excep-
tion Of Senator Herndon, agreed to
report the bill unfavorably. Senator
Herndon, in whose county the bill
originated, aro>e Immediately to de-
fend the measure, saying that men
under the influence Of liquor could not
vote conscientiously, or if bribed were
not fit to vote. Senator Stanland
also favored the bill, having promised
some Of his constituents that he would
vote for it. he spoke OF the amount
Of whiskey circulated 10 the in
terest of certain candidates at the
last primary election, and cited this
as an instance which showed the need
for such statute.
Senator Brice was .nother support
er of the bill. 'L'rror used in an
election is always used by the worst
candidates, who show by its use that
they are unfit to hold Office" Even
though the statute were not rigidly
enforced (though it should be) the
moral effect OF the States condemna-
tion would be salutary.
Senator Hay said that every time
that law that it was known would
not be enforced was placed upon the
statute books, much more Of the pub
lies respect for the laws was destroyed.
AS for the sale Of liquor the dispense
ries are always closed on election days:
and at no other place should it be OBJ
tainable, were all Of the liquor laws
rigidly enforced. To pass this law
would be voting away personal right
that ought not to be taken away.
After Senator Mcleod had spoken
in support Of the bill the ayes and
nays were demanded on Senator Hays
motion to adopt the maj 'rity report,
which was rejected by a vote OF 1s to
10, which may be taken as an index OF
the bill.
Those who voted AYE" we're Sena-
tors hldrich, Hay, Hydrick, Marshall,
n liver, Peurifoy, G. w. Ragsdale,
Sharpe, Sheppard, Walker.
Those who voted nay were Sena,
tors, Blake, Brice, Butler, Carpenter,
Douglass, Gaines, Goodwin, Hardin,
Herndon, Hough, Johnson, Manning,
Mayfeld, Mcleod, Move, Raysor,
Stackhouse, Stanland, Williams.
An amendment vas offered 5y Sen
ator Raysor who wished to strike out
the words three miles," and insert
'the immediate vicinity" This was
vigorously opposed by Senators Hern'
don and Blake, because Of alleged in
defnioeness. More discussion ensued,
Senator G. W. Ragsdale speaking
against the bill. Senator Brice spoke
for the bill, Senator Mcleod on the
same position, and Senator J. W.
Ragsdale also.
Senator Sharpe thought that as to
the publication Of the public morals
miracles would have to be wrought to
do that.
Senator Brice: "Then you do ad-
nit that the politics OF the State are
corrupt"
Senator Sharpe: so / have heard
on every side this morning. Not 50
in my county,
This bill was finally killed.