The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-12-27
THE SUPREME COURT
SHOULD NOT DELAY.
Senator TiiInan Says the Tribunal is
Itself on Trial.

Itself on Trial.
PEOPLE DISTRUST The BOARD.
Defeat of the Dispensary Under Brice
Law Elections a Protest Against the
Management.
Augusta, Ca, December 21.-sana-
tor Benjamin R. Tillman OF South
Carolina was in the city today for a
few hours. The senator was able to
talk for only a short while but during
that time he said few things about
politics that are Of interest to the pub
lie.
Senator Tillman was asked as to the
dispensary situation in South Carolina
and he said that in his opinion the re-
cent voting out Of the dispensary in
the various counties was but an ex-
preston of the people Of dissatisfac-
ton, with the present board Of direc-
tors Of that institution.
senator, what do you think Of the
recent actions by the Supreme court Of
South Carolina?" asked the States
representative.
..In nay opinion the supreme court
| is trying to shirk the duty imposed
upon it by law. They have tried ev-
cry means to avoid the issue and the
people have the right to demand taat
these questions be settled at once"
seWhat do you think Of the investi-
eating commission?"
.'The commission started right and
as yet have only scratched the sur
face of the rottenness Of the dispen-
sary and if they had been empowered
by the legislature OF authorized by the
courts to imprison witnesses for con-
tempt no doubt they would have ac-
compIished much. But as it now is,
the commission is under the concur
rent resolution passed by the legisla-
ture, powerless to compel the witness
les to testify and while Idoubt very
much if the commission can legally
do so, the supreme court ought to de-
eide the point. If the court will say
that the commission has the right to
rule. witnesses in contempt then they
can accomplish much. This point
should be decided by the court with
out further delay, for the court now
has the entire confidence Of the peo-
| ole but if they shirk their duty this
time their usefulness to a large ex-
| tent is at an end
Senator Tillman here went on to
say that the action of the court in
lodging the issue will have the effect
of ending the work of the investigat-
ing commission, for the legislature
| meets on the 9Th Of January and at
the present rate the court would not
have decided the question by that
time.
| The senator said that the commits
sion had done good work and if it had
not been hampered by the defective
resolution it would have undoubtedly
lbeen able to show to the legislature
at the next session some things that
Iwould have enabled the legislature tc
take some decisive action.
| sI cannot understand" said the
senator, chow the lawyers in the leg.
is,ature could have permitted such 8
resolution to pass. 1t was only a con.
] current resolution, and did not receive
the signature of the governor and
do not think that the commission
thus created can rule witness II
] contempt. But at present the com
mission is bound and unless the cour
grants the power sought by it the
members will only have scratched tht
rcttenrtess."
What do you think of the recen
voting out of the dispensary in the va
rious counties and especially in Edge
field, your home county?"
well, to start with, the Brice Law
only allows about one-third of th'
people to vote and I take voting ou
of the dispenasry by these countie
as protest against the manner il
which the present board of director
conduct the business
What about the board Of contro
now in office?'
81 understand that at the mex
meeting Of the legislature the presen
members will stand for reelection
using this as a means to get vidica
ton from the charges that have beer
so sweepingly made. II they do stant
all that I am going to do is to watch