The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1905-11-22
An Open Letter.
OFFICE OF

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Dear Sir:
Since seeing you, I have decided 20
answer your letter OF the llth INST. anu
permit the same to be publish SO tne
people Of the County can see for them
selves whether or not I am doing WHAT
nv cath of Office requires me to 90. 1
shall not make answer to the unground-
ed and unfair insinuations IN your letter
further than to make this statement:
that the evil minded are themselves
most apt to suspect others OF evil.
Now as to the matter Of ordering an
election on etthe question Of 'D1spensary
or No Dispensary. ;" In order that
NAV be the better understood, WILL
quote the law ON the question: Upon
the petition Of one-f fourth of the qualified
voters Of each County for an election up
on either the,question of the establish
ment OF the removal Of Dispensar1es
therein being fled with the County
Supervisor Of each County, he shall
order an election submitting the ques.
ton of ssDispensary" No Dispensary
to the qualified voters Of such County,
which shall be conducted as other spe-
cial elections &C..
do not propose to discuss the merits
or the demerits Of the law, but | do
propose to follow that law, as best can,
when question comes before me to
which 1t applies, as in this case. 1t Will
be seen from the law above quoted that
the petition therein referred to must be
signed by qualified voters and no one
else. and those qualified voters on the
petition must constitute one-fourth OF
the qualified voters in the County. II
The law doesn't mean that, what does 1t
mean? Does it mean that the Super
visor is to take any list Of names and
presume that they are all qualified
voters in the absence Of any showing to
that effect? Then supposing that it be-
granted that all the names contained
on petition are the names of qualified
voters, is the Supervisor to presume
that they constitute ,one,fourth Of the
qualified voters of the County when the
Registration Books show on their face to
the contrary? I think mott I can't see
how any fair minded man could. Let
us suppose for the purposes Of this letter
chat there was no Dispensary in this
County and the question was that Of
whether or not we would vote one In,
would the good people of this County
who favor prohibition sanction my ac-
tien If should order an election when
no further showing had been made than
has been made in this case. To do so
would be to set aside the clear purpose
and intent Of the law and every good
probibitionists you'd have q good right to
complain. Then am to disregard the Law
in one instance and live up toit in an
other? Not so. It is my purpose to en-
force it in either event let come who
may. And here reiterate that [ am
ready and willing to order the election
as soon as the showing is made before
me that the Jaw requires should be made.
a petition has been handed me con-
tanning 1917 names, at least purportlng
to have that mauy, and there appears
on the Registration Books Of this County
upwards of $500 names, if my memory
serves me right. No showing has made
to the effect that the names on the petit
ton are qualified voters. Am to pre-
sumo that they are? Am also to pre-
sumo that they constitute one-fourth OF
the qualified voters when the Registra-
ton Books show that they don't? Be
fair, Mr. Edwards, and look at both sides
Of This matter, comply with the law and
get your election. You shall have it if
you will only do that.
Remember also, Mr. Edwards. that l
told you I would meet you in Lexington
any day you wonld name for the pur-
pose of going over these names and
learning whether or no they were quail
fed voters. promised you, and any Of
those who favor the election being
ordered, all the assistance [ could render
in the matter You have not seen fit to
avail yourself of that opportunity, yet I
will give you another chance end: will
again make you the same proposition.
I do not make it to you alone, but to
any, and all, who are deSirous Of having
this election ordered The law doesn't
require me to hunt up this evidence, but
that the good people may see that I an
not biased in the matter, I am willing to
render what assistance can III an effort
to determine the Huth of the matter.
Surely, MI. Edwards, you are not afraid
of the TRUTH If you are not, then come
ahead and lets you and I and others as