The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-08-08
Challenges Cherokee.

and the prohibitionists in those
counties are undoubtedly exerting
| themselves to the utmost at this
time, but just as certain as like cause
produces like effect will it come to
pass that demoralization and failure
will result rllere as it has resulted in
Kansas and there are indications that
we are not getting the whole truth
about these counties. Now. some Of
my bitterest enemies have pretended
to find in my letter to Mr.. Higgins
basis for the idea that | am strad-
ding or weakening on the dispensary
issue. To such I say that they may
put their doubts to rest if they ever
had any. l shall fight for refor
nation in the dispensary and its
restoration to the original scheme
upon which it was organized. I
promised Mr.. Nettles and the other
prohibition leaders in the legislature
in December, 1892, that I would free
the state from barrooms and l did it
even in Charleston.
Where He Stands.
And I now say that if the legis-
lature now in power does not at its
next session, change the law so as to
reform the system, I will undertake.
if I am living and we'll next summer,
to fight for legislature that will re-
form it. I do not stand for de-
bauched and corrupt dispensary. I
will not fight for such. But I do
stand for the system as it was first
inaugurated, and regardless of con-
sequences to myself, will fight to puri-
fly and maintain it. l repeat what
I nave already said before. 1t is use
less to talk about selling liquor in
South Carolina under any system Of
license, high or low. have declared
and 1 believe it to be true that sa-
loon would never be opened in South
Carolina again. Destruction Of the
dispensary will mean of course free
rein of those who sell liquor illicitly,
but I prefer to see it sold thus rather
than see it placed in the hands of in
dividuals, private monopoly created
with the greater decentralization that
would follow. Fully one-third if not
more of those who are now bowling
for the destruction Of the dispensary
are avowed candidates Of high license,
and the prohibitionists dupe them
selves into the belief that they have
succeeded with the aid of these men
in destroying the dispensary, but they
can maintain prohibition. But pre-
dict that the fight will always be be-
tween prohibition and the dispensary
rather than between prohibition aand
license and in any event I shall use
every instrumentality in my power to
antagonize giving the right to sell IL
quor to private individuals.
I want this matter settled entirely
apart from my personal and political
fortunes. It is much greater ques-
ton for the people of South Caro-
lima as to how they shall wisely and
best govern the sale of liquor than
as to whether I or some one else rep
resents them in the senate. | know
there are many men who will vote for
me regardless of their former politi-
cal affiliations and OF their present at
titude on this question and it is prob
able that there will be many who will
be aggrieved at my activity in deal
ing with this question. I can not
help that. l have the same right and
interest in local affairs as any other
citizen and my elevation to the office
I now hold would have been suprned
had I felt that I would b> deprived
of freedom of speech and action be-
cause OF it. prefer to retire to private
life if it is the will of the people of
the state rather than surrender my
convictions in this important matter
and play the coward in dealing with
it,