Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-12-22
The Constabulary.

so cOnSIaDleS are 10 De sent pdCh
to York county, at the request Of coun-
ty officials and Senator Brice. This
seems curious when we take in consid-
Grafton the allegation that is contin-
ually made to us that where county
votes for prohibition that fact shows
that public sentiment Is back Of 1t and
that sentiment would see to it that
prohibition Is enforced. There seems
to be something wrong with the allega-
ton or with public sentiment and We
would like for somebody to explain to
US what Is the trouble. In York, for
instance, did the vote in the dispensary
election represent the sentiment Of the
majority. If so, why is it necessary to
call in outside aid to enforce the law?
The truth is that the enforcement Of
prohibition is a dream which cannot be
realized and we might as we'll realize
the fact from what experience we have
already had with 1t and consider the
question from a practical standpoint.
Columbia Record.
There is something about this matter
that TILE ENQUIRER does not under
stand. When the Record said that the
constables were sent back to York at
the request of Senator Brice, we tele-
phoned the senator and he said he knew
nothing Of the matter. That statement
was published and the Record came
back at US as above.
Now, THE ENQUIRER does not want
to be understood as objecting to the
half mill levy if it is necessary to en-
force prohibition, or If it can do any
good toward enforcing prohibition; but
we have no hesitation in saying that in
our opinion the levy and expenditure
Of this tax on state constables is worse
than useless.
It has not been our observation that
the state constabulary has ever been
able to do any effective work in the
suppression of the liquor traffic either
in dispensary or -dispensary coun-
ties, and we have been impressed with
the idea that the constabulary machine
is a kind of a law unto itself more or
less independent of the statutes. We
do not refer to individual constables;
but to the management Of the constab-
ulary.
For instance, some time back, a con-
stable who happened to be in Yorkville
attending court told policeman of
negro that he, the constable, had seen
getting off a train with some contra
band liquor. The constable said he was
positive as to his facts and the police
man asked why he, the constable, did
not arrest the negro himself. The con-
stable replied that he had orders not
to work" II Yorkville. This is true
business of a state officer of the law
to work anywhere in the state. and
about the only excuse there could be
for instructions not to work in York
vile was to assist in showing that the
Jaw could not be enforced here.
We believe the law can be enforced
by local officials alright and we would
have 10 objection whatever to the
levy of a half mill tax for the suppress
sion of the liquor traffic, provided the
money be spent under the direction and
control of local officials, the sheriff and
magistrates for Instance; but TO levy
such a tax to be expended under the di-
rection of the constabu!ary machine
does not meet our approval. In one case
the money will be used to suppress the
liquor business and it will be used sue
cessfully. In the other case ii will be
used to show us how the liquor busi-
ness cannot be suppressed and how not
only is prohibition a failure; but the
dispensary abomination, with all its in
dividual corruption and graft is the
only way the liquor business can be
successfully managed.