The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-08-16

SA>AAD.
whether sspolitical enemies" are
seeking the downfall of a leader
or not, the Truth is what the
people should have, and it IS
what they are yearning for. II
a political idol has gone wrong,
fasten it upon him with the truth,
matters not If it be a United
States Senator, a State Senator,
or a dispenser, or a "nlgger"
who ::toted whiskey in a bag
from dispensers house" to sell
for the dispensers private
pocket: let the Investigation in
vestigate, without fear or favor,
and without respect to persons.
| It must be conceded that the
dispensary as it has been man
aged, is an incubus; we must
get relief. Senator Tillman says
Fit has been managed by a set
of rascals." We think he should
now help to find out who they
are. He should not plead that
| ::his political enemies" are try
| inc to pull this temple Of his
down upon his head. He and his
political interest is of small
consideration now, the honor
and welfare of the State of South
Carolina is at stake; our people
are wearied and sickened. and
are becoming impoverished by
this constant drain on our
body polite; patriotism should
require him to help bring
about a healthier condition with
out considering for a minute his
personal interests.
There are many of US IN this
|State who do not stand for Pro
hibition, believing it to be a
theory which cannot be efectu-
ully put into practice, unless it
lis localized, and, is the sincere
desire of the communities that
want it-who believe, that mas
much as liquor will be drunk
and sold, Local Option will be
the solution of the liquor prob
lem, but so tired are they of the
sickening fumes arising from the
present dispensary system that
unless the authorities in control
loosen up on their tyrannical
grip, and crafty the wishes of
the people for local self-govern-
ment, those of US who are not
willing for the States future
welfare to be based upon a code
of morals such as will be newt
able if the corrupt institution
continues, will lay aside our
objections to a theory, and
join the Prohibition forces
to break up an institution
which is disgrace to mankind.
The very air stinks with the
corruption in the dispensary,
and when complaint is made, the
miserable retort from the high
as we'll as the low, comes, that
::polltical enemies are trying to
break down the dispensary"-
catch a thief picking your
pocket, and he cheekily retorts,
:'you don't like me no how" We
have contended that the dispen-
sary is corrupt ever since we dis
covered the books Of the institu-
ton do not show all that the peo-
pie were entitled to, but partisan
feeling ran high and the people
were not open to reason; it is
different now, there is no excite
ment, and any attempt to create
excitement by ''taking down the
tom-tom," to revive factionalism
should be promptly and effect
ually repudiated by every good
citizen.
Il the powers that be, will not
give to the people that dem
ocratic principle of local
self government, so that If
a majority of the peo-
pie wanting a dispensary can
have it, together with its entire
managementand profits, and that
none Of the profits need be sent
to Columbia to a set Of bloated-
diamond -ornamented officials,
then let the tail go with the
hide, and do away with whole
thing, until at least, the
people awake to their own
own interests and drive this
horde of leeches off from the
body polite, for, as long as they
are permitted to cling on, they
will always be sapping source
of trouble and expense.
By Local Option is meant,
every county adopt by majori-
ty vote it's own choice of hand
ling llquor. Those counties
wanting Prohibition let them
have it,and if they fail to enforce
the law, it is their own funeral;
those wanting License, let them
have it, the constitution pro
vides the necessary restrictions,
and the municipalities will en-
force the law. Those wanting
Dispensary, let them have it,
together with the sole power to
manage and govern it, its entire
profits going to them, instead OF
as now, a large part going to
the State. The county and town
authorities can adopt such safe
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