The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-07-04
EDGEFIELD FOR MANNING.
SENATOR MANNING ENTHUSIAs-
TICALLY CHEERED BY THE
CROWD.

\. C. Jones Says His Life Has Been
hreatened-Edwards Jumps on
the southern-Other Speakers and
incidents.
Edgefeld, S. c., June 2S.-About
800 persons, oae-sixth Of whom were
ladies, assembled here today to hear
the campaigners. 1nty Chairman
7. H. Rainsford presided.
Gubernatorial Candidate Blease
opened with the remarks that he ex-
pected Mr. Manning would receive
a handsome vote in Edgeheld, as he
had nominated the brilliant Sheppard
Of Edgefeld, for governor along with
the gallant Orr in the nominating con-
vention of 1892 The dispensary is my
religion, politics and platform, he
said. In communities where there is,
so-called prohibition, blind tigers are
convicted in mayors court week after
week. The serpent can't be killed,
the best thing is to take'charge Of him
and control him. The dispensary has
no drummers, no pictures Of nude, wo-
men on the walls, no poker tables to
rob and debauch men. He urged his
prohibition friends to think seriously
Of overturning the dispensary in ia
vor of something that would bring on
hip pocket sales by negroes.
Prohibitionist Candidate Brunson
was applauded. He said Mr.. Jones
represents a combination Of prohibi-
ton, dispensary and high license. Mr..
Jones had either trimmed his sails to
catch every breeze or he lacks mental
grasp to reach conclusion or having
reached conclusion lacks moral sta
nina to advocate it. He said MIR. Ansel
was prohibitionist at heart and it
was, hard for him to see how Ansel
could square his morals with the ad-
vocacy Of questions that are diametri-
cally opposed Mr.. Manning is for
purifying the dispensary, but offered
no safeguard from doing as they have
been Mr. Manning is a remarkably
clean man, but he advocated system
which if he is elected will give him
appointment of those who are to buy
liquor.
Candidate Edwards came to con-
denim the evils affecting the govern
ment. The most important duty OF
the governor is to bring the law to
bear on the lawless Southern railway
1t is the largest sinner and lawbreaker
in the land and it seems as if he is
the only man who has the grit to
stand UP against it.
Mr.. A. C. Jones said he initiated the
movement that formed law and order
leagues and secured the passage OF
the Brice law. If the legislature didn't t
wipe out the State dispensary next
year they would never have another
opportunity. The system Of county
dispensaries is just as objectionable
as a state system. He said Mr.. Blease
does not represent Newberry on the Ii
quoc question and ought to resign his
seat in the senate so that Newberry's S
voice can be heard. Since he had TAX
en- UP this work his life had been
threatened and his store draped in
mourning, but they could not fright
en- him.
MI. Manning was greeted with ap-
plause. He was glad education is 40
longer an issue in South Carolina, but
he thought it a question for discus
sion always. If elected governor ev-
cry energy would be expended IN a
firm and just administration Of the
law. The only objections raised against
the dispensary law are suspicious OF
wrong doing and belief among prohi-
bitionists that it increases the sale OF
liquor. People should not be swept
off their feet. 1t is a strong tempta-
ton to swim with the tide, but he
considered the only proper position to
take is to consider it as business
proposition calmly and without preju-
dice. Mr.. Ansel's urbanity leads him
to say he favors county prohibition or
county dispensary. This IS an exceed
ingly pleasant and unanimous position,
said Mr. Manning, and 1 apprehend
that if Mr. Ansel is elected that the
same urbanity and unaninity Of feel
ing will make him feel satisfedAto let
everybody do as he pleases, so that we
would have a state Of confusion and
lawlessness.
Addressing Mr.. Ansel, Mr.. Manning
said: "I ask him to state whether he