The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1906-07-04
Lexington Campaign Meeting.

Lexington Campaign Meeting.
Well, the State campaign and its
speakers, SO far as Lexington is con-
cerned, passed off quietly Saturday at
this place. The speaking took place
in the court house, and the sweltering
heat made it quite uncomfortable
though at times the seats were all
filed and then as the interest OF GER
tain speakers did not interest the peo-
pie the attendance dwindled down
from about three hundred to one hum
dred. It is said the meeting varied
little from other places over the
sharpe sprat between Ragsdale and
Lyon, but these Incidents amount to
nothing. They meet again, like lawyers
at the bar, after having abused each
other, friendly and all serene.
All of the candidates make interest
ing speeches and are in earnest and
talk seriously in giving their reasons
why they should be elected to Office.
The urgent farm work prevented
the attendance at the meeting from
being larger. So much grass and
work backward on the farms make it
more important than politics.
Following we give only brief
synopsis Of the speeches as cuiled
from the State and other papers:
Chairman Efrd called the meeting
to order and read a letter from Col.
Youmans regretting his absence on
account of his official duties. He then
introduced Mr.. Lyon as first speaker.
Mr.. Lyon first announced his favor
ing good roads, education, etc., and
then went into the dispensary situa-
tion. He said he was making this
canvass for the purpose of destroying
/ the dispensary. He knew his views
would not be popular in Lexington,
nevertheless he is sincere and knew
he would receive proper consideration.
One reason why the dispensary ought
to be abolished is that people would
not have to pay s. a gallon for whis-
key which other people paid only
$1.75 for in Chattanooga. He felt that
the people of Lexington could run
dispensary honestly and then, they
would not have to pay s3 barrel
more for Budweiser beer, besides the
freight between here and Columbia.
He said the claim that liquor was
chemically pure is absured, because
Dr.. Buney never analyzed single
bottle of case.goods. The dispensary
wants bottlng plant. That would
not make the liquor any better, for it
would simply transfer it through
spigot to the bottle. Why are dis
pensaryites fighting SO hard for it?
They are only anxious about their
political lives and power, which would
be destroyed with county dispensaries.
He said he knew it was worth a mans
life to defy the dispensary, but he
was going to do his duty and ask no
favors.
MR.. A. G.. JONES.
The first gubernatorial candidate
was Mr.. A. c.. Jones. He said that
the dispensary has been found want
ing in every way and if the few good
men who supported it were taken out,
it would drop to pieces. AS busi-
ness proposition it is absurd. Over
three and half million dollars was
the business done last year and yet
the profits were only S214,coo and of
this, only $1s6, 6,0Go went to the school
fund-meaning about $1,000 to a coun-
ty and 10 cents to scholar. The
system takes So, 600, 600 from the public
pocket and gives nothing in return
but murder and ruin. The Investigate
ing committee shows dark picture
and yet only one-tenth has been told.
Col. Sloan had made the statement on
several stumps that there were $1,000