The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-04-03

to law The legislature gave to- the
investigating committee full control
and authority in regard to auditing
and passing upon these accounts. The
new board then is subject to the in
vestigating committee and the situa-
tion Seems to- be- this: the authority
Of managing and directing the affairs,
of the dispensary is now divided, the
new board Of directors having some
of it and the investigating committee
the balance. There is something like
100000 worth. Of debts hanging ov-
er the state dispensary. Unless this
liquor bought on credit was bought
according to law, is there any obli-
cations to keep it and pay for it, Is
there not plenty Of opportunity for
more graft and secret transactions in
regard to the settlement Of these ac-
counts7 Will not the legislative
committee be suspected of corrup-
tion ifit does not get in the middle Of
the road and stay there, that is stand
by the law, obey it itself and re-
quire all others to do so7 Why SO
much delayf
I mention this thus early in order
to direct the attention of those most
interested to this condition in the
hope that the state s rights and in-
terests may be protected by all those
now in charge, and to serve notice so
far as I am concerned that expect
to spare no man in criticism whose
action in this crisis shall not bear the
closest scrutiny and if there is con-
tinued negligence and no attempt
made to punish those responsible for
this anomalous and extraordinary
state of affairs, it will certainly show
that the people need to be aroused
and another revolution is in order. I
cannot lead it as candidate for
state office, for it is not immodest in
me to say that I believe I can be of
great use to the people of the state
in the senate, but if I misunderstood
the temper Of the people and they
shall resent my efforts to open their
eyes and point out these glaring evils
I am perfectly willing to abide their
wishes and will gladly retire to pri-
vate life rather than to remain ST.
lent against promptings of my sense
of duty.
There is one more matter upon
which beg to warn the people. There
are evidences in plenty to show that
the same clique or ring which is fight
ing the dispensary and which has al
ways fought me intends or hopes to
bring about a change in our primary
regulations so as to prevent any DEM,
ocrat from voting in the primaries
who it not at the same time a quail
fed voter. They hope to- use the club
which has proved so effective under
the Brice law, that of confining the
election to qualified electors, to OBJ
tain control Of the democratic party
to resume their sway, undisputed un-
til 1890. warn the farmers and all
other democrats, especially operatives
whoare busily engaged and have
little time to devote to politics to at
tend the next meeting of the demo-
cratic clubs on he fourth Saturday in
April (2Sth) and get their names on
the rolls and send delegates to the
neXtc ounty conventions who will rep
resent them truly. The allies and
directors Of the new Columbia ring
will be on the alert and carry all Of
their forces to these club meetings
and unless the people take more in
terest than they did in the Brice law
elections the next state convention
will be controlled by this element and
the possibilities are that the regula-
tions Of the democratic primary will
be changed to suit their purposes OF
disfranchisement. The Alliance men
Of 1890 need not be reminded of the
old anecdote of the politician who
told all the farmers to 'plow on" he
would attend to their public affairs.
Let all of the people take an inter-
est in politics this year. which is their
duty, in order to protect themselves
against the schemes Of these trick
sters and all will be we'll.
I have felt it my duty to give this
> warning and whatever the result
will bow to popular will without mur-
|. mur. If. the people want prohibition
: either the actual article or the hum.
bug which we now have I do not oh.