The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-07-18
The Facts I'm the Case &.

The esteemed Abbevile Press and Banner.
replying to The Laurens Advertiser, says
Distliling Company We do. We know
mat IL Is owned III the main by wholesale
dealers in whlskey who live IN Baltimore
and other cities outside OF South Carolina ana
that II sold to the State Dlspensary about
one million dollars worth or liquor in about
one year. The Richland Distllltug Company
has more al stake III the perpetuatlon of tne
State DIspensary than ali other interests
combined, except Ul course the banded
graiters who are It's agents. Instead OF dis
lroyiug the whlskey business, the ) tale Dlh-
Densary simply took 1t out o1 The hahos OF
natives ana put IL III tne nanus ol ouIsluc
wnlskey dealers.
The Press and Banner also says:
'Our recollection Is that the blind tigers,
whlskey guZZlers and barroom men ol
Charleston voled for prohibition years ago.
We do not expect temperance reform or
good whlskey laws from any city which Is
dominated by barrooms and newspapers
friendly to their cause
The Press and Bar uer had better not trust
to lis recollection. The only time Charleston
has ever voted directly on the prohibition
question, IN 1892, The VoLe was OVERWHELMING
against prohibition. 1u 1898 Mr.. Feather
stone carried Charleston against Governor
Ellerbe but less than bali The vote OF the
county was polled Qess than 2,O0O) At that
time, the metropolitan police system was
over the town and Charleston would nave
voted against any governor VINO permltleu
the existence OF tnaL outrage.
In 1900 there was no metropolitan polce
and the race Was between Mr.. McSweeney,
dispsnsary, and the late Col. }. A. Hoyt, pro
hibitionisL and also an antl-IlllLhanlte
Charleston voted McSweeney, 3.H4 Hoyt,
673--or at the rate OF nearly five 10 one against
State prohiSitlon.
Furthermore, any rational ana lhteliiSeut
man in Charleston will tell the fress
Press and Banner hat the county Is against
prohl bition now and in favor OF the dlspen
sary as between the Two.
Having iunocently but wholly mlsstatea
the facts, let US see whether The Press ana
Banner will set It's readers straight by re-
printing this.-Laurens Advertiser.
The Advertiser states the facts az we under.
stood them before, except that had no
thought of the metropolitan police. did
not recall the particulars as to Mr.. Feather
stones race.
OF course mob ldy knows better than the
Press and Banner that neither Charleston
nor any other great city Is in favor OF prohi-
bition. They are solidly against State re:
straints on the traffic In liquor. The pro-
hibitionsts are found in the country dis
trcts The license men and majority OF
the auti.dispensary people are found In the
towns and cities.
Our testimony would be that in this coun.
VI,
of Col Hoyt's vote when be ran for Governor
came from men who either drank liquor, op
posed the dispensary because OF its restrlc-
tIons, or who favored the license system. VI
course the Press and Banner scould name
very few voters whose position we know, but
we do know,or believe from Information mat
we have no reason TO doubt, that men who
drank liquor and favored the license sys-
TEN furnished majority of votes for the pro-
hlbition candidate.
AS to setting the readers OF the Press and
Banner right, our friend OF the Laurens Ad
vertiser need have no doubt. This news
paper has no concealments. 1t has no pride
OF OPT ion. 1t is ready TO change It's opinion
next week, If convinced. Fools and dead
m en- do not change their minds, and 1t Is
dull man who declares that he learns
nothing with the passing Of the years. The
only question with US is to be right. While we
would not knowingly or willingly give Just
cause of offsnse TO anybody, yet we do our
own thinking and do 1t In the open, without
referen nee to whether our opinions are popu-
lar or unpopular. While we appreciate the en-
dorsement or approval OF good men, yet If we
should strike the popular current, we in-
stnclly set ourselves 10 enquiring If We are
not wrong.
If we have not expressed an opinion OF
passing events, IL is because of our lack OF
feeling as to their importance. AS far as we
know ourself we have no conceslments.