The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-01-10

lars each year, should not such Jaws
be speedily Aacted?-News and cou-
rieg.
The News and Courier IS correct.
The Item Ices heartily endorse the
suggestion that the legislature nac a
law prohibiting the sale and use OF
any save safety matches. Such a law
would, if enforced, prevent many fires
and would go a long way toward re-
facilitating the reputation of the. long
suffering rat.
The charges made by Mr.. Means;
for many years clerk of the Sinking
Fund Commission, against Secretary
Of State Can't, call for a very search
ing investigation. AS Tillman was
wont to remark in the stirring days of
go, There seems to- be sonnething
rotten in Denmark
Congress is spending so much mon
|ey on irrigation In the arid West, on
building roads inlthe Philippines and
on getting ready to. begin digging the
Panama canal that there is lone left
for river and harbor improvements at
home, or for public buildings, It is an
old saying that charity should begin
at home, and we believe that congress
should apply the same rule to.the ex-
pend;ture OF publc money Ger n-nsc
improvements.
The legislature coaveasa on
Tuesday and WIZ adjoarn forty GAYS
thereafter. we trust. the comoine1
wisdom Of the law makers will be
equal to the practical solution of all
of the important matters that must
come up for settlement at this session.
The eispensary investigating com
mittee will unquestionahly afford Sen
ator Tillnan the fullest and freest
possible opportunity to tell all he:
knows of collision and all other
forms of graft in the State ~dispensary,
when the proper time arrives. We
have every confidence in the honesty
Of purpose, ,noroughness and good
judgment Of this committee and if the
legislature will only back them UP
and give them the power to require
witnesses to testify, the Investigation
will be a real investigation before they
get through with it. Director John
Bell Towill, who informed the COM
mittee a few days ago that he was
eager 10 dance to any music the COM
mittee might furnish, will also be Civ
Len the chance to cat the pigeon wing
the gin rickery and other fancy
steps he may have learned since he
abandoned the Y. NJ. C. A. for the G.
Nj. I.
Governor Heyward's annual message
which was read in the General AS
sembly is a comprehensive, but
not voluminous document. We pub
tsh it today in condensed form to ac-
commodate it TO to our available space
TIE extracts given cover the most i'm
4 0NJfon+ foo+,,.n~ of %Ion ~ acco or ord
contain the recommendations that are
Of most general interest. The part Of
the message referring 10 the dispen-
sary system viii undoubtedly arouse
the antagonism of those people and
newspapers that have been clamoring
for months past for the summary de-
struction Of the entire system root and
branch by means of the Brice law or
any other instrument that could be
made available, and we are awaiting
with interest the criticisms n COM
ments that will follow. 1t goes with
out saying that The Daily Item has
nc adverse criticism to make on Gov
ernor Heyward's views for the reason
that they are in entire accord with
the position we have maintained and
the views we have expressed from
time to time. We believe that the dis
pensary system is theoretically the
best method yet devised for the regu-
lation and control Of the liquor traf-
fc, and that the only reason that il
has not beer more satisfactory If
practical operation is because Of the
men who have been in charge of its
administration. Honest men can be
found to manage the business and in
stead OF a machine for graft produc-
stion it can be made a system for the