The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-07-04
Wednesday, July 4, 1906.


A Word to the Laurens Advertiser.
This week our good brother of he-Laurens
Advertiser fires broadside at the Press and
6 Banner. While it would take a volume to
enlarge on each division or question of our
aeighbor, we shall attempt to answer.
First-As to preachers, blind tigers, and
others in the cause Of prohibition. AS far
as our Information goes, the chief support o.
the antidispensary candidates In the past
has been from drinking men, the friends OF
the licensed barroom system, and preachers
of the gospel Of Jesus Christ.
IS It easy enough to account for the motive OF
4 drinking men and the advocates OF license.
Anybody can see that But the action OF
4 preachers in trying TO break down the prohl.
bition which we now have, and their going
into the ranks of the anti.dispensary people
lis what we do not understand. They seem
10 think that the breaking up Of the dispen
sary would bring prohibition. This class
of the best people on earth appear moi
10 use their reasoning faculties. They act In
j practical matters too much as they do IN
spiritual matters, namely: BY divine inspl-
The inspiration on spiritual matters is pei
fsstly correct and entirely orthodox. But
i when the domain OF politics is entered and
the pulpit bedraggles the pure and spotless
estments of the church in the dl rtiest
known pool they subject themselves to
criticism in which their influence for good
may be injured. A prohibitionist,we we believe
and We were one for long time, believes
his position the highest, and considers bis
opinions unassailsble. Feeling 80 they some
times are not governed by that prudence or
discretion for which they may otherwise be
known.
This editor has lived on the public qaare
for forty years. In observation, and expert
ence with the whiskey laws, and in person
4 ai zeal for temperance he yields to no man
living.
j Our testimony would be to the effect that
I the dispenssry law has given us less
drunkenness. and less disorder than either IL
'eense, high license. or prohibition. Believing
that the law Is the best that has ever been
devised, we shall support the law and vote
for those who will sustain 1t. We are con-
oeited enough to believe that we know more
about the different whiskey laws than any
HuO udb uOl Ill cQudl ChduSC AL W.
servation.
We know nothing of the Richland dis.
tilling company.
Our recollection ia that the blind tigers.
Cwhiskey guzzlers and barroom men OF
Charleston voted for prohibition years ago.
! We do not expect temperance reform or good
Z whiskey laws from any city which is domi.
mated by barrooms and newspapers friendly
, 20 their cause.
We know nothing of the State board OF
control personally. If the Legislature elects
the wrong men TO this important office, then
: the members voting for improper persons
might be excused from further service in the
Legislature.
We are not informed. as to change OF senti-
ment Of license advocates, or their allied
forces. Neither can we understand how tenn
perance men can join the advocates Of IL
cense. Admitting that the dispensary is evil,
barroam is certainly bad.
About the advocacy of the dispensary'
there might be difference OF opinion. We
should say that 1t Is the liquor men who are
opposing the dispensary, with the aid and
countenance Of some good men who are
guided by inspiration, rather than by facts
and conditions as they exist on this globe.
How honest and sincere advocates OF tenn
perance can follow the lead of newspapers
which openly advocate bars is beyond our
comprehension. All this agitation against
the dtspensary is lead by newspapers, which
sdvocate-not temperance-but licensed bars
If there IS a prohibitionist newspaper making
war on the dispensary, We do not know OF 1t.
The dispensary is bad enough, but what tenn
temperance man is simple enough to believe
that bar room is better than anything.
We are not willing to have county dispep
saries independent OF State system. We
don't want local dispensaries just as they
have in Athens County dispensaries would
be little or no improvement on the old time
barrooms. We favor the giving of liberai
salary TO the State board of control. III
the Legislature has not the back bone or is
lacking in ability, to elect proper men to
that position, then let the people demand the
right TO elect men themselves. The people
could not be corrupted, and they seldom
make mistake in thsir elections. The peo
pie elect good treasurers, good com ptroller-
generals, good attorney generals and good
governors, and our good friend at Laurens
need not doubt that the same people who
elect good officers could elect good board OF
control. The State board is far removed
from contact with the people, and
the people would do right. Personal consid-
erations would not enter
But we predict those who voted out the dis
penssry will vote II in again.
We agree with the Advertiser In saying
that counties should have their wishes re-
spected as TO whether the Individual county
should or should not have a dispensary.
AS q parting shot the Advertiser asks:
"Rut does AbbevIlle favor Hub" as against
Fraser Lyon? That Is the ISSUE"
We contend that our respected neighbor is
in error. This campaign, as we understand
is run on question OF principle or policy,
where men are merely an incident.
Neither Hub" nor Frazer Lyon is an issue
in Abbeville County. "Hub" Is not a can
didate. and OF course be is not factor in this
issue. Mr.. Lyon Is q candidate for attorney
general upon principles which are contrary