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

board comes Into office 1lndlnG az IN
mense stock of liquor bought Oh cred
it and practically all Of it bought
contrary to l;tw: The Legislature
gave to the investigation Committee
full control and authority Ill regard
to auditin" upon these accounts. The
new board then is subject to the III
vestigating committee and the sltua-
ton seems to be this: The authority
OF managing aid directing the at
fairs Of the dispensary is now dlvld-
ed. the Dev board Of directors hav-
ing some Of it and jhc Investigating
committee the balance: There IS
something like $6O0.OUd wurth Of
debts hanging over the State dispen-
saoy. Unless this liquor bought on
credit was bought according to law
is there any obligations anywhere to
keep it and pay for it? Is there not
plenty Of opportunity for more graft
and secret transactions i'll regard t.
the settlement Of these accounts ::
Will not the legislative committee be
suspected Of corruption il it does not
Get in the middle Of the road and
stay there: that is stand by the law;
obey it itself and require all others
to do 50? Why SO much delay
| mention this thus early Ill order
to direct the attention. of those most
interested to this condition i'll the
hope that the States rights and i'll
terests ,nas be protected by all those
now in charge; and to serve notice
that so far as am concerned | ex-
pect to spare no man in criticism
whose actions in this crisis SHAH not
bear the closest scrutiny. aud ii there
is continued negligence and 10 atcmnt
to punish those responsible for this
anomalous and extraordinary state Of
affairs, it will certainly show that the
people need to be aroused and an-
other revolution is i'll order. I can
not lead it as q cadidate for a State
office, because it is not immodest IN
me to say that [ believe ! can be OF
greater use to the people of the State
in the Senate. but if l minunderstand
the temper Of the people and they
shall resent my efforts TO open their
eyes and point out these glarlng
evils; l am perfectly willing to abide
their wishes and will gladly retire
TO private LIE rather than to remain
silent against the promptings OF my
sense Of duty.
There is one other matter upon
which | beg to warn the people. There
arc evidences il plenty to SHOW that
the same clique OF ring which is fight
ing the dispensary and which has al
ways fought me intends or hopes to
bring about a change i'll our primary
regulations SO as TO prevent any
Democrat from voting III the prlnlr-
les who is not at the sanie time 4
qualified votcr. They hope to use
the club which has proved to eifec-
tive in the Brice Law, that OF con-
fning the election to qualified electors
to obtain control Of the Democratic
party to resume their sway, undls-
puted until 1890. [ warn the farmers
and all other Democrats, especially
operatives who are busily engaged
and have little time to devote to poll
tics 70 attend the next meeting OF the
Democratic Clubs the fourth Satur.
day in April (2Sth) and get their
names on the rolls and send delegates
10 the next county conventions who
viii represent them. The allies and
directors Of the new Columbia ring
will be on the alert and carry all and,
unless the people take more interest
than they did III the Brlce law cleo
tions. the next State convention Will
'?e controlled by this element and the
possibilities are that the regulations
Of the Democratic primary will be
changed to suit their purposes. The
Alliance men OF 1890 need not be re-
minded OF the old anecdote OF tie
politician WHO told the farmers to
"plow on." he would attend to their
puolic affairs. Let all of the people
take an interest in politics this year
which is their duty in order to pro-
tect themselves against the schemes
Of these tricksters and all will be
we'll.
| have felt it by duty to give this
warning and whatever the result l
will bow to popular will without mur-
mar. IF the people want prohibition
either the actual article OF the hum
bug which we now have, / do rot OBJ
iect; if they want county dispensarles
instead Of State dispensary. I do not
object; what ] do object to is that
they shall neglect to inform them
selves and be led by the nose by de-
signing men. When the Democratic
party has spoken authoratlvely, [ will
bow to the will of the majority, but
let it be al Of the Democratic party
anl not a small fatt;ou which claims
to represent our best people.
r r. TTJ,MAN.