The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-08-01

i
time he believed the dispensary to be
the best solution. It's opponents o,-
fer no such practical and feasible way
as is embodied in the Raysor-Manning
bill. It is up to those who are making
extravagant appeals for the destruct-
ion of The dispensary to offer some
plan to obviate the troubles that ex-
ist.
Mr.. Manning was several times ap-
plauded-
Mr.. McMahan declared that the
chief thing that brought him out as a
candidate for governor is his convic-
ton that there is need for a progress
sive. administration along educational
lines. Mr.. McMalan urged that tenn
perance is a matter Of character and
applied to more things than whisky.
He thought that drunkenness ought
to be made crime, no man having
right to dethrone his reason and en-
danger the lives of others. The abuse
of liquor is no more than the sale of
it. He criticized Mr.. Manning's "con-
fused PLAN for revising the Brice law
and brought forth after weeks re-
fection. Mr.. McMahan had pointed
out how, the voting Of the dispensary
in or out could be made a party ques-
ton, b!r Mr.. Manning's proposition
to follow this with a requirement OF
a. majority of the qualife eM.electors,
whether voting or not, would nullify
the result Of the primary. Does any
body understand that in the Man
ming plan? But the dispensary has
been mismanaged, and has brought
disgrace. on the State. There has been
corruption in the State board fand
county board.
Mr.. ldcMahan, continuing, said the
dispensary must be cleansed. In this
work Mr.. Manning would be handi-
capped by his political backing. 1t is
understood that the dispensary Office
holders, are supporting him in this
campaign. We cannot afford to let
the dispensary machine elect the gov
ernor who is to reform it. This gov.
erncr Of all governors will have
tremendous responsibility. While Mr..
Tatum and others may be honest, yet
all dispensary officials are now under
suspicion. None should be retained
unless they prove their right to be
trusted.
1t is not question Of whether we
have evidence to convict of crime, but
whethe..: they are the men who will
administer this department Of govern
u1ent in manner above suspicion.
The officials do Mr. Manning wrong
when they seek to put him in Office as
their candidate largely owing his cleo
ton to them. You will do him injus-
tice to let them elect him. among
friends how can there be that impair
stal investigation and removal from
office which the conditions demands?
If the machine names the man for
governor he will be under obligations
to it. He had volunteered for this
fight re gardless Of cliQues, rings, COM
binations and politicians, and if elect
ed he would lead and not be led.
Cloud applause).
Lieut. Governor Sloan said he re-
membered when Ansel sat on twelve
prohibition eggs. Now he sits on six
prohibition eggs and six dispensary
eggs and he won't De able to hatch
chicken (Laugnter). He himself stood
square:y on the dispensary. In his
inimita bic way he showed that prol1t-
bition does not prohibit. He was an
earnest friend of education, and had
invaria bly, helped every scheme to
promote it not only with his votes in
the senate, but with his money. His
record in peace and in war entitled
him tc the governorshlp and he had
done more for the State than the
whole shooting match Of candidates
put together He was the only can
didate for governor who had heard
the wlln of the Yankee bullets He
told a highly amusing war tale, ap-
plying the joke to his opponents by
declaring that it would be a cast of
reoonslline for them II elected there
would not be any wishey- -washey bust
ness there. daughter and applause).
Col. Ansel made his usual earnest
talk on education. There was one
hurrah when he said he opposed the
state dispensary. He argued for coun-
ty control or liquor as between prohi-
bition and dispensary The banterings
OF his opponents Were not potent
enough to make him venture his per-