The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-05-23

8 SWGtchulG1e G7ad SOuthTQ7t now baS the COLI
$ained circulation and influence Of botn OF
ahe old papers, and is manifestly the best
advertising medium in Sumter
Judge Purdy is doing great work
sxoward stamping out blind tigers by
refusing to allow those convicted or
2he illegal sale Of liquor the option OF
naung a fine. The certainty of a
sentence to perform hard labor in the
Stale penitentiary, or on the chain
ang, will do more to render blind
aigerism an unpopular pursuit than
any other one thing. If the other
s Judges viii follow Judge Purdy's ex-
ample social clubs and blind tiger
5oires will rapidly decrease in num-
Der.
Senator Tillnan and John L. Sui
aiyan- think alike on the matter of en-
saging in set-to with negro for
public amusement. Nothing can be
gained by such exhibitions, either in
The ring or ON the forum.
Sumter is honored this week in hav-
ing as her guests the representatives
OF the Pythian lodges Of South Caro-
lima Every county and practically
every city. town and village in the
State is represented, and these rep
resentatiyes are the leading citizens Of
their respective towns. The Grand
hodge KNIGHTS of Pythias, taken as a
BODY, represents the highest type Of
ahe citizenship Of the State and is one
.ef the most representative and distin-
suished assemblies that can be gotten
aogether. In it are men Of all profes-
siens and occupations which insures a
nroadness Of view and cathohcity of
spirit. Sumter has entertained the
Pythians in CORNER years and enjoyed
their stay. Since the last meeting here
the order has grown wonderfully and
the Grand Lodges larger and more
representative body than ever before,
and this but adds to the pleasure that
the people Of Sumter experience in
having the Pythians as the guests Of
fhe city. They are welcomed with
fl,e sincerest and heartiest welcome
that our people are capable Of extend
ing and it IS the hope Of every citizen
OF Sumter that the members of the
Grand Lodge will enjoy their stay as
much as we enjoy having them.
----7---
The Columbia state and the Char
lesion News and Courier are agreed
g3r e1ce. They Admit without reser-
walton, that. personally, Richard I.
Manning would make an admirable
governor, but they do not approve of
his views ON the dispensary There
are Thousands Of others in South Caro-
lima, however. who are convinced that
Mr.. Manning is a suitable man for
governor and will vote for him be-
cause they endorse both the man and
his platform. It is much easier for
Eev sorry candidate to frame set of
views that will pass muster, than it is
20 find man who has the respect
4and confidence Of the people. Charac-
Ter in a candidate is worth more than
views, but when the candidate pos
Sesses the character and, at the same
tine, stands on correct platform, as
in tie case of Mr.. Manning, it is
hard combination to beat. The State
and the News and Courier take the
position that the dispensary is evil
through and through and must be.
DESTROYED, regardless Of consequences.
Mr.. Manning. and quite number OF
sane, honest and reputable citizens,
maintain that the dispensary law and
the system are not evil but that II
honestly and firmly administered
would furnish the best means yet de-
vised for the regulation Of the whis-
key traffic Their contention is that
the fault has been in the administra-
zion Of the law and not in the law
itself. Those who hold this opinion
believe honestly that the dispensary
system can be honestly administered
Just as well as any other department
of the government, and that when it is
SO administered it will do more to re-
strict the sale Of liquor than either
high license or prohibition at the
present time The theory Of prohi-
6ition is all right. but in practice it
has proven a dismal failure. Marl-