Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-05-15
THE YORK CONVENTION.
Comments of Exchanges on Develop
nents In the Dispensary Situation

ments In the Dispensary Situation
Spartanburg Herald: The dispensa-
ry forces In York county failed to over
throw Senator Brice. The truth Is the
So called dispensary forces are going
to be about as easily handled In the
state this summer as they were ir
York county Monday.
Greenville News: 1t was all mis-
take about the dispensary forces Oh
York perfecting a combination by
which they expected to defeat Mr.
Brice, the leading ti-dispensary ad-
vocate, for the state senate. 1t Is sat.
isfying to know that the majority Oh
voters of York are still on the right
side Of the liquor question.
Greenville Mountaineer: That move
in York county to defeat Senator Brice
| for reelection as county chairman
| failed, just as We expected 1t would
York county Democrats have the full
est confidence In Mr.. Brice, and they
have shown that they are going to
stand by him. That newspaper story
that was published throughout the
state to the effect that enough dele
gates had been pledged to defeat him
did not have much foundation.
Manning Times: The reports from
the county conventions throughout the
state give a very strong indication thai
the whisky question will be uppermosl
in the coming campaign, and that Sen
ator Tillman will not have any opposi.
ton for reelection to the United
States senate. In York county Senator
Brice the author of the Brice bill, de-
feated his dispensary antagonists over
whelmingly, but at the same time
while York Is an -dispensary coun-
ty, and voted down a resolution en-
dorsing Tillman, 1t is also avery strong
Tillman county. Richland, heretofore
regarded strong anti-Tillman county
vet the advocates Of the state dispen-
sary carried the convention. A number
Of the counties adopted resolutions en-
dorsing Senator Tillman for re-elec-
ton.
News and Courier: In the county
convention of York, as reported by
THE ENQUIRER, Mr.. ]. S. Brice, the
author of the "Brice law" after his re.
election as county chairman, thanked
the convention and spoke of his sixteen
years service to the party In that OF.
flee, and said: How have l harmed
you" Delegate j. G. Barron broke
in with the interruption: You did II
by going into the Reform party anc
then going back on it," Mr. Brice re-
piled: Il went into the Reform party
for reform, but not to share the res
possibility for such corruption (mean-
| ing, of course the dispensary corrup-
tion) as this" The colloquy defines
sharply points Of view Of two kinds Of
"reformers." Mr.. Barron, 1t appears
went into the Reform party" to stay
| To him that party" meant a firmly
bound and riveted organization, whose
members should subordinate their In.
dividual wishes to the wishes OF the
"party" as voiced through its leaders
| and who could not leave 1t without In
curing the shame of party treacherJ
and desertion. This view is not com
mon In South Carolina now, but II II
worth noting that it here and there
survives. Mr.. Brice's position Is equal
| ly clear. He entered the Reform par
| ty" with the view Of accomplishing Ger.
| tain reforms within and through the
Democratic party, but without sur
rendering any Of his independence ol
action. Being a "Reformer' places M
obligation on a reformer Of the Brict
kind to outwardly approve what his
conscience tells him Is corrupt or mex
pedient and he denies the right or
faction to decide this for him. The dis.
pensary is not exclusively Reform
measure 1t was not even dreamed Of
until after the Reform" or Farmers
movement" had been in control two
years, and its most conspicuous adVo'
Gates, except Senator Tillman are for.
mer conservatives" of the stamp Of
Messrs. Manning and Raysor; while
ex- Congressman w. Jasper Talbert
president Of the March Convention
Of 1890. which suggested Capt. Tillmar
/ 20 G
spicuous opponents. Were 1t, though
a Reform party" measure, and did g
Reform party" now exist, 1t Is certain
that Mr. Brice would leave the Reform
party" If allegiance to 1t meant stulti.
| fication and treachery to his conscience
Mr.. w. II. Stewart, whom Mr.. Brice
defeated for county chairman, in can.
did and manly speech. declared thai
Senator Brice, though he had favored
the dispensary, had a right to change
his mind. He expressed himself "ir
favor of the dispensary system and as
intending to stand for 1t until somebody
devises something better"