The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-07-04

it. Remember, he said, Brunson has
stood for thirty years between the
liquor traffic and the boys Of the coun-
try If you use your vote for the pro-
lection of women and children it is
obliged to have on it: "Joel E. Brun-
son." !
Mr.. Edwards said he came into the
canvass to condemn evil and evil-do-
ers. He declared the government of
the state is in the hands of weak men.
M. Jones said he was the man who
in private life had done as much as
any man in the State to fight liquor.
He had appealed to Brice and other
leaders to refer the matter to the peo-
pie to say whether the dispensary
should close or continue and called
upon them to lead the fight. Failing
in tais he took it up himself. The
Piedmont section had repudiated the
dispensary in almost every county.
Even Blease, who was popular in the
County, had been told by the people of
New berry, "Cole, we viii vote it out,
and it was done three to one. He de-
clared in Greenville county it is
common joke on Ansel that nobody
could tell where he stands; that his
ear was always to the ground and that
he had been straddling the fence so
long that he was bowlegged.
He said Blease is the only consist
ent advocate Of the dispensary. Brurl-
son is a theoretical prohibitionist. He
had never been heard of in the last
two years in any work to vote out
the dispensary Edwards is good
citizen, out was wrapped up in
fight against railroads. McMahan is
a. fine man, but his special plea for
the state to go into insurance business
will not appeal to the people. Man
nin9; didp't believe in the dispensarry,
but had accepted it for the power be
hind it. Mr.. Jones thought Col. Sloan
an elegant gentleman who believes in
old barrooms and who was unwilling
to antagonize the wonderful influence
CT whiskey.
Mr.. Manning was not here as an
apclogist or defender of wrong co.zg
when he advocates the State dispensa-
ry. This. institution has done good
and 40 candid man could deny that
comparison will show It superior to
former conditions. He had absolute
ly nothing to deny or defend. His leg
islsttive course is a public record and
on it he stood. He was gald to be
measured thereby in his candidacy.
He did rot claim to have been an ad-
vocate Of dispensary in 1892. Every
body would recall that in that year his
county endorsed prohibition and in
structed him to vote therefor. He
vo.ed for prohibition and had no apol-
ogy to make. In the closing hours OF
the session the senate substituted
dis;pensary bill for this prohibition
measure At this last moment there
was no opportunity to discuss the mat
te. and understand effects of this sub
st.tute, and following his invariable
rule to vote for nothing that he did not
fully understand he had voted against
it. His rule of action then was the
same now. What he is striving for is
to promote temperance and sobriety
and finally secure a law that will re-
move the evils Of liquor. Abuses had
clept into the dispensary mana cement,
bat his examination had showed him
where changes could be made so as
70 render it satisfactory. He discuss
Ell the method of opening bids as pro-
posed under the Raysor-Manning bill,
showing it would absolutely prevent
collusion with whiskey sellers and
the opportunity for graft on the part
Of the manag agement-Cclumbia Rec
ord