New-York tribune., 1906-08-04
FIGHT ON DISPENSARY.
Senator IilImaas and 'fThe State"
Begin Bitter Campaign.

Columbia, S. c.. Aug. (SpeciaD-shau the South
Carolina Dispensary remain state institution or
be abolished, root and branch? IS the dominating
issue IN the present South Carolina campaign, ana
added spice has been given TO the fight bv Senator
Humans activity in behalf Of the dispensary and
against certain newspapers
Eight candidates for Governor, representing every
phase OF the liquor question are making county
70 county canvass following the itinerary fixed by
the state executive committee. which Tflnan de-
clined to Join because. he said, he would not speak
II his time was limited. He therefore, mapped out
a tour Tor himself, ana has been speaking every
weekday for four weeks. At the end of next week
he VIII leave the state for three weeks lecturing
tour In the West It is noteworthy that although
senator Tillnan came into the campaign directly
from Washington. where his connection with the
Kate Dill had brought him national and favorable
puDcly ne mas not discussed national politics for
ten minutes The people have been hungry for a
discussion Of otherG than state affairs, but they
have not been gratifed
Each day for three weeks he has devoted mart
OF his speech to an attack on 'The State'' a news
paper, and its editor. W. z. Gonzales, and each
day there has been sharp firing from the other
side The Statet has for several years conducted
campaign foro compulsory education and last
winter the cause had so many friends that a COM
pulsory bill failed Of passage in the Legislature by
only three votes. Suddenly, after he had been
campaigning for a week. T1llman announced that
what THE State" wanted was a good thing to
pulsory educatioh claiming it was a 'snake' and
would mean the education OF the Negro to a point
where he could vote and dominate in politics.
These arguments have been daily rebutted by the
newspaper.
couple Of days later Senator Tilman said in
a speech that ''The State lied when it made the
assertion that a compulsory education law would
keep Negroes out OF the schools ITO settle the
question of lying" Editor Gonzales has invited
T1llman's-two former State Treasurers and the
president OF national bank-to act as a COM
mittee and find a verdict the record. If Till
man Is sustained, the editor is TO retire from edi
torial advocacy of compulsory education, admit
the charge and give $500 to the Southern Cotton
Association. II Tillman is not sustained he is to
admit the lie and enrich the cotton associations
treasury by $500. The challenge is still pending.
In each speech Senator TIman urges the voters
10 defeat for reelection to the General Assembly
the. seyenty-odd Senators and Representatives who
last winter voted for the abolition of the state
dispensary. He warns the people to take active
interest in politics and preserve the primary sys
tenn. If they do not. he promises them that "GOn-
zales Will lead you around with rings in your
noses" The kind OF compulsory education the
editors need. he tells the crowds, is to stop the
paper If he does not please. "Stop his paper and
I'll guarantee you'll educate him.
Even with the Senator's active support the fate
Of the dispensary is uncertain. Its opponents are
hopeful '"The State'' which is actively supporting
Lyon for Attorney General. predicts his election,
despite T1llmans pleas TO the people not 20 put
Lyon in Office.