The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1907-08-22
ply to his effusion in the last issue of
the paper before the election.
D,,4 IL fror,, hic

year, and in order to get the figures
he used he had to pick them out of
this very column (see column headed
met profits divided") leaving out
one item-for each dispensary the
towns shares, amounting to two
fifths of the whole profit. Yet he
says, 81 said nothing about the towns,
as the article will show for itself. I
said nothing because l did not have
all the facts in hand" How can
these statements be reconciled with
the facts?
He says he had access to the report
in the treasurer's office, and that re-
port contained "all the facts" An
exact copy of that report Except the
error alluded toy was published in
the county papers July II. Refer to
that statement, verify the figures,
try to reconcile his statements and
say which is right, the parson or l.
Suppose the Deacons of his church
were to pay Mr.. Foster only three
fifths of his salary and claim that he
had been paid in full. Do you sup
pose he would fail to see the incor-
rectness of their figures? Yet that
is practically what he does for the
dispensary profits and seems to be
so blinded that he cannot see it.
The matter under discussion by him
was dispensary profits, and the part
paid the towns was as much a profit
as that paid to the schools or into the
general county funds, and Mr.. Foster
knows that his statement that the
county spends eight dollars to get
in return one dollar" is both incor-
rect and misleading. The county has
not one cent invested in the business.
The board of control buys it's liquors
on ninety days. time and pays for
them after they are sold, passing the
surplus to the credit of the county as
it's profit. 1t is indeed remarkable
business, SIS, 5,367.08 net profit per
annum without the investment of a
single cent! Now do not maintain
that the citizens of the county do not
spend money, but my contention is
that just as much money will be
spent for liquor under prohibition as
under the dispensary law and that
under the dispensary law the county
enjoys a profit of S15, 5,36708, while
under prohibition it not only loses
the SIS, ,367.08 profits but also has to
tax it's people an equal or greater
amount to pay her running expenses.
But enough of figures. Why was
Mr.. Foster so uncharitable as to slur
at me and those who think as l do by
alluding to us as ''Mr. Folk and his
liquor element?" Could | not with
equal truth and justice refer to him
and his followers as ''Mr. Foster and
his blind-tiger element ?" Prohibi-
ton has never meant anything else
in this county, but have too much
respect for myself to refer to gentle
men whom l consider my equals IN
such terms.
Again, seeming to question my De-
mocracy, he sneeringly says, He
has gone off with the liquor element. -
Does he not know that the Demo
cratic party has combatted with Pro-
hibitionists and Republicans since the
days of his boyhood? If anyone has
strayed from the folds of Democracy
| it is Mr.. Foster and his followers, but
| would not be so uncharitable as to
say so. l might say more but l will
not. Mr.. Foster has opened wide
the door and bantered me for con-
test in ''mud-slinging," but l have
too much respect for myself and the
people whom | am proud to represent
to indulge in such. The filings and
insinuations he makes against me are
unworthy of man occupying his po-
sition but l freely forgive him this
time if he will not indulge in the like
again.
o, charity, charity, thou art a
Jewel even when found in the breast
of a minister of the gospel!
The election is over. The dlspen-
sary has won. The issue is decided
as county measure for four years
at least. To Mr.. Foster and Mr..
O'Neal is due the thanks of all dis
pensary advocates, for had their let
ters never been published little inter
est would have been taken in the
election except by prohibitionists and
the result would have been over
whelmingly in favor of prohibition.
This is my honest conviction.
H. G.. FOLK.
Bamberg, S. c., August q, 1907.