The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-08-27
THINK PROHIBITION WILL COME
Mr. Bellinger Says Temperance
Movement is Growing g-Former
Attorney General Discusses
Prohibition Movement.
News and Courier.

General OF South CarOllna, VINO IS
noV practicing law in Columbia, has
recently made several business trips
to Washington and Baltimore, and
in conversation on his return he stat
ed that there is great deal OF slgnlf-
icance bein" everywhere attached to
the growth Of the prohibition Sentl-
ment in this country, especially IN the
South. Mr.. Bellinger has never ad-
vocated state prohibition. but he IS
a Democrat and believes in the rule
Of the majority. and he is convinced
that the people Of South Carolina
will soon demand the passage Of a
prohibition law, just as has been done
in Georgia and will be done in North
Carolina.
II believe" said Mr.. Bellinger,
"that the wisest thing for the prohi-
bitionists to do would be to enact a
law giving the whole state prohibi-
tion and permitting those counties
which desire to have whiskey sold
therein to vote it in instead Of re-
curing, as now, the counties which
want prohibition to vote whiskey out.
Under the present arrangement the
whole burden is on those who oppose
the sale of whiskey and this should
not be. The present law makes it
necessary for those opposing the sale
of whiskey to get up the petitions for
the election and to wage the cam
paign for prohibition; then after the
election if there is contest, the pro-
hibitionists are compelled to put up
funds to fight it. Those who are IN
terested, either financially or other
wise, in the sale of whiskey will nat
urally be prepared to spend money to
retain this privilege, but it is hard to
compel the sincere prohibitionists to
go down into their pockets and put
up the money for such fight.
"My firm and myself personally
have represented the dispensary fac
ton in many Of the contests which
have been brought to test the legality
of the elections under the Blce law
and the Carey-Cothran law, and the
suggestion I am making will not only
not bring me any money, but if put
into effect, would cost me heavily, but
I am convinced that it is tie best
plan to insure the success Of prohl-
bit;on in this state. While I was al
ways a dispensary man as long as l
was in politics, my sympathles
throughout life have been with those
forces making for temperance, law
and order, and I admire the sincere
prohibitionist.
"There is no use denying the force
of the sentiment which is growing in
favor of prohibition in this and other
Southern states, and if the prohibi-
tionists are wise they will substitute
for the present unsatisfactory law a
state prohibition law, which Will COW
er the commonwealth like blanket,
putting on those who want whiskey
sold in any county the onus OF secur-
ing an election and Of instituting the
dispensary. The prohibtionists have
the power to 10 this if they choose
and it is to their advantage to do so.
Personally, I should be glad to see
such bill introduced at the next seS-
sion Of the general assembly. by some
sincere prohibitionist, and it seems
to me that it would meet with the
approval Of Gov. Ansel, whose lncll-
nation towards prohibition is we'll
Known
In speaking Of the contests, which
his firm has conducted to test the var
ious elections on the dispensary IN
the last few years, Mr.. Bellinger said
he knew that he had been criticised,
but that he considered he had done
his state A service if he has assisted
in instructine the people how elec-
tions must 0e conducted to be lawful
" conducted. II have always stood
for the enforcement and observance
of the law,' said Mr.. Bellinger, "no
matter what the law is, and shall al
ways do so.''
Mr.. Bellinger has an intimate ac-
quaintance with the whiskey laws,
which have been in force in this state
during the last fifteen years. He
was solicitor when the dispensary law
was first enacted and MS record for
the vigorous prosecution Of law
hroaEerS of al kinds stands uneuual-