The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-11-13
INCONSISTENCY IN FIGHT.
ON CHARLESTON'S BLIND TIGER
ELEMENT.
So Says Editor James Henry Rice
Gives Facts to Back Up His State.
ment-Attempt to Put Down Tigers
Has Dissolved Into Thin Air.

Has Dissolved Into Thin Air.
Mr.. James Henry Rice. Jr., one Of
the editors Of the Spartanburg Jour-
nal. writes as follows in his paper re-
garding the dispensary situation in
Charleston:
The rest OF South Carolina, not ia
vorcd with the privilege of visiting
Charleston. has wondered what the
real situation was. Many sensational
publications have gone forth as to the
closing up of blind tigers and It SEEM
ed that a new regime was being ush-
cred in.
The facts appear to be. in so far
as they can be gathered today, that
Ridock & Byrnes. managers of the
Charleston hotel, of the Argyle hotel,
Of the Hotel Seashore on Sullivan's
Island and of the Isle Of Palms. have
"got 1t in the neck" to quote from the
small boy. The other blind tigers
seem to be enjoying life and have
little care for tomorrow. None are shut
up. so far as thorough canvass Of
the situation today showed. Common
report says that they do business as
Of old.
Now. 1t will be remembered. James
8. Farnum, who held some kind Of q
hold on the breweries and sold all
the beer that the State bought. as
cording to some. reaping harvest
that could easily be measured in fig
ures that would stagger an ordinary
imagination, was always a thorn in
Attorney General Lyons side. even
when he was member Of the invest
isating committee. For Farnum he
yearned; Farnum alone kept out of
his way. Now Attorney General Lyon
had the notion. whether right or
wrong. that the relations Of Farnum
and Riddock and Byrnes were too in
innate for the public good. He could
not set at Farnum but he could get
at Ridock and Byrnes who were ope-
rating special privileges. granted by
former boards. that netted them
handsome returns every month in the
year.
SO the blow fell and Ridock and
Byrnes got the full effect OF It. Their
places were closed No drink is to be
had there. Why these hotel men
have been singled out from the rest
It would be hard to say. except on
the hypothesis cited. It remains true
that the blind tigers Of Charleston are
still seen when wanted by the thirsty
and that they have not been bothere
to any extent What result viii FOL
low from this remains to be seen.
It is curious side light on politics
and shows how lite may he expected
from an ordinary politician when In
quest Of future favors. In 30 far az
suppressing the blind tigers is con-
cerned. absolutely nothing has been
done.
A prominent Chariestonian said a
few moments ago the whole thing
was farce In DO far as enforcing law
was concerned. and was only a strike
at R'dock and Pyrnes This strike,
by the way, hits hard, for Ridock and
Byrnes control the tourist trade of
Charleston. At the Isle Of Palms they
handle an immense summer traffic
some Of which come from Georgia
and other States. Knocking them out
Is practically knocking out the tourist
trade from Charleston. It, is we'll
known that tourists shun places run
In the interest OF prohibition, as they
would shun pestilence. 1t is not
alone the absence OF drink. but the
air Of the thing and the principle at
stake.
1t will certainly be a revelation to
the people Of the State when they
learn the true situation here. There
has not been the slightest attcrnpt
In so far as can be learned to shut
down any blind tigers, cxcept in this
one case. II others have occurred the
Charleston police. including the best
informed men In the community. have
no knowledge Of 1t.
Ny coming here has uncovered
what has been we'll known to local
newspaper men for many weeks but
they have written according to the
laws governing the case.
Tho German element of Charleston
Hupported Governor Ansel, because he
Vas German and also because he
stood for local option. and they un-
derstood that to mean that he would
favor local rule for Charleston, In this
all important matter Of getting some
q III