The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-01-16
hem for all of the duties of an intel

strong aal well. You have no more
important matter that will come be-
fore you and I recommend that lib
eral appropriation be made for the
common schools.
I also ask your special attention
to and consideration of the establish
ment Of high schools in connection
with and as a part Of the free school
system Of our State. Many children
will be able to attend the high school
who cannot attend a State collge, and
many others will be better prepared
for college after having attended the
hlsh school. 1t is a step in the direc-
ton of giving to the boys and girls
better opportunities in their schoo
! life and for making them better
citizens.
One Of the most important subjects
that you have before you for consid-
Grafton, Gentlemen Of the Genral AS
sembly, is the liquor question.
The people of the State have spok-
en- in no uncertain sound, and we
cannot mistake their meaning, thai
the State dispensary system must be
abolished and that there must be en-
acted in its stead, law providing fol
local county option as between
county prohibition and county dis.
pensaries.
| In making my campaign this past
summer, one Of the principal issues
before the people was the question OF
State dispensary or local county op-
ton as between county prohibition
and county dispensaries.
| The plank in my platform upon
that question is as follows:
I am opposed to the system of 9
State dispensary. 1 am in favor OF
local county option, between county
prohibition and county dispensaries
Let each county say for itself whether
| it desires that liquor shall be sold III
that county, or that it shall not be
sold therein. This system has been
and is now, the law in several Of the
States around and near US, and it is
regarded with satisfaction so far as
have been able to learn. You know
what you had rather have in your
county, and you should, threfore, have
| a right to say so, and not let other
counties vote upon what your county
should i.ave. You manage your OWL
county affairs in everything else, why
not in this matter?
! I favor each county voting upon
that question for themselves. If the
vote is for liquor to be sold, then let
county dispensary be operated in thai
county under the restrictions nov
| thrown around the sale Of liquor with
such other regulations as the legisla-
ture may deem best. Let the county
board of control be appointed by the
governor and let the board so ap-
pointed have charge Of the whole
matter for that county, said board to
report to the judge at each term Of
| the circuit court for that county OF
al lof it's actings and doings and then
let the Judge hand that report to the
grand jury for their inspection ano
investigation, with such instructions
as he may think proper. Whatever
| profit is made will go to the county
Let the dispensers be paid e salary
and not a commission on what they
sell. If the vote is for prohibition
then allow no liquor to be sold IN
such county, and pass stringent law
providing for the punishment OF all
| blind tigers and other violators OF
the law, and make it the duty of the
county sheriffs, deputies, constables'
marshals, policemen and other peace
officers, to see to it that this law is
enforced, and all violators are
brought to justice and punishment.
would be glad if no liquors were
sold as a beverage, but the conditions
are such at this time, that 1 believe
this to be the best way to deal with
the question.
I stand upon that platform today
and I urge that you enact a law aool-
ishing the State dispensary system
and give to the people Of each county
the right to vote upon the question OF
county prohibition or county d1spen-
sary.
The best way of controlling the sale
of liquor has been agtating the minds
of the people of this country for many
years; the sale of it has been deciar-
ed an evil by the highest court OF the
land and the question for US now is
which is the best way Of controlling i