The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1908-12-23
WANTS PROHIBITION SUBMITTED.


AS was to be expected when the pro.
hibtionlsts of South Carolina met and
declared for Statewide prohibition,
We began to hear criticisms pro ana
con from every direction.
Some OF our so-called prohioitlonists
says, Florence Times" has actually
taken a trip to Savannah Georgia to
learn that prohibition is farce. we
do not know who these gentlemen are,
but il the "Florence Times" Will
kindly publish their names, the cltl-
zens of South Carolina would be better
able to Judge of the worth OF their
statements. The cry is raised on every
hand, that if we have statewide pronl-
bition conditions will be worse IN
Charleston than they are now. We are
per-emptorliy told that the law CANNOT
be enforced in the lower counties: and
that we must wait until the people, are
educated up to a higher standard OF
citizenship and morality. 1t IS the
purpose of this paper to bring some
things to the attention OF the people OF
our State. First of all, ! wish to ask.
Can conditions be any worse IN Char
lesion than they are? With Il dlspen-
saries running full blast from sun 10
sun-more than three hundred licensed
blind-tigers selling liquor day night
hundreds other blind-tigers selling
without any license at all, and the peo-
ple of Charleston ordering one hundred
thousand dollars worth of liquor year.
I ask again. can conditions be any
worse: After all. without any inten-
rion OF rejecting upon the people OF
Charleston, what is Charleston, that
the whole State should be called, upon
TO bow TO her will in an Important mat
ter like this? Charleston represents
about four per cent of the population
of South Carolina, and every one knows
that more than one-half OF her popula-
tion is made up of the colored race. II
Charleston does not wish 10 enforce
the law, let her do as she is doing
now. It cannot be any worse. But IN
heavens name, do not ask the whole
State to wait on Charleston. Again,
some of our people seem to fear that
we will force prohibition upon com
munities before they are ready, and
thereby bring reproach upon our
cause. Thanks for consideration. Here
let US call attention to the following
facts: We have now p counties IN this
State without the legalzed sale OF
Intoxicating liquors. In these u
counties live q large majority OF the
population of the entire State. This
is made up principally OF white people.
10 other words, safe estimate would
be, that three-fourths of the white peo-
pie in the State now live in prohibition
territory. We are Democrats, and we
claim that the white people are IN
authority-that we can ruIe-nust
rule-and will rule. Aud yet, this
large majority of the whole State
this larger majority of the white peo-
pie of the State. are being told oy
small minority of white, swat for us
and the negroes of the lower counties
until we get ready for prohibition.
And the plea they make is, that they
are afraid of worse conditions. Worse
conditions indeed? With blind-tigers
plying their trade. especially in dis
pensary counties, all over the lower
part of the State; buying liquor from
the dispensaries for that purpose, and
in some instances municipal althorl-
ties making no attempt whatever to
enforce the law, raise the question,
can the good people of the lower part
the State, and large majority OF the
white people of the State wait any
longer for an improvement IN condl:
tions? We believe it is the duty OF
every good citizen to throw the
weight of his influence against sue b
conditions, and thereby help to change
them, as speedily as possible. Our pro-
hibition convention did not adopt my
plan in trying to get Statewide pro
hibition. wanted a. prohibition bill
passed with proviso that 1t be sub
mitted to the people in State election
for their confirmation. But If our leg
islature at the next session shall pass
a prohibition law: for the whole State,
and provide for assistants to the at
torney general, making financial pro-
vision for the enforcement OF such q
law, I believes we shall succeed in
South Carolina as well as they are
succeeding in other States. That
liquor will be shipped into our, State
goes without saying, but let us
add another to the fast and continual
growing list of states whose cry must
be heard and eventually will be heard
for relief al the capital of this great ma
ton. Let the weakened backbone
less officials who whine and fawn at the
feet OF their constituency get out OF the
way and give place to men. Let every
true man join in this fight OF reform
and better government, and let US leave
Il heritage to our children that will
cheer, US in our old age, rejoice and
comfort us when we come to the end OF
the way, and of which our descendents
will be proud when we are gone.
]. L. HARLEY.