The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-12-08
CHRISTENSEN SOUNDS WARN
ING.
Passage of State Prohibition Law at
this Time May Retard the Growth
of True Prohibition Senti-
ment in the Present Dis
pensary Counties.

ment in the Present Dis
pensary Counties.
News and Courier.
Columbia. December 5.-That the
present agitation for a State prohibi-
ton law may eventually injure rather
than forward the cause Of true pro-
hibition and temperance, is the opin-
ion Of Senator NeilS Christensen, Jr.,
of Beaufort. Who Senator Christen-
sen is and what he stands for the peo-
pie of South Carolina know. He can
not be suspected Of representing OF
favoring the liquor element or inter-
ests, for he has fought the liquor in
terests in a way that meant some
thing. and his sincerity is unques-
toned.
Favors Local Option.
Senator Christensen has been in
the city for several days, and was in
vited to attend the Anti-Saloon Lea
cue Conference here on Thursday.
When asked his views on the present
situation with regard to liquor legis-
lation, Mr.. Christensen said:
"The prohibition leaders point with
pride and satisfaction to the good
effects of prohibition in the twenty
one dry counties in this State out OF
total of forty-two. These results
are the results Of local option prohl-
bition. They are the basis Of the faith
we local option prohibitionists have in
reformation as opposed to the pro-
posed coercion Of the Statewide pro-
hibitionists. The people Of these now
dry counties made up their minds
gradually and without coercion, that
| it would be best for them themselves
to stop legalized selling Of liquor IN
their counties, and they stopped it,
and are pleased with the results. But
if, before they had been educated up
to that point, the people Of other Sec
tions of the State, through the legls-
lature or a Statewide vote, had fore
ed them to take that action, the re-
suits would be very different.
"Counties in the southern and east
ern portions of the State are being
educated up to prohibition: and under
local option will. I believe. in the next
few years. vote liquor out. But If it
t is attempted to force them through a
Statewide law, the growth of prohi-
bition sentiment will be checked, and
iuries and local officials will not at
tempt to enforce a measure that may
be considered obnoxious.
:'Prohibition is winning its way un-
der local option. Every gain is a
healthy gain. Why give it up? Why
is it not wiser for the eloquent, able
and public spirited workers for pro-
hibition who went into Laurens, Ches-
ter and Clarendon and helped educate
their citizens upon to the point where
they reached out and took prohibition
why is it not wiser for them to con-
tinue this successful fight rather than
turn from that plan Of campaign and
begin an attempt to coerce.
"They have succeeded in leading,
but can they drive?"
A Candid Letter.
Mr.. Christensen was invited by the
Rev. j. E. Harley, superintendent of
the Anti-Saloon League, to attend the
conference called by Mr. Harley this
last week. which resulted in declara-
ton for an immediate Statewide pro-
hibition law in answer to that invita-
ton. Mr.. Christensen wrote Mr.. Har-
ley as follows:
"This phase Of the liquor question
was not discussed in the campaign in
which was renominated to the SEN
ate, and I am not pledged or in any
way committed to my constituency as
between local option and Statewide
prohibition. Personally. have always
been teetotaler and Wish to do what
I can to bring the day when liquor
shall be no longer used. So I presume
some will call me prohibitionist. But