Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1908-12-30
THE WORK OF PROHIBITION.
superintendent Harley Calls Attcn-
tiOn to Some Important Points.

when the Prohibitionists of South
Carolina met and declared for State
wide prohibition, we began to hear
criticisms pro and con from every
direction. Some of our so-called
Prohibitionists," asys the Florence
Times, have actually taken trip
to Savannah, Ga, to learn that pro-
hibition is farce" We do not know
who these gentlemes are, but if the
editor of the Florence Times will
kindly publish their names, the citi-
zenS of South Carolina will be bet
ter able to judge Of the worth of
their statements.
The Cry is raised on every hand
that if We have Statewide prohibi-
ton, conditions will be worse in
Charleston than they are now. We
are peremptorily told that the law
cannot be enforced in the lower coun-
ties, 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 South Carolina. First
Of all, | wish to ask, Can conditions
be any worse in Charleston than they
now are? With fourteen dispensar-
les running full blast from sun to
sun, more than 800 licensed blind
tigers selling liquor day and night,
hundreds Of other blind tigers sell
ing without any license at all, and
the people OF Charleston ordering
one hunred thousand dollars worth
of liquor a year, | ask again, odii
conditions be any worse? After all,
without any intention Of rejecting
upon the good people Of Charleston,
what is Charleston that the whole
State should be called upon to bow
to her will in an important matter
like this? Charleston represents
about 4 per cent OF the population Of
South Carolina, and every ono knows
that more than one-half Of her popu-
lation Is made up of the negro race.
If Charleston does not wish to en-
force the law, let her do as she is
now doing. 1t cannot be any worse.
Jiut in heavens name, do not ask
the whole State to wait on Charles
ton.
Again, some Of our people seem
to fear that we will force prohibition
upon communities before they are
ready, and thereby bring reproach
upon our cause. Thanks for consid
Grafton. Here let us call attention to
the following. facts: We have now
81 counties in this State without the
legalized sale Of intoxicating liquors.
In these 21 counties live large ma
jority Of the population Of the entire
State. This ma ;ority Is made up
Of white people. In other
words, a safe estimate would be that
of the white people in
the State now live In prohibition ter
ritory. We are Democrats, and we
claim that the white people arc in
authority, that we can rule, must
rule and will rule. And yet this
large majority Of the whole State
this larger majority Of the white peo
pie Of the State, are being told by
small minority of the white people,
"Wait 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 in.
decd. With blind tigers plying their
trade, especially in dispensary coun-
ties. all over the lower part Of the
state, buying liquor from the dispcn
SariCS for that purpose, and in some
instances municipal authorities max
ing no attempt whatever to enforce
the law, | raise the question, can the
good people OF the lower part Of the
state, and n large majority Of the
white people Of the State, wait any
longer for an improvement in condi.
tions?
We believe it is the duty Of every
good citizen to throw the weight of
his influence against such conditions,
and thereby help to change them as
speedily as possible. Our Prohibi-
tion Convention did not adopt my
plan in trying to get Statewide pro-
hibition. ] wanted prohibition bill
passed with a provision that it be
submitted to the people in a State
election for their confirmation But
If our Legislature, at its next session,
shall pass a prohibition law for the
whole State, and will provide for as
sistants to the Attorney General,