The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-04-01
SUMTER wEnMESnAv x11--
THE FEAThERS1ONE PLATFORM
THE PROHIBITION CANDIDATE
STATES HIS ATTITUDE,

THE PROHIBITION CANDIDATE
STATES HIS ATTITUDE.
RegsI ds the Time az Ripe for Prohi.
bit'on Fight-Wir Stump the State
for StraightOut Prohibition-The
System Discussed.
Greenwood. March 25.-Hon. C. C..
Fcatherstono Of Laurens passed
thu 'ugh here Yesterday and while
here was questioned as to his altitude
"n tbs matter os prohibition in the
Owning campaign. Mr.. Featherstone
stated that he was for prohibition
without any provisions or conditions
to 1t. In this ca. nection, he stated
that he had made his position clear
abort month ago In which lie stated
that he was for straighout ,roh,bi-
bi;kn.
Mr.. Featherston. stated that :our
~ Eve months ag' he gave en- inter-
view ON tn, sutjs:t advocating for
Tho present the .mactment Of a Jaw
making the entire State dry, but per-
l,istng counties where prohibition
sentiment was weak 10 vote IN the
sa,e II whiskey. Continuing he said
"a great majority " my prohipI,ion
frjenis In the State endorsed my
views.
II stated In that Interview thai. Of
aourse. what we ultimately suvght
wa sron-claA. Statewide prohibition.
aid 'urther that in iny Judgment the
'!mc was no. far ii. when 'he state
would he ready Tor It; and further.
that when there was suf1icient public
svnt;nent behind It. I would then be
In favor Of statewide prohib;tlors
"Since giving out that interview, 4
have been IN close touch with prohi.
bitionists throughout the State. en-
fssvoring to ascertain the present
strength Of the sentiment and maxi
Ing d:ligent inquir5 as to the enforce.
mcnt M the law ia dry counties. I
fa'e also been studying the reports OF
tae dispensary. auditor. and to my
anisxement. ant that the county
dispensaries are selling almost 40
much liquor as did the old d,spensary
when Il was In full blast. nT.y sold
In inc last year thr.e million doaats
with Of LIQUOR. III addition to this.
end that the dispensary counties
are selling tremendous quantities Of
whisky to contiguous dry territory.
"In this state OF affairs have de-
r,nined t. stump :he State this
year. advocating straightout prohibi-
tlon. The only way TO And ou! the
.Itngth OF the prohibition sentiment
Is to submit the question sq,,arely to
the people. II a majority Of the pep
pie are in favor of State prohibition,
then We will give 1t an hon, st. fair
trial. The prchibitionists of the
State are not fanatics. but on the COLI
trary are sensible. practical mon.
If the practical workings of a
State prohibition law should demon
strata that it was impossible to en-
force 1t in certain counties where tie
sentiment Is weak. tn. n II will, be a
very easy matter to tack ON a local
option feature. permitting those coun-
ties. under the most rigid restrictions.
to vote in the sale Of whiskey.
Sufficient unto thu day is the evil
thereof
What W. want" sail Mr.. Feather.
stone. rs to give a general prohibi.
tion law an hoLt st, fair tlial." -
Mr.. Feaiherstcne said IN reg,rd to
the present law: 1--WE have a substi-
tuts fel the old dispensary law ti,a.
Is nothirg but repro. duction of the
old system or a smaller scale" In
time he thinks this substitute viii
.ie :elcp air the bad rea'u.cs ..f tie lid
law.
He also said that so far as he was
personally concerned le would pre-.
fer not to run this Year. bit his pro.
hib'tion friends insist that the time is
ripe. and he agrees with them as to
cond'ii"ED and thd. nc feels tie
must respond TO what he II ga,ds as
a great moral obligation.
He stated that he hoped the cues.
ton Of prohibition or no prohibition
should be submitted to the people in
the primary and he nc pei the State
Democratic ex7ca.iv. comm d'.ee would
have this done. He said: "The peo-
Iie have right t. vote upon th's
question and sctsle 1t at the ba:l.t
bos. end tina: ne knows Of TO ,tner
practical way "f presenting the caus,