The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1908-02-12


will be opposed by a straight prohibi-
ton candidate. and there seems to be
some doubt as, to what Gov. eAnsel's
platform will be, though justice to him
requires the assumption hat he will
stand for local option. We do not adj
wise a prohibitionist to enter. Our plat
form is local option, including the OPP
ton of licensed saloons, and we believe
that the vexed whisky traffic question
will never be settled until the people
consent that each seperate county and
city determine for itself how the traffic
shall be regulated. Many believe that
a period of State prohibition will be
the quickest way of reaching that de-
sirable conclusion. Gov. Ansel has
made an excellent chief executive, and
it was fortunate for the State that his
candidacy was available for the regis
tering of popular condemnation of the
infamous State dispensary in 1906.
If the prohibitionists must have a
candidate their candidate ought to be
Mr.. G. G. Featherstone, for two rea-
sons, either Of which alone should be
sufficient to influence them to concen-
trate upon him. In the first place Mr..
Featherstone completely outclasses any
prohibitionist in South Carolina in all
around ability and equipment. They
have no man who is his equal as a
ready, vigorous, aggressive and re-
sourceful stump speaker. On the stump
he can hold his own with any man in
South Carolina, and few men can hold
their w with him. He is a successful
and practical business man; he is one
of the strongest lawyers in the State;
he has had experience in the direction
of large affairs; his reputation is I'M
spotted; he has that best of balance
wheels, "a saving sense of humor,"
and he has common sense. He is no
halfway man in anything and, regard
less of his views on the liquor traffic,
he would administer the affairs of the
commonwealth in a wise and successful
manner. We know of no mar who has
less of the fanatic in his temperament,
and as governor his course would be
directed by h same broad-guaged
Judgment that would make him the sue
cessful head of a plantation, a bank or
a railroad.
In the second place, Mr.. Feather
stone has done twice as much for the
cause of prohibition as has any other
living man in South Carolina. When
the prohibition campaign of 1898 was
about to collapse Mr.. Featherstone
seized it's fallen banner and the race he
made for governor was one Of the most
remarkable in the recent history Of the
State. The people discovered then
that he was a man of power, and in
spite Of the domination of the State
d~ispensary he lacked only about three
thousand votes Of defeating the late
Governor Ellerbe, who had also the
second-term sentiment in his favor. In
1900 Mr.. Featherstone eXerted himself
to the utmost to bring about the cleo
ton Of the late Col. James A. Hoyt,
and during his whole career he has
been not only a consistent but a work
ing prohibitionist. Frankly, we have
NV I'm iSoISo lpllIl III Tic DOlIJlCdl
sagacity of a prohibition party. The
prohibitionists often take the wrong
step when the right step is plainest and
easiest, and if they choose any other
leader than Mr.. Featherstone, he con-
scnting to be their candidate, they will
richly deserve defeat for their want of
ordinary dlscernment.
THE ADVERTISER has not a word to
say about Gov. Ansel, except that he
has made a good record, but THE Ap-
vERTIsER would support Mr.. Feather
stone should he be induced to enter the
contest, regardless of the opposition to
HIM. We would support him, although
he does not represent our views on the
whisky traffic question. While this po-
sition is shaped largely by personal con-
siderations we could not take it were
Mr.. Featherstonc not exceptionally
fitted for leadership in the affairs Of
the State and worthy Of the confidence
of all intelligent voters and taxpayers.