The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1908-12-24
FOR STATE PROHIBITION.

FOR STATE PROHIBITION.
Rev. J. l.. Harley Discusses Likely
Legislation.
Editor TIE Bamberg Herald: AS
was to be EXP pected when the Prohlbl-
t:onists of South Carolina met and
declared for Statewide prohibition,
we began to hear criticisms pro and
con from every direction. Some OF
our so-called Prohibitionists, says
the Florence Times, have actually
taken a trip to Savannah, Georgia,
to learn that prohibition is a farce.
We do not know who these gentle
men are, but if the editor of the Flor
ence Times will kindly publish their
names, the citizens Of South Carolina
would be better able to judge of the
worth of their statements. The cry
is raised on every hand that II we
have Statewide prohibition condl-
tions will be worse in Charleston
than they are now. We are peremp-
torily told that the law cannot be en-
forced in the lower counties and that
wesinust wait until the people are
educated up to 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, I wishe to ask: Can
conditions be any worse than they
are? With ii dispensaries running
full blast from sun to sun-more
than 800 licensed blind-tigers SELL
ing LIQUOR day and night-hundreds
of other blind tigers selling without
any license at all, and the people OF
Charleston ordering one hundred
thousand dollars worth of liquor a
year. l ask again: Can 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 repre-
sents about four per cent. of the pop
ulation of South Carolina, and every
one knows that more than one-half
of her population is made up Of the
colored race. If Charleston does not
wish to enforce the law, let her do
as she is doing now. 1t cannot be
worse. But, in heavens name, do
not ask the whole State ITO wait on
Charleston.
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 con-
sideration. Here let us call attention
to the following facts: We have now
21 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 majority is made up
principally of white people. In other
words, safe estimate would be, that
three-fourths of the white people in
the State live in prohibition territory.
We are Democrats, and we claim
that the white people are in ma
iority-that we can rule-must rule,
and will rule. And yet, this large
majority of the whole State-this
larger majority of white people OF
the State are being told by a small
of white people, "Wait for
us and the negroes of the lower
counties until we get ready for pro-
hibition.'' And the plea they make
is, that they are afraid Of worse con-
ditions. Worse conditions indeed!
With blind tigers plying their trade,
in dispensary counties, all
over the lower part Of State, buy
ing liquor from the dispensaries for
that purpose, and in some instances
authorities making no at
tempt whatever to enforce the law, l
raise the question, can the good peo-
pie of the lower part of the State, and
a large majority of the white people
of the State wait longer for an i'm
provement in conditions? We be-
lieve it is the duty of every good
citizen to throw the weight of his in
fuence against such conditions, and
thereby help to change them as
speedily as possible.
Our PrOh1DltlOn cOnVenClOn QlQ nOt
adopt my plan in trying to get State
wide prohibition. I wanted a prohi-
bition bill passed with provision
that it be submitted to the people in
a State election for their conf1rma-
ton. But if our legislature at the
next session shall pass prohibition
law for the whole State, and will
provide for assistance to the attor-
ney general, making financial provi-
sion for the enforcement of such a
law, I believe we shall succeed in
South Carolina as we'll 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 growing |
list of States whose cry must be
heard, and eventually will be
heard, for relief at the capital of
his great nation.
Let the weak-kneed, backbone |
less officials get out of the way and
give place to men. Let every true
man join in this fight for reform and
better government, and let us leave