The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-04-22
ANsEl FOR PROHIBITION.
ADOPTS FEATHER.
STONES. PLATFORM
Prohibition Leader ThercupOn With
draws From GubernatOrial Race
and Ansel and Bleasc Will Fight 1t
Out-GOv. Ansel Is the Champion
Political EvOlutiOnist of the State.


trance, into the contest several weeks
ago was after earnest solicitation from
his many friends and admirers and
from the prohibition forces throughout
the State; the step was taken before
the exact platform of Gov. Ansel was
known. 1t was supposed that Mr.. An
sci would run On the same platform
upon which he was elected two years
ago, but in a letter to Mr. Featherstone
a few days ago, part OF which is be-
low quoted, 1t will be seen that Mr..
Ansel now occupies the same position
that Mr.. Featherstone announced last
fall, namely, a reverse local option
law. under which the counties will ali
be dry until the dispensary is voted in,
thus throwing the burden on the peo-
pie who desire the dispensary; further,
the number Of dispensaries in county
will be limited.
Mr.. Featherstone' has had the mat
ter Of withdrawing under advisement
for some time, and throughout his de-
liberation he has been in close touch
and communication with prominent
prohibitionists in the State. and his
decision today was after a careful re-
view of the situation; he deems his
withdrawal for the best interests of
the prohibition cause in South Caro-
lima.
In announcing his withdrawal. Mr..
Featherstone says:
( Several weeks ago announced my
candidacy for governor Of South Caro-
lima. upon State prohibition plat
form.
IT believed then, and 1 still believe,
that the people are tired Of the liquor
traffic. and that they are ready to take
a great forward step and sweep the
legalized traffic out Of the State.
''The announcement Of my can
didacy was made at the suggestion of
some Of our leading prohibitionists-
men who have been with me in the
fight since the campaign Of 1898. They
believed that there ought to be in the
campaign candidate who would
make an aggressive fight. and were
kind enough to suggest that I ought to
lead the movement.
"As have already stated. PERSONAL
ly It did not suit me to go into the
fight at this time, but 1 yielded to
what conceived to be the call Of
duty.
II did not hesitate to say that it
would be a source of qualification 70
me to be governor of the State, but
the desire to- crafty my personal am.
bition alone would not have been suf-
flcient to induce me to enter the race
at, this time.
shortly after the announcement of
my candidacy 1t was publicly suggest
ed by Gov. Ansers friends that he
was also in favor Of prohibition and
that ne would offer for reelection on
that platform
1T seemed to me that the cause of
prohibition might be weakened by
having two candidates in the field, and
that If he would espouse that cause it
would be the part of wisdom for me to
withdraw.
Acting upon this idea and with the
approval of my prohibition friends /
wrote Gov. Ansel Con Feb. 29) that
IL he expected to make the race on
that platform l would not oppose him.
'H am in receipt of letter from the
governor informing me that he expects
to advocate the reverse Of our present
local option plan. He says:
My position on the liquor question
is what I call restricted local option
that is, local option as between
county prohibition and county dispen
sary. Those counties voting to sell
liquor shall be restricted to one dis
pensary in the county and that one al
the county seat. except in those
counties wherein there Is a CITY of
more than $4,000 population, in which
counties more than one dispersary
may be established. This is in accor-
dance with my recommendations to
the genera! assembly as set forth in
my annual message Of 1908, is in the
interest Of temperance and will mini
mize the sale Of liquor.
With the experience that I have
had In the past two years in the pro-
posed elections that were desired in
some counties on the liquor question,
/ am of the opinion that it will be bet
ter to enact law by which q county
can vote on the question of voting IN