The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-12-23

Merry Christmas.
And . Happy New Year. d.
For moro than flfty years the
watchmaa has extended the compli-
ments Of the season to the people of
Sumter and the habit. while confirm
Cd. is meme the less sincere.
The Seminole Securities scandal has
done to southern insurance compares
what the New York insurance scandal
did to the Northern companies and
moro toe.
There is something wrong with the
law or tho enforcement Of It, There
are too many questionable failures OF
corporations and firms. mercantile
and otherwise OF which the assets do
not approximate the liabilities.
II Is evident that the liquor ques-
ton will once again occupy the great
or part Of the time and attention Of
the Legislature. The uncompromising
prohibitioaists and the politicians who
think that Statewide prohibition Is
the band wagon. have formed a coali-
'ticn to Jam yich measure through
the Legislature and, the COM
bination stands to win. The prohibi-
ttcn sentiment has gained strength
steadily for several years. and, having
become the dominant political factor
In fully one hall, the counties OF the
State. all the p0iiticai mp-followers
and office-seekers have attached them
selves TO the movement to the end
that they may seize all the spoils OF
Cfiice In the event Of prohibition VIC
tory. II IL becoming the popular and
proper thing to be prohibitionist In
this year of grace. just as II was prop
Or and popuiar--poiiticaily-to be on
sss~~ssps ~sssses"8 us"PohSohyiso UoCA Ah
the sn's- When Il was akin to trea-
son TO criticise the dispensary. even
when the criticism was uttered by
those who recognized the good fea-
tures Of the system and would have
purged and purified II. the camp-foi-
1owers and oface-seekers were the
most vociferous defenders OF the great
moral institution. sraft-laden and po-
hticaiiy corrupt Us At was. The pro-
hibition movement has attracted the
.camp-foiiowers and the movement
Bids fare to triumph politically. but
we have great doubts OF Its moral VIC
tory: We fear that morals. as well as
good sense. will be ovsr-shadowered
by politics and the ultimate effects OF
the poiitico- prohibition movement that
ls now In full Bwing will be more
harmful than beneficial to the State
End TO the moral tone Of society.
Senator NciIs Christiensen. OF Beau
fort. who was the brains Of the COM
mittee that Investigated and over
threw tho state dispensary and Incl
dentsily forced Mr J. Fraser Lyons
into prominence and thereby made
him attorney general. has made sew
erai contributions to the current dis
cusston OF the advisability of a State
wide prohibition law that the ram
pant prohibitionists cannot answer. 30
they dcnounce his arguments and de-
ride hts logic. They have not yet de-
ncunced the man. for they are con-
fronted by the stubborn fact that
Christensen Is q better prohibitionist
than n majority Of the politico- pro-
hibitionists who think they are riding
officeward In the prohibition band
wagon. Christensen is a prohibition
ist In practice-a total abstainer. but
he does not believe that ne can force
all others 60 go and do likewise by
Legislative enactment. Politically he
has made a great mistake by not get
ting aboard the band wagon. for he
could have attained prominence
that would have ensured his election
To office. But Mr.. Christensen seems
TO be a peculiar individual In this re-
spect. also. In that he does not seek
oftice. and II somewhat particular