The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-12-30
To the Editor of The Item:

To the Editor of The Item:
As was to be expected, when the
prohibitionists Of South Carolina met
and declared for Statewide prohibi-
ton. We began to hear criticisms pro
an 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 gentlemen are,
but II the editor Of the Florence
Tines 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 IL we
have Statewide prohibition conditions
will be worse in Charleston than they
are now. We are peremptorily told
that the law cannot be enforced in the
lower counties. and that we must wait
until the people, are educated up to q
higher standard of citizenship and
morality. 1t is the purpose of this
paper to bring some things to the at
tention OF the people Of our State.
First, OF all, wish to ask, can condi.
tions be any worse in Charleston than
they are? With IA dispensaries run
ming full blast from sun to sun-more
than 800 licensed blind-tigers selling
liquor day and night-hundreds OF
other blind-tigers selling without any
license at ALL and the people OF Char
lesion ordering one hundred thousand
dollars worth Of liquor year. 1 ask
again, can conditions be any worse?
After all, without any intention Of re-
t1ecting upon the good people of Char
lesion, what is Charleston, that the
whole State should be called upon TO
bow to her will in an important mat
ter like this? Charleston represents
about four per cent. of the population
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
now doing. 1t cannot be any worse.
But. In heavens name, do not ask the
whole State to 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 up.
on our cause. Thanks for consider
alton. Here let US call attention to
the following facts. We have now 21
counties in this State without the le-
galized sale OF intoxicating liquors.
In these 81 counties live a large ma
jority Of tho population OF the entire
State. This majority Is made up prin-
cipally of white people. In other
words. q safe estimate would be. that
there-fourths Of the white people in
the State now live In prohibition ter
claim that the white people are in
authority-that we can rule-must
rule, and will. rule. And yet, this large
majority OF the whole State-this
larger majority Of the white people
of the State. are being told by small
minority Of white people. "Wait for
us and the negroes Of the lower coun-
ties until we get ready for prohibi-
ton" And the plea they make is,
that they are afraid Of worse condi-
tions. Worse conditions indeed! With
blind-tigers plying their trade. espe-
cially in dispensary counties, all over
the. lower part Of the State. buying
liquor from the dispensaries for that
purpose. and in some instances mu-
nicipal authorities making no attempt
| whatever to enforce the law, raise
| the question. can the good people of
the lower part fthe State, and a
| large majority Of the white people
Of the State wait any longer for an
! improvement In conditions? We be-
lieve 1t is the duty Of every good citi-
zen to throw the weight Of his in
fiuence against such conditions. and
| thereby help to change them as speed
lily as possible. Our prohibition con-
ventioa did not adopt my plan in try
ing to get Statewide prohibition. I
wanted a prohibition bill passed with
a proviso that 1t be submitted to the
people in a State election for their
| confirmation. But If our legislature
at the next session shall pass a pro-
| hibition law for the whole State, and
| will provide for assistants to the attor-
! ney general, making financial pro-
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