The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-01-05

charged with being asleep on these
streets of ours. What have You to
say?" The old sinner started long
rambling story about wanting to see
the sights, Christmas, old crony, not
drunk, only tired, etc., but was
brought up short by the mayor:
"I've heard that story before; write
it on a piece Of paper. Answer me
this: Did you expectorate on the
street?" The old guard cast a puz-
zled lock of his leader, then "spitt,
oh, yes, I spit, of course" " "What,
where" yelled the mayor, hard knots
coursing through his handsome face,
a dark shadow spreading over the
massive brow Of the old wardsman of
No. g. the others making as if they
would rend their garments.
The old stager caught his cue
quickly and took his bearings afresh.
"Why, why, out fernant Spells
Shop" and order once more reigned.
A long lecture followed, regarding
the curse Of drink and expectorating
on the streets, the old derelict was
led out on Boundary street and sent
on his journey, if not younger man
wiser one.
This little fall out, with the old
guard, is MT intended to be funny,
nor a fling at the old soldiers mis-
fortune, but to 'point a moral and
adorn a tale" Moreover, as text
to preach ''short patent Sermon"
and to ask a few pertinent questions.
There was nothing wrong in arrest
! inc the old soldier, if he was asleep.
The guard house was good place to
put him, if he was a violator Of the
law, which no doubt he was. But all
offenders should be treated alike. Are
they? Let's see. Be it understood
that what T shall say is not in any
manner personal and with no i'll will
/ to any; all are my fraiend and hope
will always remain so. TO the edl-
tors there is no personality, it is at
the tone Of their papers as moulders
of thought and action.
: Is drinking and selling booze the
only stencil in the rpstrils Of the laT
and the rabid prohibition press? Is
the handling and drinking Of the vile
stuff so offensive that it overshadows
all others, and the police are required
/ to lend all their energies to the fer
reting out it's whereabouts to the to-
tai disregard of other more important
duties. Do the taxpayers employ
them (the police), hire outside tramp
detectives to help in running down
vagabond negroes suspected as vio-
lators, for this one service alone?
But how can they help it, if they wish
the endorsement Of the local papers l?
A new council is elected. A violal
tor Of the booze law is before them.
They are afraid Of the structures Of
the paper, the priesthood and goody-
goody people generally, and give
the culprit the limit. So the pace is
set and bounded on by the prohibi-
tion press to still greater sternness
and vigilance. The council, and more
especially the police force, soon lose
interest in all save booze, booze. Now
I do not single out one paper alone,
| but I most firmly declare, without
fear Of contradiction, that all these
prohibition papers and venomous an
ti-liquor men care not so much for
the morals Of the men as to be with
the party they think is in the lead
and to bolster the interest Of the
"outs" as against the Gins" In
other words, the whole tone and SEN
timent spells politics. It has
always been 50 and always will be
so.
One of the most outsopken and in
fluential Of this class Of journals is
| The Observer of this city and the
Anderson Mail. They fill their col
umns with statistics and figures from
; the revenue department, showing
from these the decrease in liquor
drinking. They publish long editor
:; ials and sound philosophy about the
wisdom Of "keeping it away from the
boys" and quote scripture about
"lead not into temptation" and
"save the boys.' In the abstract
that sounds good and reads we'll in
the Sunday schools.
So much for promises; now for
! facts: Some time ago we find the