The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1909-06-09

The Pr. .hjbition Meeting.

oA SoouP w ltAC Coal VI 1OulUA-
tionist," representative gathering
of prohibitionists met in the court
house on Monday. A permanent Or
ganization was effected by the unani-
nous election of the following Off
GERS: Hon. E. G. Ridgell, of Bates
burg, president; Rev S. O. Cansey, of
Batesburg. secretary; Col. NJ. D.
Harman, of Lexington, treasurer.
The Rev. J. L. Harley, state super
intendent Of the Anti-Saloon League.
was present and, at the suggestion of
the Rev. Mr.. Cantey, addressed the
convention. He briefly outlined the
plan of the work being done in other
counties, and made a strong and ear
nest appeal to the prohibitionists to
begin the fight at once and not let up
until the "battle is over and the vic
tory Won" He didn't believe that
there was county in the State that
had voted out whiskey that would
vote for the reopening Of the liquor
shops. He stated that the most i'm
portant work for the organization
was to see to it that the law is car
ried ont to the letter on election day.
And this is not all; after the liquor is
voted out q strong effort must be
made for the enforcement of the law.
He ridiculed the idea that more wbis-
key would be sold after prohibition
went into effect, and that the blind
tigers we're going to vote for prohibi-
tion because they would then have fall
sway. "If the blindtigers expect to
sell more liquor under prohibition
than they are selling now they will be
badly fooled,' said Mr.. Harley. He
gave it as his opinion that IS out Of
the 81 counties will vote prohibition
in the August election. Mr.. Harley
closed with an eloquent appeal for the
"rising generation, those who are to
manage the affairs of county and state
after we have all passed over the
river"
Hon. E. G. Ridgell, Rev. S. c. Bal
lentine, Rev. S. O. Cantey, Prof. L.
B. Haynes, Col. NJ. D. Harman and
G. P. Robinson were named to draft
an address to the citizens of the coun-
ty. The committee presented the fol-
lowing which was unanimously adopt
ed:
Whereas, by an act of the General
Assembly, approved March Z, 1909, it
is provided that all dispensaries in
South Carolina shall be closed on
August 8, and that there shall be an
election on August II in all counties
now having dispensaries to determine
whether the dispensaries closed shall
be reopened in said county; and,
"Whereas, Lexington county is one
of the counties now having dispensa-
ries, and SO may have an election to
determine whether the dispensaries in
this county shall be reopened,
"Resolved, First: We, the under
signed citizens of Lexington county,
in convention assembled, on this the
7th of June, declare ourselves unal-
terably opposed to the reopening OF
the dispensaries in tkis county, and
do hereby call upon all good citizens
to unite with US in all earnest effort
to prevent the reopenlng of the DIS
pensaries for the ]egalized sale OF llq-
uor in this county.
Second: That we call upon all
ministers of the gospel to preach on
the subject OF temperance in each OF
their churches between now and the
August election.
''Third: That we ask all of our
county newspapers to cooperate with
US in this campaign, and to give lib,
eral space for temperance facts ana
figures.
''Fourth: That we call upon the
w. G. IT. T.. and the Anti-Saloon
League Of the State to aid IN TINS
fight.
''Fifth: That we ask the papers in
this county to publish these resolu-
tions."
IOllOWlllS ClC plans ou'AA1tNN> ~ -
Rev. Mr.. Harley, the chairman ap-
pointed central committee at the
court house, who will appoint town
ship committees and look after the in
terest Of the organization throughout
the county. The following gentle
men compose the committee: D. K.
Haltiwanger, chairman; Col. NJ. D.
Harman, Rev. w. D. Quick, II. A.
Howard, r. Hayne Williams, John }.
Fox and H. w. Powell.
1t was suggested and adopted that
the central committee secure a list OF
available speakers to be supplied TO
the various township committees.
\ CO lection was taken and a sub
stantial amount was received to begin
the work.
Brief addresses were made by State
Senator Crosson, Rev. Joab Edwards
and Rev. w. S. Myers. President
Ridgell urged unity of action and to
Keep down animosities. he stated