The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1909-09-16
WHAT WILL ASSEMBLY DO?
WILL 1T PASS STATEWIDE PRO
HIBITION OR NOT?

August kohn Discusses Question, and
Gives Vote of the Senate on
"Compromise Bill"
Columbia, Sept. 12.-1s it ques-
ton of good faith? Will the prohi-
bition majority and the tide over
whelm the legislature and force the
enactment of a Statewide prohlbl-
ton bill. The situation at the ad-
iournment of the last session was
that the ardent prohibitionists were
dissatisfied and disappointed and the
local optionists thought they had set
tied the question of further leglsla-
ton for at least two years longer.
The legislation passed was known as
"compromise. All through the
discussion and arguments the present
law, incorporating the hfteen-day
prohibition situation and the elec-
tions without petitions, were regard
ed-particularly in the Senate-as a
compromise.
The Senate directly and by direct
vote killed Statewide prohibition. 1t
was a notorious fact that, while the
House passed the Statewide prohl-
hibition bill, the Senate would not do
so. The legislative tangle that en-
sued is recent history.
The ''Compromise."
Then came the compromise as
a result of which fifteen counties
have been added to the prohibltlon
column. Had the General Assembly
adjourned without adopting the
.scompromise" bill, there would not
have been such an addition to the
prohibition territory. Some counties
had not passed the period for other
elections, and under the compromise
bill no petitions were necessary, and
the getting up of petitions has often
proven a barrier. Under the com
promise" bill the elections were auto
matte.
Mr.. Richards, and others who were
leading the fght for Statewide pro-
hibition, insisted that they would
rather have had no legislation than
the statute which resulted in fifteen
new counties being added to the pro-
l1OlClOu COluWu.
How the Senate Voted.
But the fight in chief on the "com-
promise" bill was on the Senate side,
the question now largely is whether
the Senate will insist on the status
brought about by the compromise
bill being maintained.
There was strenuous objection to
the bitter end to the compromise
bill, but it became a law and as a
result six counties retained dlspen-
saries and thirty-siX counties are
"dry."
Here is how the Senate voted to
pass the compromise blll-2S TO ..
The 2S Senators are responsible 1or
the compromise statute now on the
books, and it is largely with them
what will happen next year.
Ayes-Black, Clifton, Carlisle,
Crosson, Griffin, Johnson, Lide, Otis,
Smith-9; against compromise
bill. ..
Nays-Appelt, Bates, Christensen,
Croft, Earle, Forrest, Hardin, Har-
yey. Hough. Johnstone, Kelley,
Laney, Mauldin, McCown, McKeithan,
Montgomery, Muckenfuss, Rains
ford, Sinkler, Spivey, Stewart, Sulll-
van, Townsend, Walker. Waller, Wes-
ton, Williams, Wharton-2S; (for
compromise bill.)
There are certain Senators who ex-
planned their votes at the time, VINO
did so on the ground that they did
the best they could. all things con-
sidered.
Because fifteen counties accepted
the opportunity and voted for prohl-
bition, hardly involves Statewide
prohibition. It was not intimated in
the compromise and had the bill said
eff three-fourths of the counties vote
for prohibition, then Statewide pro-
hibition is to follow" it would have
involved further complications, and
the Legislature would most likely
have adjourned without enacting the
"compromise" bill.
T. What Will the Drys Do?
The prohibitionists have gained
very much by the compromise bill
more than they expected. IT they
force Richland, Charleston. Flor
ence, Beaufort, Georgetown, and
Aiken into prohibition, it will run
counter to the vote of those counties
and prohibition will start out as did
the old dispensary law, with hostile
sentiment and lack of cooperation.
Prohibition now has 36.42 OF the
State, and the gain has been steady
and sure, and public sentiment has
been back of the law. Other coun-
ties will no doubt voluntarily join the
prohibition ranks, and the question
is whether it is best to let them do
so of their own accord or force it
upon a people who have just ex-
pressed their views. under the most
favorable condition.
The hope is that whatever is done
at the approaching session will not
involve such a legislative snare as
was witnessed in 1909.