The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1910-06-01
PEOPLE RESENT EXTREMES.

PEOPLE RESENT EXTREMES.
The legislature of Alabama en-
acted a te-wide prohibition
law, the most drastic ever enact
ed in a civilized country, then t-e
same leaders undertook to fasten
prohibition into the constitution,
but their folly was repudiated by
the votes of the people. Then, it
has also been further demonstrat-
ed :hay it would be wise on the
part of leaders for the masses to
be considered. In the election for
the new Legislature. out OF !Oo
members elected, ouly II of those
who were in the prohibition leg
islature were sent back. And too,
Democrats in some OF the counties
permitted their legislative ticket
to go by default, and the Repub-
licans elected their candidates
without opposition. Now watch
South Carolina and see how many
Prohibit,onists who are aspirants
for Office are looking for soft
place to fall. They have begun al
ready after getting their prohibit
ton friends to urge them to run
for Office, and finding that prohi-
bition is not a sure thing, they
would endeavor to gum-shoe their
way into the good graces of the
local optionists by saying the liq:
nor question is not an issue, and
it should not be permitted to en-.
ter this campaign: to the prohi
bitionists in a low breath they say
I'VE can win if we are able to con
duct this campaign without ex.
posing our hands," but this class
Of men may as well give up such
an illusion, they will have to
'sspeak up and express themsel-
yes" as to where they stand. We
say that the liquor question is
forced into this campaign by the
very nature of things, and if the
Prohibitionists are sincere, they
must cot have much faith in any
man claiming to be q Prohibition
ist, who tries to straddle the is
sue, or ignore it because he finds
it is notso popular. as those whom
he got to urge" him to be a can
didate, thought.
South Carolina. we believe has
made more progress for temper
ance nnder the local option laws
THAI it ever will under prohioi-
tive law, aud too it was accom-.
plished without dragging the
churches into the mi-e of politics.
Under the local option system the
people have a right tc try the ex-
pertinent Of prohibition, the trial
lasts four years, if they are con.
tented with it. the system re
mains, but if they believe it is a
breeder Of immortality, aud the
country is being damaged, they
have a right to have the matter
submitted back to them, and, if
they think BEST. they can put
back the legal sale under consti-
tutional restrictions. This is all
that local option pretends TO do.
lit is reserving the right of free
dom to the people. 1t is one of
the principles of Democracy,
while prohibition is not If the
prohibition element are sure of
their cause, why do they fear
trusting this question with the
people upon whom they must de-
pend for the laws enforcement?
We say that since prohibition has
been tried, 10 some sections it
works well, butin other sections it
is evidently very unsatisfactory,
asis shown by the action of Green.
vile the banner prohibition coun-
ty OF the State in convention urg.
ing a return to the legal sale of
the alcohol beverages. Therefore
We say the cause IS waning and
some of the Prohibition polite
ians are trying to side-step the is
sue. Will they be allowed to do it?
We think not.