The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-08-13

In his speech at Privateer Tuesday
Mr.. T. b. Faser stated his position on
the iiquor issue 50 clearly and forci-
bly, that we reproduce it for the pur-
pose Of emphasizing 1t and inviting
the State-widers to give II calm con-
sideratiop. AZ II Is possible for them
to impartially consider any safe and
sane view OF the political ism" upon
which their hope of office Is based.
Mr.. Fraser is an enemy Of liquor and
OF the liquor trafic. and his record
Is not open to criticism. He was
one OF the first to come cut openly
In opposition to the State Dispensary.
When other men were riding into
once on the dispensary platform and
seeking to make regulations in the
legislature as leaders by their vocifcr-
GUS loyalty to the great moral insti-
tuition and the powers that were. he
stood for the same principles that he
now enunciates. When ne was first
nominated for the House of Repre-
sentatives he declared his antagonism
20 the dispensary system and on every
stump In the county stated his views
so that all might know where he
count Of his anti-dispensary views.
but despite Of them, for at that time
the dispensary was regarded as a fix
ture and II was the popular thing to
assert that the dispensary system
was the best solution of the liquor
problem, and let IL 60 at that. In
those days many Office seekers, who
are now blatant advocates Of the
great moral Issue of prohibition were
blind dsvotees OF the great moral in
stitution. Public sentiment Is a great
force. and more jften than otherwise
the office seeker builds his platform
TO conform to what he thinks Is
public sentiment rather than accord
Ing 10 safe and sane policy or
upon we'll thought out principle. To
such as think that the prohibition
wave Is sweeping the State and are
therefore uncompromising State
widers. we commend Mr.. Fraser's
statement OF his position on the liquor
question. and advise them to try to
understand that a man Of principle
can advocate local option and give a
safe and sane reason for his position.
Mr.. Fraser's platform Is one with
which no sincere temperance man can
consistently find fault. and II his
views were generally adopted as the
governing policy in the State. the
cause of temperance would be advanc-
ed, and the issue would become a
moral issue and net political move
ment. fostered and promoted by those
who fasten upon any issue that
seems to have caught the popular
sentiment:
"on the liquor question I want to
say am for local option, not because
am opposed to prohibition but be-
cause 1 am In favor Of prohibition.
Being In favor OF prohibition I want
that kind that in my judgment will
prohibit. 1 do not believe that State
wide prohibition will prohibit. I be-
lieve local option prohibition will.
There Is no controversy between the
Statewide prohibitionist and me as
TO the evils of liquor. The expend-
iture Of money for liquor that ought
to be used to pay debts, to increase
the means Of earning a livelihood. to
procure home comforts and to buy
bread. Is. in my judgment, indefen-
sible. The effects of liquor In unfit
ting men for productive work while
Its hideous effects continues; the Gre
alton OF an Unsuitable appetite for
more. the blasting OF the lives of so
many who drink and the lives OF so
many more who love those who drink.
make its use the crowning evil of to-
day.
I'VE must take the world as we find
Is not the dreams we have dreamed.
but the deeds we have done that
count. Local option has made 81
out OF 43 counties prohibition (prac-
tlcally prohibitlon) territory and /
say we'll done local option. I will try
u again. The strides local option
prohibition has made are marvellous.
The two principal foes OF prohibit
ion we're (1) a general impression
that there would be immunity from
punishment for the violators OF this
law, (2) n fully developed thirst for
liquor. Now give II a chance There is