The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1910-03-30
GIVE Us The FEDERAL AID.

GIVE Us The FEDERAL AID.
The esteemed News and Cour.
ier of last Monday in speaking
of the reported purpose Of the
federal authorities to aid in the
suppression Of blind tigers says:
I'VE have absolutely no sym
pathy with the blind tiger bus!-
ness. Whenever a community de-
cides for itself that no intoxicants
shall be sold legally in that COM
munity. no intoSicants ought to
be sold there. Nevertheless 1t
does seem TO as that each COM
munity ought to De able Of itself
to deal with problem OF this
kind without any outside asSis-
.tance from the Federal Govern
nent." THIS judgment is based
upon the theory of States rights.
a principle the South has always
contended for, and of recent years
the idea is growing in other parts
of this Union, but rotwithstand-
ing the great principle, this IS
an age or practical thought,
there is little patience With tneo
ries that vii! not work in prac-
tice. The law prohibiting the
sale of intoxicantS is theory
that has not as Vet been proven
practical, and 1t is creating i'm.
patience, but inasmuch as the
law is upon our Statute books it
should be given a full and fair
test. then if it is shown to be
what those Of US who do not
favor such laws claim, other
liquor laws will take their place.
We do not re gard the Federal
authorities lending aid. for the
enforcement Of State Statute
enacted at the instance OF the
people themselves. as an unwar-
ranted interference with the peo-
pies rights. Il is simply coming
TO the assistance of the police
when arrest is being deded.
When riot breaks out in city
the government has been called
upon to aid in it's suppression
with the troops stationed there:
in such a case it would not be
regarded an unwarranted inter
ference with State rights. There
is Federal law requiring a Ii
cense tax to deal in intoXicants,
and there is also State law
which prohibits the dealing in m
toxlcants in certain communities,
where it is prohibited, it is the
expressed demand of the people
at the ballot box, not forced upon
them, but IL is their own act.
When the federal government
comes to enforcing the license tax
requirement we cannot see why
it should not at the sane time be
required to turn over to the State
authorities those they ind violat-
ing the federal laws. # this IS
done the tigers" will pay the fed
eral license, and subject them
selves to closer watch from the
State officials: the fact Of having
q United States license isa strong
circumstance Of having it for the
purpose Of selling liquor: and
when accused before State court
the jury will have the license cvl-
dence 10 consider as circum-
stance pointing to guilt
The States right theory is null
li6ed by the interstate commerce
laws, under them, the State can
not enact laws which will prevent
the shipmentof iutoxicantsin ter
ritory, the citizens Of which have
voted the legal sale out, and, as
much as We are opposed to pro,
hibition. We are equally opposed
to the State being handicapped
by the federal laws SO thatit can
not effectively carry out the ex-
pressed wish Of the people. We
believe Congress should enact
laws which will make it obllga
tory upon the officers OF the gov
ernment to assist in the enforce
ment of the State laws: the State
is Z part Of the government aud
therefore is entitled to its laws
being respected.