Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1910-04-27
RICHARDS THE ILLOGICAL" MAN.
Former Oconcc Man Gives Reasons
for This Belief.

u IeCchl ISSUE Ol your paper, Inat you
have copied from The State an artl-
Gle written by Rev. Mr.. Brstow
claiming that Mr.. Featherstone is the
"loglcar' prohibition candidate tor
Governor. | do not see where he
has any right to make such a claim.
In order to substantiate such a claim
he would have to prove, not only thai
Mr. FeatherStOne Is a good prohibi-
ton candidate. but that there Is no
other candidate in the race who is
good prohibition candidate, and that
he cannot do.
One of the planks in the platform
OF Major John G. Richards declares
in unmistakable terms for State
wide prohibition. Now, Major Rich
ards not only says he is in favor of
prohibition, but proves, and has
proved it by his life. Personally, he
has always been 'prohibitioniat"
In that he has always abstained from
alcoholic beverages, even at ban
quets, where U am sorry to say
good men and good CD church mem
bers often indulge in them. Give
ME the record of a mans private life
as a test Of his sincerity in public
life.
In the constitutional convention
Major Richards strongly advocated
the abolition Of the saloon system.
AS long as the dispensary law was
in force in the State he always stood
for its fair and honest, but rigid.
enforcement. But he let it be dis
tincuy known that, with the aboli-
ton Of the system, he would stand
sQuarely for Statewide prohibitions
and the records show that, rs IA Nom
ber Of the Legislature for the past
twelve years, he has used every op-
portunity to push all measures look
ing in that direction. And further
more, Major Richards has been the
recognized leader Of the prohibition
forces in the Legislature for some
years past.
1t is not only question Of who is
most in favor of prohibition. but who
is most fitted for its practical appli-
cation and enforcement Theory
needs to be coupled with the power
to apply and bring to pass. In that
respect it seems to me that Major
Richards is pre-eminently the "logi-
cal' candidate, with his twelve
vporc' avpprionco n. 4, lou;.lo+o, o,<,
executive committeeman.
The local option platform may ap-
peal to some honest, upright men
who are not in favor OF whiskey, on
the ground that it is right to let each
{ immunity decide the question TO,
itself, but it would be better for such
men to vote the straight prohibition
ticket and help get the question set
tied for good, so that campaigns in
South Carolina will not always be
veXed and beclouded with the whis-
key question as they have been for
years past
But prohibition Is only one issue
of the campaign, and, in the face OF
the other important issues, such as
ucation--eSpecially education in
the rural ditsricts-it would be un-
fortunate if the citizenship OF South
Carolina should ever let it over
shadow other more important issues,
for after all prohibition will only be
effective in proportion as it has the
support OF public opinion, and the
greatest task is educating the masses
Of the people into healthy sentiment
on the question, and into intelligent
citizenship. Upon that the future
welfare OF the State depends after
all.
Now, Major Richards stands
Squarcly for the advancement OF odu-
cation, laying special stress on rural
education. He is the author OF the
free scholarship act for Winthrop
College and OF an act appropriating
State money to assist rural districts
in building good, modern school
houses. 1t has been my pleasure to
become personally acquainted with
Major Richards. My first imp ression
was highly favorable one, and my
admiration for the man has increased
as ! have come to know him better.
lie is Christian gentleman OF the
highest type and man OF sHlcndid
ability and fine common sense. AL
though Of sufficiently dignifed and
manly bearing to fill with honor to
his state any position to which her
citizenship may elect him, he is plain
and entirely transformations in his