The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1913-09-04
Reply to "A Countryman."
Editor County Record


signature of "A Countryman'. Such
injustice should not come to the cit
izens of Lake City from one who is
as intelligent as the writer of this
article. The writer warns the citi-
zens against straining at gnats and
yet swallowing camels. He evident
ly considers a debaucher of women
as far less offensive than an illegal
dealer in whiskey. | have no defense
for those who unlawfully sell whis-
key. have always fought against
the illegal and legalized sale of whiS-
key, and have yet to taste my first
drop. August 10, | was at the polls
all day working that the dispensary
might be put away from US and when
another election on this question is
held | will be similarly employed.
During my life | have had but one
opportunity to sit on a jury to try
one charged with unlawfully selling
whiskey and in that case d verdict
of guilty was rendered.
have heard rumors that several
men were dealing rather extensively
in the illegal sale of whiskey, but
| I've yet to find one, knowing this as
fact, who was bold enough to ap-
pear in court and testify against the
alleged offender. The men who un-
lawfully sell whiskey would not sell
to me, nor doubtless to any of the
citizens who signed the article re-
ferred to by "Countryman". They
would not sell to me nor them be-
cause they know the matter would
be reported to constituted authori-
ties and summary punishment dealt
out. | have always heard it stated
as automatic that only men who
drank and could be trusted not to
''squeal" could buy whiskey from
blind tigers. How does it happen,
therefore, that "Countryman," who
seems to be so bitterly opposed to
the sale of whiskey, knows as a fact
that restaurant keeper conducts
an open bar? Has he ever bought
any whiskey from him? If not, from
whence does his information come?
Would he or his informant be will
ing to testify in a court of justice
that this man does sell whiskey? |
have heard many reports of the al
legged violation of the law, but rare
ly ever can you place these reports
upon shoulders of men who have
sufficient nerve to appear in court
and testify against the wrong-doer.
Honest citizens are apt to question
the sincerity of would-be reformers
who, ,incognito, suggest their reforms
to the world. Reformers in all ages
have been characterized by boldness
and courage. When and where has
an honest man reformer appeared
who endeavored by innuendo to place
his reforms before the world? If
"Countryman" is good man, if he
is an honest man, why does he not
come in the open under his real name
and specifically name the suggested
offenders? He laments the contin-
uance of evil which he claims he can
prove exists, but has not the moral
courage to give his information to
officers Of the law, nor even to sign
his name to his article. Brave NOR
alist! An anonymous charge against
any one always savors of hypocrisy.
| am inclined to think that the writ
er of this article, in the college boys
vernacular. may be classified as "a
spineless cactus.
The town council has. on several
occasions, employed detectives to
catch the supposed violators of the
law, but up to this time have not
been able to obtain proof of the
guilt of a restaurant keeper and
others who, rumor says, are unlaw-
fully dealing in whiskey. If 'Coun-
tryman" knows anything of law he
knows that men are not punished
because it is rumored that they are
violating the law. There must ap-
pear in court credible witnesses to
testify to the specific violations of
the law. Hired detectives have hith-
erto been unable to obtain concrete
proof of the rumored violation of
the dispensary law by restaurant
keeper, but now,if "Countryman" is
not "spineless cactus" floating
rumors can be presented to the au-
thorities as facts by one not hired,
who knows that the law is being vi
olated. How he knows | cannot
guess, but l am sure that Country
man." if he is any man at all, will
make his proofs known to the Mayor,
and if he does this l guarantee that
everything possible will be done to