The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-05-20
GOVERNOR BLEASE
DISCHARGES C0NSTABiES
Nhiskey Officers Asked to Resign Oh
flee June 1.-State is OTerrun
With Tigers.

Columbia, May 15.-As a result OF
the decision of the supreme court on
the Webb law, annouced yesterday af-
ternoon, Governor Blease said this al
ternoon there was no use for him to
continue to keep State constables in
operation and he addressed letter
to his constables, telling them that he
would have no use for their services
after the 1st of June.
There is no statute by the State pro-
hibiting the Importation OF liquor
from another State for personal use'
and the Webb act gives the State the
right to enact such a statute if it so
desires is the opinion of the South
Carolina supreme court.
When asked about the decision OF
the supreme court in the Webb case,
and its effect upon his policy, the
governor said:
sWell, of course, am not surprised
at the decision. However, 1 regret as
much as it is possible for a man TO
regret that the court saw fit to render
this decision. If that was the courts
idea of the law, wish it had done as
if has done in thousands of other
cases, held up the decision and delayed
and delayed.
Trouble With Blind Tigers.
"T have had more trouble and worry
in the last two or three months with
complaints IS to blind tigers than one
door fellow can stand. I have had my
constabulary force full, my detectives
Al work, and recently counties have
been calling on me to send them spe-
cial men, and have been tightening
the screws. 1 had presumed that the
attorney generals views would be sus-
tanned, or if not, that the members OF
the court, who 1 presume are promo
Enthusiastically politically, If not
othervise-the majority OF them
would help me out in this hght' oy
holding the decision, even as it was
rendered, until I could get the sltua-
ton somewhat in hand.
"But. 10 and behold, they shoot the
decision back with lightning-like ra-
pidity and say to the blind tigers, 'on
with the dance, boys, the music will
be furnished
Looks For Abuse From the People
"Now, it is up to the people to curse
.nd abuse me. for non-enforcement OF
the law, when everybody knows am
HELPLESS and no power on earth can
enforce the dispensary law in this
State, and keep down the blind tigers
so long as white men furnish the IL
uuor and have free negroes to sell II
for them, and then go around TO
lawyers Offices and hire lawyers 10
defend these negroes and at the same
time whisper to the lawyers, don
let me be known in connection Win
the matter
81 am not criticising the court. ac-
cept their decision as the law, but as
they have delayed in so many other
matters, I wish they had delayed
inst a little while in this.
His Only Course.
ssI see nothing for me to do now but
n withdraw my constabulary from
Charleston and Columbia and all over
the State. There is no use for people
who pay taxes to pay constables and
detectives under any such conditions
as we are living under right now, and
If certainly is disheartening to a man
who has done. all he could to try to
enforce the law. And, I hope the peo-
n1e will understand that when the
hind tigers are roaming over their
communities that it is not the fault OF
the governor of South Carolina. II
parties will write me I will take the
matter up and do the best can, and
if they will go to a magistrate and
make afidavits as to the illicit sale OF
LIQUOR will see that the magistrates
do their full duty, but under the law
of personal use I do not see how we
can seize any shipments.
You Never Can Tell.
s'Now, for instance, know two
men that drink quart of liquor a
piece every day, Now, when they get
a case every ten or fifteen days who
can say it is not for personal use? 1t
is for their personal use. I know