The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-02-15

Tuesday the opponents of the bill
winning by narrow margin. On the
test vote the representatives of Sum-
ter county were divided. Mr.. Belser
voting against the bill and AIessrs.
Dick and Epps for Il. The attitude
S'f Messrs. Dick and Epps in respect
10 this mischievous and undemocratic
measure was surprise and a disap-
pointment, for by their vote one would
naturally infer that they have a griev
ance against the newspapers and
that they had been so unfairly and
nnJustly criticised I'm the past that
they felt the need of a legal club.
such as the Rembert bill provides. to
force the newspapers to treat them
with fairness in future. So far as we
know. neither OF these gentlemen has
just cause for complaint against the
newspapers. and. speaking for this
paper. we know that they have al
ways been accorded every consider
alton to which they were entitled and
that nothing has ever been printed
concerning them-either true or false
that could bring them into disre-
pute or damage them in a business
or political way. We have heretofore
viewed the Rembert bill as a piece
Of cheap demagosuery. introduced in
the House and featured for political
purposes only. and have had no APP
prehenslon that IL would receive Sc
rious consideration by the broad
guage members, who. we believed,
would see at a glance that IL was un-
constitutional. in that 1t infringes the
rights OF free press: undemocratic,
In that II was special legislation di-
rected against a single class: and
needless. In that no reputable man
has anything to fear from the press
OF this state. since the law now gives
any aggrieved person full redress by
criminal and civil action. When men
of the type OF Messrs Dick and Epps
are led astray by the clamor OF the
demagogues agains the newspapers
one is apt to wonder IL the one-ti ne
belief In the fundamental principles
OF democratic government has not
been undermined by the con-
tinued and insidious assaults of the
politicians, who place desire for pre-
ferment above principle and
would rather bambooAe the people
than hold fast TO the faith Of the
founders of our government.
Brown and Hayne OF New Orleans
and Scales Of Texas. have been left
with the bag To hold i'm the one-sid-
ed fight against the Wall Street cot
ton bears and the Federal Govern
ment. but IL can never he established
that their pool To advance the price
OF spot cotton was criminal con-
spiracy. II II is illegal To- boost cot
ton prices, thereby forcing European
spinners To pay a living price for
American cotton, what Is II. to force
down the price and cheat the Amer
lean farmers out OF the legitimate
fruits OF their labor?
Josh Ashlcy's bill requiring con-
trabrand liquor To- be turned over To
hospitals and poor houses is one of
the euriositics OF legislation. Ac-
cording 90 common report the aver
axe run Of blind tiger liquor that Is
seized and conHscated by officers Of
the law IA a vile add deadly concoc-
tion. unht for human consumption.
To dose inmates of hospitals and
panpcrs on the poor farms with IL
may not be legally classcd as assault
and battery with deadly weapon.
but II would be taking unfair advan-
tagc 81 helpless people.
Tho investigation Of the Winthrop
COlleEC-South Carolina University
controversy concerning the dis,ribu-
tion OF the Peabody fund. which was
prccipitatcd by charges contained in
Gov. Blcasc's inaugural. has been pro-
ductivc of no important developments
The implied charges against Dr.
Mitchell hpyc fallen nat when
brought out into the light Of day. and
Dr. Johnson who appears from the
record 90 have been responsible for
the charges made by Gov. Blcase has
been kept busy I'm confessions OF er-
ror and avoidance. The whole ar-
fair has been unfortunate. especially
for DR.. Johnson.