The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-06-14

President Woodrow Wilson, of the
United States, today Governor Biease
pleads with him TO instruct the reye-
nue commissioner not to issue any
more internal revenue licenses In South
Carolina to retail liquor dealers, de-
claring that such course would as
sfst him greatly In enforcing the liquor
laws III there is no authority at pres
ent to refuse to issue such licenses the
Governcr asks the President to send
special message to Congress urging
the enactment OF such a law.
The United States Government can
be great moral and legal force in
helping to enforce the liquor laws in
this State, instead OF, as at present
countenancing their violation" says
the Governor In his letter. He says
that when he gets to the Senate ne
Will introduce such bill. His letter
In full follows:
Columbia. s. c.. June 0, 1918.
His Excellency. Woodrow Wilson.
President of the United States, Wash
ington. D. C.-Dear Sir: 1 have posi-
tive information that there are now in
this State several parties holding H.
censss from the United States Govern
mem as retail liquor dealers. and
am informed that these licenses will
expire on the 30th of this month. AS
you know South Carolina has a statute
which prohibits the sale of whiskey,
wine or beer. except in eight counties
In which waiskey Is sold by the county
dispensaries. and any person. firm or
corporation engaging In the sale Of
any whiskey. wine. beer. malt or vim
GUS liquors. save the legally authoriz-
ed dispensers I'm these eight counties,
is guilty OF a misdemeanor Still, the
United States Government has been
and Is yet continuously licensing peo-
pie other than dispensers In the coun-
ties which have dispensaries. and peo-
pie within the counties which have le-
gal prohibition. to violate the law OF
this State by becoming retail liquor
dealers.
1t does seem to me that you could
DO of great assistance to me In the
enforcement Of the liquor laws of this
State IL you would instruct your Uni
ted states commissioner OF Internal
revenue not to grant license to any
person, firm or corporation In this
State. except the licenses necessary for
the legal dispensers. to engage In the
business OF retail or wholesale LIQUOR
dealer. and by instructing your United
states marshals to see that any per-
son. firm or corporation selling whis-
Key, wine or beer I'm violation of law
shall be tried and punished by the
United States Courts.
If. after investigation by your At
torney General, II should be found
that there is any provision OF law re-
curing the issuance OF licenses to
people giving them the right, so far
as the Federal Government is con-
cerned. TO violate the state law, then
i would suggest that you could be OF
great assistance if. In a special mes
sage TO Congress you would urge the
passage of law remedying this de-
feet to which i have called your at.
tention.
or course. under no conditions or
circumstances would put myself in
the position of suggesting that 1
might want to dictate to your Excel
lency or even to suggest To you any
thing that would be unpleasant. but
u does seem to me, IA private citi.
zen of the United States OF America,
and as Cove nor Of the greatest State
la the American Union, that IL is in
consiste"' for the United States Gov
ernment to license people to violate
a state law. so far as the United States
Government is concerned. saying TO
them. you have our license TO violate
the state law without interfererscN
from us. IL Is true the licenses tn.
Federal Government grants are only
to- sell under the Federal laws. but.
at the same time. the holders OF these
license. when they apply for them,
give notice thct they intend to vio-
late the laws OF our State. There
fore u certainly seems to mo that the
United states officials ought to say
NO. your state law prohibits the sale
by YOU Of these goods and we do not
propose To make ourselves parties to
your violation OF the state law by
guaranteeing you immunity from
prosecution In our courts II you do
violate the state law. In other words.
the United States Goyarnn,o,, ,or