The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-05-21
DISCHARGES CONSTABLES
BLEASE ASKS WHISkEY OFF,
GERS TO RESIGN
Says Action of Supreme Court on
Webb Bill Makes Discharge of Con-
stables Necessary.

The Columbia correspondent OF
The News and Courier says as a re-
suit of the decision Of the Supreme
Court on the Webb law, announced
Yesterday afternoon, Governor Blease
said this afternoon there was no use
for him to continue to keep State con-
stables in operation and he addressed
a 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
prohibiting the importation OF liquor
from another State for personal use,
and the Webb Act gives the State the
right to enact such statute If 1t
so desires Is the opinion Of the South
Carolina Supreme court. When ask
ed about the decision Of the Supreme
Court in the Webb case, and its ef-
feet upon his policy, the Governor
said:
81 have had more trouble and wor-
ry IN the last two or three nv Is
with complaints as to blind tigers
than one poor fellow can stand. I
have had my constabulary force full,
my detectives at work, and recently
counties have been calling on me to
send them special men, and I have
been Tightening the screws. l had
presumed that the Attorney Generals
views would be sustained, or, II not
that the members Of the Court, who
presume are prohibitionists-cer-
tainly politically, If not otherwise
the majority of them-would help me
out in this fight, by holding the de-
cision. even as it was rendered. until
I could get the situation somewhat
in hand.
s.But, 10 and behold, they shoot
the decision back with lightning-like
rapidity and say to the blind tigers
on with the dance, boys, the music
will be furnished
"Now, it is up to the people to
curse and abuse me, for non-enforce-
ment 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 liquor and have free ne
groes to sell it for them, and then go
around to lawyers Offices and hire
lawyers to defend these negroes and
at the same time whisper to the law
yers, don't let me be known in con-
nection with the matter
81 am not criticizing the Court.
I accep. their decision as the law,
but as they have delayed in so many
other matters, I wish they had de-
layed just little while In this
II see nothing for me to do now
but to withdraw my constabulary
from Charleston and Columbia and
all over the State. There is no use
for people who pay taxes to pay con-
stables and detectives under any such
conditions as we are living under
right now, and it certainly is dis
heartening to a man who has done
all he could to try to enforce the law.
And, I hope the people will under
stand that when the blind tigers are
roaming over their communities that
it is not the fault OF the Governor OF
South Carolina. If parties will write
me I will take the matter up and do
the best I can, and if they will go to
a magistrate and make afidavits to
TO the illicit sale Of liquor l will see
that the magistrates do their full
duty, but under the law Of personal
use do not see how we can seize any
shipments.