The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1913-06-13
Wants No More Govern
ment Licenses-Outlines
Situation in South Caro-
lina-Tells What He Will
do When He Gets to Sem
ate.

letter to President Woodrow Wilson
Columbia, S. c., June 9, 1918
His Excellency, Woodrow Wilson
PRESIDENT of the United States
washington, D. C.-Dear Sir: I have
positive information that there are
now in this State several parties
holding licenses from the United
otates Government as retail LIQUOR
dealers, and l am informed that these
licenses will expire the 3Oth of this
month. AS you know, South Caro-
INA has a statute which prohibits
the sale of whiskey, wine or beer.
except in eight counties, in which
whiskey is sold by the county
dispensaries, and any person, firm or
corporation engaging in the sale of
any whlskey, wine, beer, malt or vim
Gus liquors, save the legally author
lied dispensers in these eight conn
ties, is guilty of misdemeanor. Still.
the United States Government has
oeen and is yet continuously licens-
ing people which have dispensaries.
and people within the counties which
have legal prohibition, to violate the
law of this State by becoming retail
liquor dealers.
1T seems to me that you could be
of great assistance to me in the en-
forcement of the liquor laws of this
State if you would instruct your
United States commissioner of inter-
nal revenue not to grant license to
any person, firm or corporation in
this State, except the licenses neces-
sary for the legal dispensers, to en-
gage in the business of retail orr
wholesale liquor dealers, and by in
structing your United States mar
shals to see that any person, firm or
corporation, selling whiskey, wine or
beer in violation of law shall be tried
and punished by the United States
Courts.
eff, after investigation by your At
torney General, it should be found
that there is any provision of law
requiring the issuance of licenses to
people giving them the right so far
as the Federal Government is con-
ccrned, to violate the State law, then
1 suggest that you could be of great
assistance if, in special message
to Congress you would urge the pas
sage of a law remedying this defect
to which | have called your attention.
"Of course, under no conditions or
circumstances would l put myself in
the position of suggesting that /
might want to dictate to your Excel
lency or even to suggest to you any
thing that would be unpleasant, but
1T does seem to me, as a private cit
izen of the United States of America
and as Governor of the greatest
State in the American Union, that it
is inconsistent for the United States
Government to license people to vio-
late State law, so far as the United
States Government is concerned,
saying to them, you have our license
to violate the State law without in
reference from us. 1t is true the IL
censes the Federal Government
grants are only to sell under the
Federal laws, but at the same time
the holders of these licenses, when
they apply for them, give notice that
they intend to violate the laws of
our State. Therefore it certainly
seems to me, 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 guar.
anteeing you immunity from prose
cution in our courts if you violate the
State law In other words the Unit
ed States Government certainly car
be great moral and legal force ir
helping to enforce the liquor laws il
this State, instead of, as at present
counternancing their violation.
"There are a great many socia
Clubs in this state today-so- -calle,
social clubs-which / am satisfied
would not dare attempt to violat
the State law without Federal rev
enue license for the sale of whiskey
81 hope that 1 have not made thi
letter too lengthy, and that I hav
made myself clear. When 1 get t
the United States Senate, if som
action has not been taken before tina