The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-05-20
PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY
TIE WEBB ACT BETTER THAN PR0Hl.
BITION

lEleS Gllelc lbs OcSit SJi4S So'it
ment on its expression with re-
gard to the matter OF iiQaor reg
ulation. not however. by way OF
adverse criticism. but rather to
ascertain the course Of this
newspaper on the question IN
volved. The Times position IS
simply this: The liquor prob
lem is one which has puzzled the
best minds Of the ccuntry-all
concede it is d difficult problem
to solve, and the country would
be the better off if the traffic
could be stopped entirely: BAT
so far there has not been Il
scheme devised which can be
agreed upon, hence the question
remains where it began-diSput-
ed.
Prohibition has to some eN-
tent curtailed the use Of Stimu-
leuts but only in those commun
tiles where the public sentiment
sustained it, elsewhere, it is lit,
tie short of a farce. The Webb
Act of congress if adopted by
the States will do much to aid in
the elimination of the traffic, es-
pecially, in such sections where
the people By their votes have
expressed a desire for prohibi-
ton. This Act Of congress
gives to the States the right tc
prohibit the transportation Of
: alcoholic beverages from one
State to another, and those
States which adopt the Webb
Act can prohibit the shipment
OF liquor into them: making the
penalty so heavy that public
carriers would not attempt to
violate the law.
Personally. we do not favor
the principle OF prohI bltiop, but
at the same time we are opposed
to violation Of law, and when a
community has declared itself as
opposing the sale of intoxicants,
we think it but right that such a
community should be protected
against the acts of those who
would defy law. hence we favor
the adoption of the Webb Act in
this State. If our general as
senbly will enact a law in con-
formity with the Webb Act,
those counties now statutory
dry, can j. 3 large measure be
kept SO, because no public car
rier whether freight or express
will be allowed to transport IL
quor into it, and the only way
the beverage could get into such
communities, would be by the
personal purchase at the dispen-
saries where they are permitted
by law to be located, and, not
even through this means to any
considerable extent, because the
risk of Indictment for transport
ing would be so great that few
would attempt 1t.
South Carolina is not a prohi-
bition State. but large major
ity of the counties are under local
option-under statutory pro-
hibition, if the Webb Act was in
operation, those dry counties
could give real prohibition fair,
square test, as it is, liquor is
permitted to be shipped in from
outside the State, with the re-
suit, that thousands of dollars is
daily sent out and the only re-
turn from this expenditure Of
money is the drunks, homicldes,
and other crimes, that liquor in a
large measure is responsible for.
What We desire TO see, is for
prohibition where it is wanted =,
to have a thorough test: then if
it is the success it proponents
claim, there will be no difficulty
to make the law popular, the
public sentiment will sustain it;
but should it, after a fair test
prove impractical. then the gen
eral assembly can enact a law
providing for the legal sale Of
the mildec alcoholic beverages
such as beer and wines.
We have no patience with that
element who would be blind to
the practical-those who are so
jealous in their desire for pro
hibition that they so to foolish
extremes-the element who say
they would rather see the streets
flooded with blind tiger liquor