The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1915-10-05
A SPIRIT OF OPTIMISM.
A Strong Plea for the Enforcement
of Law

VI LAW.
To the Editor of The News:
A spirit of optimism obtains
among our people as the price of
cotton hovers around IL cents, and
seed SO cents. The farmers of the
South did not expend all their ener-
gies this year raising cotton, but have
raised an abundance of grain and
vegetables as well. The present esti-
mate of this years cotton crop be-
ing about 100000 bales, we see
keen demand for some at much bet
ter prices than any of us looked for a
few weeks ago.
1t is evident that il the South had
produced as much cotton this year
as last the prices would have been
very little, IL any, better than they
were last fall.
Our best farmers see it this way
and will make even a greater effort
to Live at home" being In q better
position than they were last fall to
buy small grain and other seeds. So
the writer expects to see among our
people even more, and still more, di-
versification Of crops.
1t is gratifying indeed to read so
many editorials in The News and
other papers throughout the state,
as we'll as utterances of many execu-
tive officers. favoring rigid en-
forcement of prohibition. While
Governor Manning was not the writ
er's first choice for chief executive
on account of his local option views
with regard to prohibition and COM
pulsory education, think we should
admire him for his brave and manly
stand for law enforcement, even IL he
cannot play a slick game OF politics.
What a relief, indeed, it is to fee!
that we have real true man today
as governor, a man that is sincere
friend to all that conserves the best
interests of our great state, man
that will not wantonly for selfish rea-
sons, be they pecuniary or political,
set aside the verdicts of juries ano
sentences of courts.
May Lancaster, the "Red Rose
County" be inspired by the attitude
of such men as Governor Manning
and Sheriff Sim j. Miller of LeXing-
ton. 1t was this truly courageous
sheriff who said when told the result
of the recent prohibition election:
Il expect to make Lexington as
drv as a powder house. All OF TINS
talk about not being able to enforce
prohibition is the merest rot, ana as
have stated before, | viii give the
people of this county an example Oh
prohibition that will make every
county in the state sit up ana take
notice / found prohibition to be
about the easiest law coming uhuei
nv supervision when we had prohlol-
ton and with a statewide law there
is no reason why we cannot make lC
more effective. Just say that so long
as / am an officer of the law, Just so
long will / see that the laws are en-
forced"
Allow me to say that l am indeot-
ed to The Lancaster News for this
quotation of Sheriff Miller Whlle
the majority of the people or Lam
caster county favor rigid ENFORCE
ment Of law, the spirit OF lawlessiless
is entirely too strong, and there Is
too much sympathy and ienlehcy
shown that class of men VINO haoi'-
ually break the public peace
Let Lancaster county turn ne"
leaf and begin to lead" in the en-
forcement of law. Let us be the
banner prohibition county IN the
state.
There are TWO ulslihSIlNe Ni"S
of people. One strives to be popu-
lar. the other, to be right. One is
prompted to action by the love OF
popularity or the dollar, the other
by the best interests of society.
There are two classes OF ofhcers,
the one that is so very anxious to be
reelected and stands by his friends,
be they right or wrong but shudders
at the thought Of performing his
duty when it may mean the loss OF
vote. The other feels that great
responsibility rests upon him, that
he has been elected by the peop'G
and that it is incumbent upon him
to be true to his trust and perform
the duties OF his office justly and
fearlessly, although such service
might make enemies of some that
had formerly voted for him.
The latter class should and will
prevail and woe unto that officer or
politician who would tacitly or otner-
wise obstruct its progress or wink
at crime. ANXIOUS.
Van Wyck, Oct. 4, 1915.