The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1915-01-12

ecutlye's Office who will see to It that
what is law for Anderson county Is
also law for Charleston county. Why
cannot law be inforced by central
government? Has not the chief exec
utive power TO enforce any and all law?
Are we to admit that any county or
any section can set aside any Law? II
the prohibition law, why not any
other? Why cannot any county defy
the central government" We admit
that this has been done In effect. but
we feel sure that Governor Manning
will see to It that even Charleston
obeys some of the laws of the State.
According to the history of the past
few years. that county has been a law
unto itself. and especially in the mat
ter OF liquor laws. This era will end
soon. VIC opine, and Charleston will
again be annexed TO South Carolina" {"
But, the enforcement OF the law, If
South Carolina votes State wide prohi-
billion. does not bother us in the least.
The editor Of The Intelligencer was
recently at tho town of st. Matthews
on Monday morning. and went down
to the police court to see the offenders
rounded up. II appeared that half the
town were present to take part in the
proceedings II was learned that at
the dtspensaries the Saturday before
there had been sod approximately
$4,000 worth OF liquor. The result was
In this town OF 1900 persons, there
were more than a score of offenses
against the law to be tried In Ander-
son, more than ten times as large as
ST. Matthews, on the same morning,
there were not half dozen cases all
told. Orangeburg dispensaries sold
during December over $4,000 worth
CT liquors. or course all this was not
sold to the citizens of these two coun-
ties, and this is the very thing VIC
fshould provide against-the corrupt
Ing influences OF liquor being sold over
the lines. In other words, the nulliA-
cation Of the local option exercised
by adjoining counties which are not
allowed to go dry" because of the
wet counties on their border.
The News and Courier says:
The Anderson Intelligencer, which
favors prohibition. confesses neverthe-
less to some doubts as to the proposed
referendum. It, is afraid the LIQUOR
people would spend thousands OF dol
lars In the effort to defeat Statewide
prohibition, and 1t breads the debauch-
ing effects OF such an election.
But do the liquor people care
whether South Carolina goes dry or
not? Have they made any effort In
those States which have Statewide
prohibition to vote back local option i?
The liquor people might even wei
come Statewide prohibition for South
Carolina. At present In many OF those
counties which have voluntarily voted
ltanor under local option the senti-
ment eSainst Its illegal sale is strong.
Local authorities are active in pro-
ceeding against offenders The law is
enforced. Under Statewide prohibi-
Iion, with the centna! government as-
summing the obligation OF making pro-
intuition enective, the same aiertness
snd efhciency might not be manifest
cd LEGALLY. 1t is entirely possible that
In time rnora Honor World hn ..nia ir
South Carolina under prohibition than
is sold at present under local option.
One OF the strongest arguments In
favor Of local option In a matter of
this sort is that the central govern
ment has no moral right to enact a
statute which it is not prepared to en-
force. Whenever 1t does 80 It con-
tributes to che disrespect for law, in
general 1t helps to breed lawbreak-
ers and hypocrites.
II the reports from those South Car
oiina counties which now have prohi-
bttion are to be trusted temperance
is making great gains la this State as
matters now stand. There was less
drunkenness during the recent holt
days, 1t has been stated again and
again. than In many years-perhaps
than ever before in the history of the
counties reporting.
why not let well enough alone? We
are making headway az Il Is. The su-
preme need in South Carolina is "a
higher regard for the majesty OF the
law. Why make progress in this d.
rection virtually impossible by the en-
actment Of a statute which is sure to
bo disgracefullv ignored2
-.--------------------- S-it t.tse
HARD TTNES Avn nAa mans