Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1916-06-28
TIE TWO-QUAisT Liquor LAW
Governor Manning Gives Reasons for
Not Yet Signing Bill.

RpIuHDiit, June lJ.--ln answer 10
letter inquiring about the Two
uuart-a-month Act, Governor Man
ming has written the following re-
ply, which was given out Saturday
uight:
YOur letter Of the lst was re-
ccived in the ONCE and would have
been answered earlier but for my
continued absence and in attendance
on the Democratic National Conven-
ton.
IN the beginning permit me to
state that | am very glad, indeed
tha, your interest in the administra-
tion OF affairs Of government and in
the enforcement of law In South
Carolina is such that you feel free
to write ne in reference to the two
quart bill. am glad to have the
opportunity to advise ',u that my
refusal to sign this bill at the pres
ent time is purely in the interest OF
temperance in South Carolina, and
with all regard for the views of it's
advocates and with great admiratio
for their high purpose and fine SER
vice.
You will recall that the Legisla-
ture at its 1915 session passed what
Is known as the Gallon a month Act.
This same Legislature passed an act
referring the question Of prohibition
lnp11 IN
Carolina in special election held in
September. 1916.
1T has been claimed by some that
there are constitutional defects in
the gallon-a-month law. AS the head
or the executive department Of the
state | would not presume to pass on
this question. That Is matter for
the judicial department. My duty is
to direct the enforcement of this
act so long as II remains on the stat
ntc books unchanged by legislative
enactment or judicial decision,
81 have been informed that this
law is now being tested in the
conrtS, and the friends OF prohibi-
tion having knowledge Of this action
introduced during the 1916 session
OF the Legislature bill intended to
rc-cHact this gallOn-a- month law in
such manner as to leave no qucs-
tion as TO its conStitutionality. When
this bill was introduced and finally
passed through both houses OF the
General Assembly good many
changes had been made in it and a
number Of amendments tackled on.
IN fact. the act as finally passed was
widely different, Am told. from the
bill originally introduced When
This act came to me for my approval
or Gisapproval | discussed the entire
matter with the authors Of the bill,
together with some OF the leading
nrohihitionists Of the State. In addi-
ton to the advice and counsel gain
ed from these gentlemen, who are
very much interested in The cause Of
prohibition, | received large num-
her Of letters from citizens in various
parts OF the state urging me for va
rIonS reasons not to approve Of this
act
"ThiS condition confronted me:
The Gallon -a-mOnth Act was before
the courts. and this new act, if sign
cd. would automatically repeal the
Gallon-a-month Act: and in case it
wcr" attacked and set aside by the
courts, We would be left without any
legal limitation upon the amount of
liquor that might he imported
'li seems to me. therefore. that
in view Of the information that had
been placed before me. the highest
interests OF the state would best bc
served. were ! to hold this act in
ahcyancc, rather than to take
chances. i'Or these and other rea-
sons. which ! deem inadvisahle to
make public at the present time. |
deemed It in the interest OF tcmner-
anoe and in fairness to the people OF
the state that the TwO-quart Act bo
not signed at present. but that it be
held he"c pending the outcome OF
the legal fight on the Gallon-a.
month Act. The Two-quart Act has
not been vetoed, but Is merely held
in this Office as above stated.
81 have written you frankly ir
reference to the matter, and trust
you will understand and appreciate
my position. The principle Of law