The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1916-02-23

Constructive Measures, Being in the
Interest Of Laboring Classes and
Small Farmers.
Columbia, Feb 20.--ln the General
Assembly, which adjourned without
date at 5:35 o'clock this morning,
there were three features: Prohibition
politics and passionless legislation
Prohibition was probably predominant
Whatever the prohibitionists wanted
they secured, and it was altogether
without what might be called "the
steam roller process" AS is expressed
in politics, "they just had the votes"
and whether prohibition is a success
or failure there cannot be any charge
that the friends Of this system of hand
ling the liquor traffic lacked for sym
pathy. The essential accomplishments
in the line Of prohibition were. first,
the granting of authority to use 50
much as $4,000 for the enforcement
Of the prohibition laws. Second, the
making Of the violation Of the laws a
chain gang offense. Third, the reduc
ton of the allowance for personal con-
sumption during any one month from
one gallon to half that quantity
Fourth, the application of every known
and conceivable method OF prohibiting
the sale, storage or transportation of
liquor, except in two-quart quantities.
Fifth, the rc-cnactment Of every prohi-
bition statute that could be found in
the records under the Ratification Act.
The only measure that was advocated
by the prohlbitionists in the Senate
and which failed in the House was
the Carlisle bill, which sought to pro-
hibt newspapers from advertising
liquors in South Carolina and then
the House insisted and secured more
liberal allowance Of real beer for per-
sOnal consumption under the two
quart month statute.
Prohibition is a political as we'll as
an economic issue in this State. 1t is
regarded today as extremely popu
lar in South Carolina. 1t is political
balloon at this time, and is going to
be used during the coming summer
for all it Is worth. Then the 2-ccnt
rate bill, which died in the Senate,
propositions utilized on the House
side.
Perhaps the most distinguishing fca-
ture of this session Of the General AS
ly hn ,,tt Of noe ccin
In by-gone days the line OF demar-
cation between Tillmanites and Anti
Tillmanitcs was very sharp. Then
came the line between the dispcnsary
and anti-dispcnsary advocates, and
more recently the advocacy Of Gov
crnor Blease and his policies was an
acute issue. Once or twice there was
slight symptom OF an effort to in
icc partisan politics. but 1t was a
complete failure, and there IS nothing
that was done at this session Of the
General Assembly that bears any of
the car marks Of partisanshp.
Quite true, policies thai were advo-
Gated by Governor Manning were az
certcd, but they were acccottd on their
merit. rather than as political fac
tors, and in most cases, such as on
the conciiation bill. there was entire
unanimity. In other cases as on the
Workingmans Conversation Act,
urged and advocated by the governor,
there was entire failure, and 1T was
not even brought up for discussion.
Most OF the work accomplished at
this session was rather in the nature
Of completing last years constructive
UNDERTAKINGS; that is. the tax commits
sion law now In effect was strength
oncd in the opinion Of its friends by a
provisio for a board Of review, which
is to act as Supreme Court In mat
tcrs of taxation. Then the Torrcns
system, which passed the House last
year, was enacted into law. This sys-
tcm for the present Is made optional,
but It Is thought that it will be so ap
pcaling to people that they VIII vol
unarily accept tho protection ana
economy that the system Is expected TO
afford. The Mccullough child labor
legislation, also advocated by Govern
or Manning, was also enacted into
law. This is n striking illustration OF
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