The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1916-02-09
THE Big FEATURES
BEFORE ASSEMBLY
Prohibition, State Ware
house System and Politics
BODY WILL ADJOURN
ABOUT FEBRUARY 10
Board Of Charities and Corrections
Will Pass Upon Claims for Free Tui.
ton. Compromise in Free Tuition
Fight.


ton. Compromise in Free Tuition
Fight.
Columbia, February 5.-Thc three
distinguishing features of the pres
ent session of the General Assembly
are: First, prohibition; seond, the
warehouse system and third, politics.
These three phases ovcrshadow every
thing else.
Whatever the prohibitionists want
they get, and as was said in this cor.
respondence at the very opening Of the
session, the proposition was to give
prohibition a complete and absolute
try-out, and there was absolutely
nothing that could impair, interfere
with or retard the progress Of prohibi-
ton legislation at this timc.F Yestcr-
day the House passed an amendment
to the prohibition bill authorizing the
Governor to Borrow $4,000 for the en-
forcemcnt OF prohibition. If this, as
straight proposition Of making di-
rect appropriation had como up. the
chances are that the $50, 900 fund would
not have been voted, and some Of the
prohibition leaders had about come to
the conclusion that they would COM
promise on smaller amount, but the
Wagnon suggestion Of borrow and
placing the burden Of making the ap-
preparation on the next Legislature is
very much like the individual who has
little hesitation In borrow when the
payment Is some time off.
The $4,000 fund will be sustained in
the Senatc-of that there Is practically
no doubt. This, therefore, will make
the sum tota. Of the prohibition legis-
lation, first, a law by which offenders
against the prohibition, statute, if con-
victed, must serve on the chain gang
with no alternative. Second, the Gov
ernor will have $4,000 with which to
enforce prohibition in his own way
and through such means as he decides
upon, and if he does not, the burden Is
on him more so than any one else.
Third, the effort to sell tho remain
ing stocks in the dspcnsary counties
in this State as completely "squashcd"
and the programme now seems to be
to allow the old county boards to ship
tho liquor outside of the State and sell
to the best advantage.
The warehouse system seems to oc-
cupy a very anomalous position. Mem
bers openly and frankly say that they
are afraid Of it, and yet feel that they
have to vote for 1t and anything that
is asked for to further the system.
Members frankly say they do not be-
licvc the system will ultimately work
out. but that their people have faith
in 1t and believe that it will raise the
price of&aotton, and that there is moth
ing else FOR hem to do but to vote
for 1t. There Is no Disgusting the fact
that the one thing that can claim the
strongest support in the General As
sembly, both from It's friends and its
opponents, Is the cotton warehouse
system. This is going to be given
just about a. big a swing as prohibi-
tion, and if 1t fails 1t will not be be-
cause Of the lack Of support. because
the statement has been repeatedly
made on the floor that everything that
the warehouse commissioner asked for
by way Of financial support has been
granted.
Why Is 1t said that politics is fig
uring so largely? Simply because
there Is primary next year, and rec
ords have to be made and considered.
Just take this, for instance: A men,
Der Of the House In talking about tho
two-ccnt rate bill, stated he did not
believe that the railroads could give
the service that was expected OF them
on a two-ccnt rate, but If next summer
In the campaign he had an audience
OF thousand people, and someone
out in the crowd holloaed at him,
ooh, yes, you are the fellow that voted
against the two-cent rate BILL" that
would be his finish; at least that Is
what he thought, and the trouble was,
as he expressed 1t, he would not have
time in q campaign speech to defend a
vote OF this kind. He simply thought
that he would not be able to overcome
some hoodlum crying out at him "Oh,
yes. you are the fellow that voted
against the two cent rate bill" Unfor-