The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1920-09-06
GEORGE FORSAKES CALHOUN

It had been our understanding that
Col. George Warren, candidate for
the United States senate to succeed
Cotton Ed, was Calhoun statesman.
His advertisements nave SO stated,
and great many people have voted
for George with the understanding
that he recommended himself as the
successor to Calhoun and as the only
real champion of the things for which
Calhoun stood.
But not so. Everybody, who knows
even little about Calhoun, could
tell you that South Cardinals most
noted statesman would never have
consented to the adoption of the
eighteenth Cor prohibition) amend
ment. The trainers of the United
States Constitution had been able to
reach an agreement on the provis-
ions of that instrument only by
giving to the Federal Government
2:::ch powers IS were necessary to the
management of the affairs of the gov
ernment at large, while all other
powers were reserved to the several
states. and among these powers was
the right of every state to manage its
cwn internal affairs without inter-
ference from either the Federal Gov
eminent or any other state. And
..atesman of the school of Mr.. CAL
i!oun were strict constructionists.
: 4,ready, too much had been conced-
e.! to the general government and
;aey were jealous of the rights of the
st1tes. They were strict construction
IS and opposed tc any encroach-
r'ant on states rights either by too
zee a construction of the constitu-
.;an itself or by amendment thereto.
hnd nobody doubts that Mr.. Calhoun
had he been at the time in the Sem
ate would have voted against the
eighteenth amendment, nor does any
Dvdy doubt that he would, were he
living, vote to repeal this amendment
were he to have the chance.
For the reasons stated, when Mr..
Warren came out for the Senate as
a Calhoun democrat the people be-
Eeved and assumed that he was in
fact that. But according to Mr.. War
rem they are mistaken. Mr.. Warren
seems to have so announced himself
as Calhoun democrat either through
ignorance of what Mr.. Calhoun real
ly stood for. or his announcement
was merely to catch votes. He has
repudiated Mr.. Calhoun's doctrines
OF lifetime. He announces now in a
letter to The State that he stands for
the eighteenth amendment, and as we
understand him, would have voted
for it.
He, therefore, is no longer states
rights candidate, no longer Calhoun
democrat, but puts himself along
with those who believe in usurping
the rights originally reserved to the
states by the constitution.
But after saying he is for the
eighteenth amendment, Mr.. Warren
comes out with the unfortunate
statement that, Notwithstanding, he
would now favor modification of
the Volstead enforcement Act. In
other words, Mr.. Warren is perfectly
willing to allow national prohibition
to remain as adopted II he can take
away the power to enforce the
amendment. He is perfectly
willing for the law to stand
if it is to be a dead letter. In ether
words, Mr.. Warren has learned by
this time that no man who is against
prohibition can win in South Caro-
lima, and he therefore, forsakes Mr..
Calhoun and his doctrines, which he
has so boldly proclaimed heretofore,
and puts himself in the class Of
SQUIRMERS and STRADDLERS for
votes.
M. Warren knows as well as he
Knows his name that the eighteenth
amendment without an enforcement
law with teeth in it would be farce