Evening star., 1926-08-08

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forced to abstain. Clergymen. faith
full and conscientious prohibitionists,
were so much impressed by the
promise of good to result that they
volunteered to accept official posi-
tions in the dispensary organization
and, under auspices of the State. con-
nected themselves directly with the
abhorred liquor traffic.
1t looked so clear and simple and
honest and economical. promised SO
much moral and social improvement
and incidental enrichment of the State
and lowering of taxes. that the
majority of the people, of all shades
of opinion and sentiment on the liquor
question, were delighted with it. Gov.
Tillman undoubtedly believed he had
found the right solution Of the liquor
problem In actual working the plan
brought a jumble. medley and mix of
raSCalitieS so gross and palpable as to
he funny. of disorders and tumults
which threatened civil war and fear
full bloOdshed. It developed political
machinery of the most complicated
and oppressive kind. used frequently
for the most sordd purposes. coarse
and fancy grating. on large scales
and small. and. toward the last. as
founding combinations. contradictions
and reversals.
Drinking a Patriotic Duty.
Trouble began at the start. Persons
who opposed the dispensary on prin
! cipie, as invasion of their personal
rights, or putting the State in mer-
camille business, or who objected to
| having their liquor purchases made
matter of public knowledge and dis
| cussiOn. stored supplies or ordered
! from outside the State. On the other
hand. diligent and earnest drinking
| became kind of patriotic duty and
demonstration Cf loyalty among the
governors supporters because 1t
helped make his institution and en-
terprise successful and overthrow the
aristocracy. of which he was the de-
clared enemy. Blind tigers innumer-
! able sprang to life. catering to the
after sunset demand and the anti
dispensary. antiTillman spirit by inn
porting stock, o" buying it from the
dispensarie and selling by the drink
liquor bought by the quart with
liberal profit added. Reports Of viola
tions Of the law poured in on the chief
constable and he enlisted more and
more deputies. At one time his pay
roll was SCI 200 year, instead of the
$1,000 and travelling expenses it was
intended and expected toN cost. Gov.
difficulties, announced that he would
enforce the new law at any cost and
would enlist an indefinite number Of
special constables armed with pistols
OF the largest size" and instructed to |
search the premises of all suspected |
of violating the law, regardless of sex !
or standing, and to shoot promptly |
and to kill when resisted.
In most of the larger towns, cen
tan. of .,,fi
prived of their taX-reducing saloon
licenses, this order was resented |
fiercely denounced as ruthless inva- !
sion of the right of local self govern |
ment and the right of the citizen to |
security within his own home. Mer- |
chants kept shotgunS loaded with |
buckShot behind the doors of their |
stores and announced that they were |
ready to shut up shop and sally with !
their clerks to help resist "'Tillman !
spies" undertaking to search any pri- !
vate residence. Such attempts in !
variably drew crowds, bitterly hostile !
and dangerous, and the ConstableS, |
finding themselves hopeleSsly outnum- i
hered and in weapons outclassed. usu- |
ally temporiZed accepted assura noes |
that they were acting on misinforma- |
ton and retired.
Desperate Fight Occurs.
In March, 1894, before the system
had been in effect many months. a !
desperate fight between citizens and !
constables occurred in the town Of |
Darlington, from a raid undertaken |
by a party of IA constableS on private !
houses. over the heads and regard
less of the remonstranceS of the |
municipal government. Four men i
We're killed and the surviving con-
stables fled to the country and the |
two following days and nights were
hunted through roads and fields like /
animals. They had telegraphed to
Columbia for Gatling gun to help |
resist the attack on them, but were !
chased away before it arrived. Train
loads of volunteers from neighboring !
counties and towns, intent on help !
ing the Darlington people. rushed in +
and the local militia refused, or failed, |
to obey the governors order to as
semhle. The governor officially de- |
clared by formal proclamation that |
the county of Darlington and the ad-
joining county of Florence were in !
insurrection and called out the militia
of the State.
In Charleston, Columbia and Sum
ter. all strongly anti-Tillman. the |
troops assembled. paraded and dis
persed, after throwing down their
arms. Compa MES from other towns !
which obeyed the call and reported |
at Columbia were marched to the |
State prison and quartered there be-
cause there was reason to fear that !
their appearance in the city would !
provoke conflicts with the disbanded !
militia and citizens. The governor
practically was besieged in the eXecu-
tive mansion, guarded there and in
all his movements by friends.
He called for volunteers to replace |
the disobedient soldiers. and reports
that his supporters We're gathering at |
railway stations armed with what
ever would shoot that came handy !
caused new excitement and resent
ments and fears of bloody encounters.
This danger was averted by the ac-
ton of the militiamen modified at |
the prison. who gave notice. through |
their officers. that they would not !
serve with armed and undisciplined |
civilians. The volunteers then We're |
dismissed and several companies were |
ordered to Darlington. Through some
days the situation there was strange |
and critical. Soldiers and citizens.
generally friendly. politically and So
cially. discussed frankly the prospect |
of being compelled to fire on each |
other on an issue of principle. Citi-
:ens insisted that If attempt was
made to send the hated constables
into the town they would resist to the |
last. Soldiers replied that the gov !
ernor was their communicating chief. 1
and that if he ordered them to pro
tect the constables they would feel |
bound TO obey. The governor seized |
the telegraph office at Darlington and
put his military censors in charge. |
and threatened to suppress newspa-
pers which were criticiZinS him fierce |
ly and. he charged, inciting further
inSurrection.