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FHE GOVERNf Thc annual message of Governor ?JJlerbe to the Legislature, is iu sub stance as follows: Gentlemen of the General Assembly: lu accordance wiih the mandate of the Constitution, I have che honor t? present to you this my second anuu:i' message. The finances of thc State are still it an unsatisfactory condition. Ever. obligation of the State has beei promptly met; but, to do th's, th? State treasurer has overdrawn, for -small atnuuts, upon various banks ii which State funds have beeu depos - ted. The State of South Carolin? should always be in a position to meet eurrent expenses without the neces sity of overdrafts upon batiks. To dc? this, it is evident that one of two things will have to be done: either the appropriation must be cut down, or the tax levy raised. BIENNIAL SESSIONS DEMANDED. Only eight States of the Union hold annual lessions of their Legislatures, and it seems a most desirable policy for our own State. Each session of our general assembly costs about fifty thousand dollars. We have too much legislation, and consequently too many laws. Biennial sessions, limite d %o forty days, would be ample for due consideration of all matters pertaining to legislative business. I therefore j recommend that an amendment to the Constitution of the State, looking to the establishment of bieunial sessions of the General Assembly, be submit ted to the people. Members of the Legislature would then be selected for a term of four years. This very ? desirable actiou on the part of the voters would .result in a saving of twenty-five thousand dollars a year, and this and other good reasons will commend the measure to the people I .nf the State. DOWN WITH LYNCHING . During the last several years there has been an apparently increasing di? ?-osit?on among us to attempt the lighting of real or supposed wrongs j by the law breaking practice of lynch- ? tag. It is impossible not to see in I this tendency a serious menace to society. We have the law, with all its agencies and it can always be re lied on to guard and punish, if we will but back it with public confi dence, and sustaiu it by an enlighten ed public opinioo. If, however, we suffer it to be disregarded and dishon ored by riotous and irresponsible mobs, we shall find the lamp of justice be some a firebrand of lawlessness and her protecting sword an assassin's dagger. We should not looper per mit this usurpation of the highest functions of justice by the unchecked brute force of the mob. Kemedy suggests itself: see to it, as conservators of the peace of thc State, as makers of its laws, as the guardians of its sacred honor, that its iaws are so enacted and so adminis tered that conviction and punishment ?hall follow crime with the certainty that links effects to causes. The officers of tho law mast be ohosen for probity and for courage; and it should become of itself a high crime and misdemeanor for sheriff or constable to allow a prisoner to be taken by violence from his hands, even though his own blood should have to be shed to protect thc criminal. As an additional measure of re straint, it would be well, and I recorn .tnend that any county in which the ?rime of lynching is committed shall be liable to the heirs of the victim of the lynchers in the sum of $5.000, and that men who shall bc convicted of participation in lynching shall be deprived of the right to vote or to hold office in this State. THE STATE INSTITUTION?. The colleges of the Slate are in fine condition and are doing excellent work. The oldest of them, the South Carolina College, has 180 students, and as able a faculty as can be four d in the South. It has fully recovered from the depression of a few years ago. The South Carolina Military Acad emy, as you will see from the report of its board, is doing efficiently the work expected of it. The severe ex perience in maintaining discipline through which it was forced to pass last session has shown that its author ities can meet and discharge most re sponsible and difficult duties with a eourage and discretion that t-h mid commend them to their fellow citi zens. The State's newer institutions of learning-Clemson -md Winthrop Col leges-aro in flourishing condition. Their faculties are full and their pat ronage is large. These colleges ?rc justifying the wisdom of their estab lishment by meeting' a ueed not met by aoy other educational institutions in the State. The amounts asked for by these va rious colleges are reasonable :'ud are necessary fi?r t*iei, < fficient nppraticn. I therefore recommend that thc ap propriations asked for by these vari ons institutions bc in each case appro priated by thc General Assembly. lam informed by the State Super j intendeotof Education that the public i school system of our Stute has shown j IR'S MESSAGE. i?teady growth and improvement dur ing the pa>t year. There has been a marked increa>e in the professional -pirit. of teachers, a deeper interest on : he part, of the public in the we.fare f ?he schools, and a greater activity n providing be ter school accommoda ?..ns. The-e are hopeful indications I have therefore recommended that ll thc money collected hy the State '.?.tu the privilege tax on fertilizers be (ivett to Clemson College. But the . nie has now come in the history of tie college when a stricter economy o the management nf its affairs may .e inaugurated, without hurt to that .istitutiou, and with needed relief to . he burdened taxpayers of the State. The college plant is doubtless the doest of its kind in thc South, its various departments are well equip ped, and its outfit of buildings, ap paratus and appliances compar atively complete. The college, then, seem? now prepared to go for ward with its great work, without needing to call upon the State for further out fi* in the way of buildings and other provision for equipment. It now needs the necessary money for operatiou and ordinary supply only, and I believe that all these can bc fully provided by the appropriation I uow recommend. I recommend that $30 OOO of the privilege tax on fertiliz rs be appro priated to Clemson College and that $30,000 of the balance of said privi lege tax fund be appropriated to Win throp College; provided, however, that provifiou be made to supplement the appropriation to Winthrop College from the general treasury, in case the amount received by the State from thc privilege tax on fertilizers is less than $60,000. Clemson now receives annually the following sums: From HVch fund.$15,000 From Land Script fuud 5.754 From Merril fund. ... 10.000 From Clemson bequest. 3 512 $34,760 Recommended appro priation from the State. $30.000 Total. $64,760 Winthrop College now receives from the Pea body fund. $ 3:000 Rfcommeuded appro priation from the State. 30,000 Makinca total of. $33,000 During the past year the board of trustees appropriated $12,000 to erect a building for a Textile Training School. This building is similar in design to a small model cotton factory and is to be equipped with specimen machinery, for the work of all depart ments of a real cotton factory. Be sides lectures and text books study on the manufacture of cotton, each stu dent will be required to study the construction and use of thc machinery used for this purpose; and this will be done under the direction of compe tent instructors. Next to agriculture, the manufac ture of cotton is the most important industry in the State. It would seem, therefore, that a textile school is next in importance to an agricul tural school. It is important from two points of view: 1, Because of the number of people already engaged in it, and because of the probab lity that that number will continue to in crease; 2, Because it is the chief oc cupation to which the youth of our State may look for profitable employ meut. PENSIONS. This State is now paying out an nually in pensions to Confederate sol diers the sum of $100,000. Our own system of pensions is in need of changes and reforms. It is expensive and cumbersome, and too open to those solicitation* of influ 0 ?ce and favoiitism that invite abuses and encourage extravagance. The system should be simplified, and its regulations and restrictions be made strict and even rigorous. The town ship and county boards should be abolished and application for pensions made to the State board. The sum now expended in this way, $100.000. is more than the State can afford, and more than is required to satisfy the just demands upon the fund. This money is now being too indiscrimi nately distributed, with Iocs to the State and with injustice to some b?n? fici?t ies ard favoritism to others. I recommend that the ?tensi?n list bo purged, ami t hat $50,000 only be appropriated for pensions thc coming year, and that steps be taken to insure the proper distribution of i his amount. DISPENSARY LAW. Nothing connected with the admin istration of the State government at this time i* of so much interest and importance as thc dispensary law. Titi- method nf controlling the liquor traffic bas now been in force for five a"il a half years, and the protracted j a"d bitter ftrnggle between ita friend* and its fites hus reached a c it cul stage. It must be firmly aud pe roi a ueutly established or completely do awjiy with. lt will be remembered that, atti lara ses.-iori of the Legislature, t litigation instituted iti the Unit States Circuit Court by Vandercoi bad reached the supreme Court of tl United States, on appeal from Jud, Siuiouton s decision. For almost year i here had been absolutely paral sis ol' the dispensary law. so far as i punitive features were concerned, at the constables had all been dischar ed. The dispensares had beenforci to fuht free whiskey, on terms absolute equality: yet, strange osa they fo ght it successfully; for whi the profits were reduced by this lai less competition, there was st; enouiih business to make the dispc s*ry s? If supporting and leave a snift margin of pmtit In May last, tl Supreme Court at Washington handi down iis decisien, sU-taining the C" stitutimiality of the dispensary law all its features, with the limitatif only as to importation for person use. The long and hotly conteste qcestiou of legal status of the dispel sary was removed. The origin pickage dealers at once closed the shops, and shipped their liquors ot of the State, with ray permission, did not deem it wise or right to tal advantage of them, as they had bet doing business under the sanction < the Federal judiciary. The constabt Lry was reorganized and put to wnrl and from that time to this the fore ! as been kept busy trying to destrc the unlawful traffic which has gaine foothold in the State under the pr< tectiou of Judge Simonton's decisioi Tdesire in this connection to reca to your attention thc . fact that, i 1894, the State Supreme Court, b declaring the dispensary law uncor stitutioual, gave the illicit liquc dealers encouragement, aud asa resui there was widespread demoralizatiot with liquor selling prevalent altnoi everywhere, eveu iu the country, nol withstanding the law prohibited it sale absolutely. After that decisio had beeu reversed and the dispensz ries reopened, aud a more or less rigi enforcement of the law for two year had extirpated in a large measure th illegal traffic, came the interference c the Federal Co .rts and the imprison meut of the constables for contempt This interference gave encouragemen te a large number of illicit dealers am induced them to continue in the busi ness, and when the paralyzing decis ion in the Vaudetcook case came ther was a phenomenal increase in th number of illicit dealers engaged ii this traffic iu Suuth Caroliua. This i shown by the number of the Uuitci States revenue licenses issued. Ii the fiscal year etiding June 30th 1897, the number of retail revenui licenses, or permits to sell liquor, .ven '?22: in the year ending June 30th 18?I8, there were G25. In other words the present unsatisfactory condition and I do not hesitate to say that it ii unsatisfactory, notwithstanding th< final triumph in the Courts-is owing in large measure, to thc interference of the Federal Judge, with the conse quent encouragement to all who san fit to engage in thc sale of liquor, nothing more being required than tc pay the United States revenue license. lt has taken months of laborious and streuuous eifert to restore the coudi tiens of tolerably successful working of the dispensary law which prevailed at *hc time when the Vandcrcook de cision was rendered. The friends of the dispensary and those who have too readily turned their backs on it should bear all this in mind and still evidence hope and patience. The demoralization produced by thc various causes mentioned can be readily overcome in time, and thc law will work more successfully and be obeyed more willingly as time goes by. Our efforts should be especially direct ed to perfecting the system in its ad ministrative features. There are a great many people who will never be frieddly to the dispen sary system, or to any like regulation. Many men are opposed io it on princi ple, some as extreme prohibitionists, and some as extreme advocates of liquor traffic. These two widdy sepa rated camps meet on common grouttd in their hostility to the dispensary; others are influenced by political con siderations, and even by past political prejudices, now happily being fast dis sipated. Thc dispensary law ought tu be judged by its fruits rather than by motives of political prejudice of self interest. IP these fruits have not been hitherto altogether of the kind or quality that its friends still hope to see it bear., there is yet sufficient promise to ask that this tree which has almost uprooted and blasted by thc lisrht of judicial interference, shall DOW be tri ven opportunity to show what it can bring forth under fostering and friendly influences. I beg to remind you that at the begin ning ol my term as Governor, I recom mended and urged this policy, and I have seen no reason to change my opinion. The law has never had a chance hitherto to show what il can do, but now, since there is no longer any question ss to legal limitations or powers, we are free to address our selves to perfecting and improving the system. Tho large vote received by tho prohibition candidate for gov ertior in the second priman' of t late election cannot bc considered c ti rel}'an endorsement of prohibits for there is excellent reason to co elude that the prohibition eaudida polled the full prohibition vote in t first primary, while in thc second i polled the vote of the a itagonists the dispensary sj stem, from whatcv cause that antagonism arose, and, addition, the strength of all the "soi heads" and di-grunted office seckc and p diticiaus of both factions. T election iu Charleston is a striki evidence of this. It will hardly disputed that, if the , eople of Chu leaton want prohibition, as their vot would seem to show, it is because tte f< el sure that under that system the will be practically uo rcstraiut on tl sale of whiskey. Turtling now to the practical co sideration of the dispensary, I do u think whitley should be sold iu ai county where a majority of the penn favor prohibition. I therefore rccot mend the submission of the liqu question to the qualified electors etch county, that each county tn; vote as it prefers. Auy county, ho' ever, that votes for prohibition shou be made to bear all expenses of e forci g thc prohibitory law; aud sm should not receive auy of the prod from the dispensary. Uuderthe Cu siitutiou, the profits accruing fro the sale of liquor go to the support i our f ee schools. Nuw, the county i Marlboro, which never had a dispe sary, aud which is now under the mo rigid furm of pruhibitioo, with no po sibility of legal liquor traffic with its borders, receives its proportional share of dispensary profits, while ; the same time thc State is charge with maintaiuiug constables in th? couuty to enforce the law and prevci the sale of liquur. I submit that th is unfair to the other couuties. Tl same thiug obtaius iu the couuty i Turk, where the only dispensary, tfc one at Tirzah, has been discontinu?t leaving the couuty without any plac where liquor can be legally bough Yuu will call to mind that these t? counties are close to the North Can liua bouudary, and it is well know that there is a large iuflux of whiske from the distilleries across the lim by wagons and other conveyances. Of course, these couuties may hav liquor imported fur personal use witt out restriction, but it can not be sol legally. I believe that it is but righ and just for those counties whic have prohibition, or may hercafte adupt it as thc means of contrulliu the liquor traffic, to be taxed to et furce such law, nor should they rc ceive any part of the profits arisin from the sale of liquor in the othe counties, to add to their school fund? If thc county officers, magistrates au sheriffs, enforce the law, well am good-there will be no need for con stables; but if they do not. the Gov ernor should be given the authority upon petition setting forth such viu lation, to appoint constables, and ti require a levy in such counties suffi clent for their maintenance. Now let us consider matters con cerning the administration of the lav other than those mentioned as dealin: with its viulatious. When the dis peusary system was first inaugurated the State board was composed of th< Governor, thc Comptroller General, and the Attorney General, ex-officio aud in these was vested the power tc appoint the State Commissioner auc the County Buards of Control, aud tc exercise geueral supervision over thc working of the dispensary in thc whole State. After the retirement ol Governor Tillman, in the middle ol Governor Evans' term, the Legisla ture chauged this provision, and created a new State Board of Contrul, consisting of five members to bc elect ed by itself. The Governor was left without official connection with the dispensary, except the right to appoint and contrul the constables. The sys tem has now been in force three years, and, in my opinion, it has failed to accomplish thc purpose of its advo cates. Thc idea was to divorce the dispensary system from politics and to put it uuder a strictly business mmagement. No such ?esult has ft 1 lowed. It is notorious that the dis pensary is as much or more iu politics than it ever was. As Governor, I have had little or no authority in con nection with thc administration of thc law, and no power of restraint or direction over it; and yet I have been held responsible by the people ut large, and by my enemies in particu lar, for the mistakes and shortcom ings of its management. Responsi bility without authority is a most un pleasant and unjust burden; and while I do not seek additional respon sibilities in connection with the dis pensary, I submit that justiae and fa mess make it necessary either to relieve the Governor absolutely of all connection with this institution, or else give him some potential voice and influence in its affairs. The Legislature itself, last session, by a particularly unanimous resolu tion, deprecated and almost forbade the granting of beer and lintel privi leges, but thc State Board of Control fetid no attention to this expression ol opinion from thc law-making body, a id I had lo use thc constabulary lo suppress tho nuit-auces in the furm uf open barrooms, which resulted from the granting of these privileges. This brought un; into antagonism with th? State Board of Control-au antagonism which might have been avoided hud these gentlemen paid any heed to my suggestion or consulted tue as to thc best policy to be pursued. As long as the original package stores were run ning in open competition with the dispensary, and illicit sales were also unchecked, there was, perhaps, some excuse for the State 3oard of Control to continue that policy; but after the Supreme Court of thc United States li ad confirmed the validity of dispen sa ry law, and forbidden Judge Simoi. tou's support of the State s competi tors, leaving the dispensary law tn full possession nf the field, I did nut think there was any cxcu>e for the continu ance of thc policy upheld by the State Board; for I believed thc former law, and 1 believe the present law, should be admitii-tcred a-? a temperance meas ure with no regard whatever to the matter of profit or to anything other than to teach the people to use whis key without abusing it, and to mini til ze, as far as possible, the evils inseparably connected wi h its traffic and use. Moreover, under the pre-ent system, the State Commissioner is a mere figurehead, without power and almost without duties. Tho State Board of Control have absorbed nearly all of his functions. I submit what seems tome to he the best plan of organization: Thedetails of rhe business should be turned over to the Stare Commissioner while the Board of Control should have authori ty to purchase liquors and tn exercise general supervision over the whole system. The Board of Control should be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, and the constables shou'd he appoint ed by the Board of Control and State Commissioner. If objection is nude it may be pointed out that thc resents of the Hospital for the Insane are ap pointed by the Governor, and the management of the institution is ex cellent. Note, also, the members of the present Board of Control arc not even required to give bond for the faithful performance of duty, yet they have absolute coutrol of an institution doing annually a milliou and a half dollar business. , The County Boards of Control be abolished and two or three insp<c t irs should be appointed tu look after the dispensers' books and the break age. This would be a much more eco nomical method than theoue now pur sued. This system of organization, to gether with the supervision of the Grand Juries, would reduce specula tion and embezzlement to the smallest amount possible. The State Commis sioner might be either appointed by the State Board or elected by the Gen eral AssemWy. We have both sys tems now in force in the State. The Superintendent of the Hospital for thc Insane, who is giving perfect satisfac tion, isappoioted; the Superintendent of the Penitentiary, au equally effi cient oflBcer, is elected by thc General Assembly. But there should be vest ed somewhere the power by which both State Commissiouer and County Dispensers might be suspeuded, and, if necessary, be removed for cause. I suggest, also, what seems te me a needed improvement, and that is a change in the manner of purchasing liquors. Whiskey is as much a staple article as corn or flour, though it varies in quality and price, according to age and the methods of distillation and manipulation. The large bulk of li quor consumed by the. people is ob tainable io absolutely pure form and of good quality without thc necessity of recourse to chemical aualysis, for it can be bought directly from govern ment warehouses without passing (CONTINUED ON THIRD PAGE ) What nobler, better ambition can a young: couple have than to live loving, helpful lives, and then, in a greeu old age,, look back over a life that has been mutually self-sacrificing, useful and successful ? The one great stumbling-block that stands be tween most married couples and this ideal married career is ill-health. If both hus band and wife would take proper care of their health, there would bc more hale, hearty and happy old people in the world. If, when a niau suffers from the little ills of life, he will resort to Dr. Pi< ree's Golden Medical Discovery, thc chances are that lie will avoid thc big and fatal illnesses. This great medicine gives a nun a healthy hunger, facilitates thc How of digestive juices, invigorates the liver, purifies and enriches the blood and builds finn, muscu lar, healthy flesh tissue. It is an oki saying that women are hard to kill. There is some truth in this, as (ar ns the majority of illnesses are concerned. There is one class ol disorders, however, that quickly undermine any woman's gt li erai health. No woman can retain her strength who suffers from weakness and disease of thc delicate and important or gans t li at make wifehood and motherhood possible. Dr. Pierce's Favorite Prescrip tion ts an unfailing cure foi all disorders of this desertj>tion. lt acts directly on thc sensitive organs concerned, in a natural, soothing way. It makes them strong, healthy and vigorous. Ii pr?paies them to bear the burdens of maternity. It is the greatest of nerve tonics. The woman who uses it will bear healthy, happy child ren, and live lo a ripe old age. Dr. Pierce's Pleasant Pellets regulate and invigorate thc stomach, liwcr and bowels, by all medicine dealers. CASTOR IA The Kind You Have Always Bought, and which has been in use for over 30 years, has horne the signature of and lias been made under his per j^V^2- sonal supervision since its infancy. (<Z?cA&2? Allow no one to deceive you in this. AU Counterfeits, Imitations and Substitutes are but Ex periments that trifle with and endanger the health of Infants and. Children-Experience against Experiment. What is CASTORIA Castoria is a substitute for Castor Oil, Paregoric, Drops and Soothing Syrups. It is Harmless and Pleasant. It contains neither Opium, Morpliine nor other Narcotic substance. Its age is its guarantee. It destroys Worms and allays Feverishness. It cures Diarrhoea and "Wind Colic. It relieves Teething Troubles, cures Constipation and Flatulency. It assimilates the Food, regulates the Stomach and Bowels, giving healthy and natural sleep. The Children's Panacea-The Mother's Friend. GENUINE CASTORIA ALWAYS Bears the Signature of The Kind You Haye Always Bought In Use For Over 30 Years. THC CENTAUR COMPANY, 77 MURRAY STREET, NEW YORK CITY. mm ii, mm mn iiija?m?RwnM?MMMEaMBR?J???MMB^^ SHOES TO BEAT THE BAND. WE don't have io mik through our hats to sell our Shoes. The Shoes sell them - se! VP- it you will ?ut v take thH trout)!* to look at them. Quality and Prices do the work. We just ntan-1 H*ido nod trio. You don't have to buy from as just because we jirin We have to grin, ?ny way, because we can't help it. When our Shoe sales al meet double Infi j ewr's wr don't have to look sad-eyed and Imposed upon, because we can't. Sc? com? on to the place where the brainiest feet in Anderson County are ??hod, and if* wv twirl Shou you and your family, your son John and his family, ititi be because you rather go barefooted P. ? _"V#??an alan "Shoe" tho inner-man with such substantials as DEAN'S PATENT FLOU Kat o J K NO. 2 TOFFEE that will make his mouth water, and clothe rom tor-HM the lega of th? outer-man with a First Class, Capital pair of Gen ikmimi s PAN i S tor Sixty Cento that will jast elevate :he superannuated linen from thu infantile shrubbery. DEAN & RATLIFFE. RT. B -Parti ?owiriK u<* on Not? or Account will save themselves considerable expetine by eettlintr up HHIII** helor? December lat. If you haven't go' a clear receipt troiu us we are ta king to YOl!. * DE.\N cfc KATLIPFE IS what every person w-uts and I eau supply them. I make it a point to keep pure, fresh Goods, and can please the mo-t fastidious in both quality and price. Just now the house keeper finds tt difficult to supply the table, but if you will give me a tall I can help you, as L beep PLAIN and FANCY GROCERIES of Every Description. My stock ?if carnied Goods can't be Excelled. FRUITS of ail kinds in s-a-on, and when you want to make a Fruit Cake I can supply your demands "', - . Fine line ..f CONFEC TH WERIE**, TOBACCO and CIGARS. Just received a f esn lo? of POTATOES, CABBAGE, Etc. You ra to please, Free (Hy Delivery. "P. BIGRY. 0. D. AN?ERS0N & BRO. Strictly in it at Lowest Possible Prices. Two Cars Texas Bcd Rust Proof Oats, Aud all the country raised Oats vou want. Tkese have go, no matter what Cotton sells at Pure Wheat Flour Rock Bottom Prices. We can i?ive Cou ut ry Merchant* elose fijaros on CHEESE. OYSTERS. TOMATOES, SALMON, SA KOINES anti TOBAC? 0. Everybody knows we beat the Town on SHOES, and we propose ?o keep up our reputation. HAGGING and TIBS guaranteed prices. SSf* Seud us your orders. YOUTH for Busiaeae, O. D. ANDERSON & BRO. THE OLD, RELIABLE Furniture Store! - OF - CL F. TOIdbY & SON Still in the ILead ! - ' . . 1_... J,.. Ll l l JJ - J. _ They have the Largest Stock, Best Quality, and Certainly the Lowest Prices ! OTHERS trv to get th? re, but thoy miss it every time. Kew, ben uri tu I nod select Sto k of Furniture, **?c., arriving every day, and at PRICES XEVER HEARD OF BEFORE. Hero you have the Largest ?Stock ; therefore, you cnn get ;nst what yon want. Here you have the Best Grade of Furniture ; therefore, you can $ei Goods that will last. Here you have the v^ry LOWEST PRICED ; ^heretbro, you save good big mon?*y. t??f~ Cime aloii?, and we will do yon as we huve been doing for the la* forty years-sell you th?' very be*t Furniture for tho very lowest prices. tfQn. The largest Stock in South Carolina au?: the: Lowest, Price io Af .>juthern Slates. Xcw Lot Biby Carriages Just Received. C. F. TOLLY && SON, Depot Street, Anderdon, 8? C.