The Manning times. (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, June 20, 1900, Image 1

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<44 'A k I (U {., '\I NVOL. XV. MANNING, S. C,. WEDNESDAY J UNE 90.N~1 Opers ?t Cerg ebu g the Pres erc- : f a OC d C:owd TILLMAN GETS AN OVATION. Charg -s Prefer:-d by S.ome Can didates Against 0 her Cand - dates. Th.a Campaign Prcmises to b,7, Warm. The first neein of the State cam paign was held at Orangeburg on last Thursday in the prescrce of a good crowd. Counmy Chairman W. 0 Tatum called the meeting to order a little after 11 o'clock. lev. W. A. Rogers, pastor of St. Pauls Nethoeist church, opened the exercises nth prayer. Mr. Tatum then introduced Governor McSweerey as the first speaker. The Governor said he appreciated all that Orangeburg had already done for him. He servt d three years as Lieu tenant Governor. He had been en dorsed as Lieutenant Govcrnor. On the 2d of June last Governor Elerbt died and, undr tic Con!titurion, he became Governor. Ile h!d trica, he said, to carry out to zle very ctt-r the laws of the Statc; he bas made every cfficer over whom he has had coLtrol to do his full duty. Ue has conducted the affairs of the State in what be regarded as a business-like way. without regard to previous politics. The State is now enj)ying a period of prosperity ana good feeling and so far as he could see. and as far as he desirEd, there were to longer the old-time and troublesome factional lines, and in this connection he modestly wihcd to lay claim to the credit for having done as much as any one man in abic office towards allay ing this unpicasant and unprofitable era of bickering, and he sincerely trusted that the people would continue to live without factional politics and nct be at dagger's point with each other. The State was now moving along rapidly towards progress and pros perity. South Carolina is now looked upon as one ef the most progressive States. There is no reason for far ther political trouble. All of the State House officers with him have worked harmoniously. He atCnded to his own business. All departments have been conducted honestly. He did not claim to be an orator, but did claim to be a successful business man, and as such he had attended to the basiness of the State in a business like Aay. He wanted to be judged by his record. He believed in self-government and left county matters largely to the county delegations and act(d on their sugges tions. He favored a liberal and hearty support of the common schools of the State. H- had always been a hearty support(r of the higher educa tional institutions d he regarded this as a most importa. . matter. He has always been an aido nl supporter of all of the State higher <dutational institu tions and would to com~titn and after consultation with Senator Tillman he suggested an appropriation to look up the Black repon. This has been passed and he was pgeased to say Sena tor Tillman was, with these documents, on the high road to recovering and turning $100,000) into the State treas ury. Hie invited the closest scrutiny of his record as Goserner and thougzht it deserved endorsement. - The liquor question possioly over shadows all others. This, he thought, unfortunate, that one subject should have so much attention given it. The dispensary system was the best solution of the liquor question. It was giving more satisfaction than ever.. There is now no trouble or friction in the en forcement of the diepensary law.. It is unfair to hold the present adminis tration responsible for the mistakes or friction of the past. There was a short experience of prohibition in the State during the interim when the law was ied up in the Courts, and it was an utter failure. Prom the verv circum stances and purposes prohibi ion would mean in the end free liquor and false swearing. Prohibition has never been a success. iHe was satisfied that the dispensary law was best. The purpose of the Prohibitionists and their liquor allies is to break down the dispen-sary law by a combination. Each to .get what he could. The Prohibitioniets come before you with a regular organi zation. He came without organization and advocating what he believed right and proper, and, standing on his own responsibility, and without organiza tion he thought he was fairly entitled to the nomination. Suppose a Prohi bition candidate be elected, what as surance is there that there will be pro hibition legislation and what good can be accomplished? At all events there will not be prohibition. Let the dis pensary law be amended, if necessary, but stick to the principle. He asked his auditors to read his message care fully, and see if it was not right and liberal. Hie promised at all times to do his duty and that which was best for the bu:,iness interests of his dar old State, anid thanking the a-adiene he took his seat. Governor McSweeney had the crowd cheering lustily for him. Ihavimg the opening speech he spoke brictly and generally and genteelly, and his speech made a good impression, and he was told that he was all right and would get the votes and the like. 'QL. JAMES A. fl4TT, of Greenville, said he was no stranger here. lie had been in th. county often before arnd knew the gooa people of the county. He had been here as a private citizen and knew the people. lic never thought of Orangeburtg without renmem bering an incident that had taken deep seat in his memory. ,The day after the battle of Fredericksourg he sent a voung Orangeburg lad, named Me Newn, on a perilous mission and he went to his death. NeKewn came to him as a stranger and every day lie learned to love him the more. iMcKewn was a graduate of the Citadel and enlisted as a private, and afterwards he appointed him sergeant major. and he made a fine soldier, and died as did many other gallant Orangeburg boys. Voice: "That's got nothing to do with this matter.' Col. Hoyt: "I do not think the time Col. Hoyt briefly pie tuod i me of the trials of the old si and -why they should not be Sori tten. Theu Col. Hoyt went on to say'he was a friend of Governor Me Sxeeuey and appiauded him for all the good he ;a, donie. lie had known him for many 3 ears and thought kindly of hiui. But Governor NeSweeneyelaimed too much credit for putting down fac tionalism. le, too, had done his share towards bringing about the era of good feeling. "God forbi? that I bhould ever disturb the . aanimity and placidity of this State," he went on to say. Voice: "That ain't in the diction ary." (Laughter ) Col. Hoyt went on with his speech and some one wanted Col. Hoyt to go on without disturbance frem the jes ters. Col. Hoyt went on to say that re strictive laws were nothing new in South Carolina. Eight years ago a similar issue was made in the State. As far as there was a vote or ex pres'-ion of opinion the people voted for prohibition, and they are still of that opinion, as he viewed it. The Hou.se pseed a prohibition law and 'he Senate brought forth the dispen sary. It is to belie the past to say this liquor question has never before been an iss-e and that the reople do not want prohibition. Governor McSwee. .tzy 02 a Prohibition G.overnor with cut a Legislature is worth nothing. He does rot kucw that the Legislature will vt favor prohiitio. Ca!tdi Jates favoring prohibition %ill be ruu in the v ai :s sountirs. Pu'&lic sebti ment is in favor oi prohibition he thought, and no one could or would deny such legi.latiou as may be needed in response to public sentiment. The Prohtbition Democrats are submitting to every rule at,d regulation of the par ty, and expected to entinue so to do. He was ene ot those who in 1892 was vi.ling to try the dipensary. It has been tried, but its record shows that it is not fit nor proper to be con tinued. The Prohibitionists do not want the State to cngate in the sale of liquer. Every citizen now is a partner in the liquor business. and he, for one, protested against being made a partner in this obnoxious business in the name of the State. He did not propose to abuse or viflify any one. le would rival the Governor or any one in pitch ing the campaign on a high plane, for that alone was his purpose. He was going over the State as a Democrat, and any one had a right to differ with him and he would not get mad about it, or lose his head. He stood for a princi ple and as a citizen who was well known asked the nomination. He then got to joking about how people made up excuses to get liquor. As to en forcing any liquor or prohibition law, a Prohibition Governor would have every incentive to enforcing the dispen sary law to the letter. He was oppos ing the dispensary because be dia not believe the State should engage in the liquor business,. He gave fall credit to the good points of the dispensary law. It was altogether wrong, he urged, to say that prohibition would lead to high license. The Coostitution covers that, and the old bar room system, held up as a bugbear, amounted -to nothing. The old bar room was a dream and could never be brought back to this State. He favored high schools. lie has differed years ago as to the policy of the State as to the number of higher colleges, but he now took it as entirely settled that the four great STate colleges should be liberally supported and favored that line. He was in line with the settled policy of the State now as to the State colleges. He heartily favored com mon 'schools and their liberal support. He urged the support of legislation and a.:tion towards good roads. The county and state government ought to put the appliances at the hands of the people to improve the roads. The roads in his own county have not been worked to advantage. He then urged commoa-sense methods in improving the county roads. He spoke of a talk he had with Presi dent Hart zog, and that he told him that Calhoun was the first to urge gov ernmental construction of roads. is tory is vindicating the j adgment of Cal houn and he wanted future legislators to think seriously of the good road question. Hie thanked the audience for its at tention and promised to keep himself strictly within the lines of propriety, and would enforce the laws of the State if nominated. While Col. Hoyt was interupted at times it was entirely good natured and the cries for "Hoyt" showed that he had many friends in the audierce. Then came MR. A HOWARD PATTERSON, of Barnwell, who waded right in to make the fur fie, and he got things pretty much excit ed. He said in open ing he wished to reply to Col. Hoyt's remark that he was a Confederate Vete ran. He had a great respect for the old soldiers, but that was not the ques tion to-day. He had two brothers in Hart's Battery and he himself was too young to enter the service. Then he said he was glad the campaign idea had not been abandoned. lie favored the county to county campaign plan. lHe felt that he was almost addressing a Barnwell meeting, so closely allied were the two counties by marriage and and kinship. He wanted it understood he favored proper support of the eol eges and wanted the common schools liberally supported and advanced. Every college would have to be enlarged if the present prosperity continues. Although he favored State colleges he did not approve of their doing prepara tory work. lie was also in favor of a more rigid enforcement of the rules as to pay tuition. Then he took up the support of the commonn schools. More money is need ed. If he were elected he would sug gest the appropriation of more money to the public schools, as the dispensary money is now being diverted. Then he took up the liquor questeot and said the dispensary law allowed drink, but the regulations acted as che ek rein to drink, H~e wanted to call attention to a few good things iu the dispensary law lest they be forgetter in the ru-h, and then he enumerated the strong features of the dispensars la w, which he heartily endorsed. Abov< all it did away with the social treating habit. He heard a great many men say bet ter liquor was sold before the dispen sary law. This is not so. Almos ever bakeeper had his regular outfil for doctoring his liquor. The vilest concoctions were palmed vff on the poor white man and the negro. There is no distinction now made in serviu; and in the price. Generally for the State look what the law has done. Take towns like Orangeburg and Barnwell. It has done away with rioting and fighting and disturbances Christmas now looks like Sunday. Has drunkennes and the sale of lignor decreased? Em - phatically, "Yes." There were ovcr nine hundred bar rooms in the State in 189. and now there are only niaety-two dispensaries in South Carolina. He then gave fig ures from Governor Evan's message in 1S95, showing that his replies showed a decrease in the consumption of liquor of 47 per cent and a decrease of drunk enness 57 per cent. Governor Ellerbe addressed a letter to all the ministers of the State; out of 46"3 replies 324 said the sale of liquor had been reduced. There was no one who would like better to see prohibition than he. He was chairman of the county prohibition committee in his county when only 2P years of age, and he worked day and night to bring about the enforcement of the law and helped make reports to the grand jury. The cases were thrown out one by one by the juries. "I saw a man sell, in my presence and in the presence of the sheriff, and the grand jury threw this bill out." (Rememb(r Mr. Patterson is speaking of Barnwell, not Charles ton.) H, was in fL;or of a conservative operation of the law, bat when a man made a bar room of his house then it was not entitled to protection as a home. It cost the State over $43 000 last ycar to enforce the dispetisary :&W, and how could prohibition be enforced without a constabulary fore,.? Col Hoyt talks about publie sentimecnt. Don't you know nine-tenths of the people drink liqur? M1r. Sneli: -'All of them." (Much laughter). Mr. Patterson went on to say with to many people drinking. it was the hardest thing in the world to enforce the law. The Prohibitionists come out and endorse the dispensary, every word of it, except they eliminate the bever age feature. A while ago they de nounced the sale of liquor, and now their platform calls for a prohibition dispensary, prohibition State and county boards and all the balance. The result would be everybody would carry around with him a pet snake to bite him. Mr. Snell: "I wouldn't carry any." Mr. Patterson: "Then how would you get it?" Mr. Snell: "Make it." (Laugh ter). Mr. Patterson said Col. Hoyt wrote every word of the Prohibition platform and quoted from the address. Col. Hoyt admits that over a million dollars' worth of liquor a year is still sold in prohibition Maine, which has only a population of about one-half that of South Carolina. Whereas, under the dispensary law, only $1,7SS,425 SO was sold lawfully last year in South Carolina. Think of it. A prhibi tion State for forty years selling $1,000,000 worth of liquor a year. Therefore we have more prohibition in South Carolina today, under the dis pensary law, than they have in Maine, with a law against the sale of liquor. But 1 have got a higher authority here upon the state of affairs in Maine than Col. Hoyt. I have often heard about the great prohibition State of Maine, and, although I had heard that the law was openly violated there, I thought that 1 would find out from headquar ters, so I went and got a copy of the Attorney (General's report. Here it is. This report shows that during the year 1898 there were over 1,600 indictments for the violation of the law in Maine. If there were over 1,600 indictments, how many violations of the law were there that ne-ver came to light ? Multi. ply this by one thousand and you will about have it. Col. Hoyt's platform says that the dispensary law is responsible for a host of evil and wrongs. He compared it with the reign of the carpet'-baggers and scallewags. Col. Hoyt- "Now, Mr. Patterson, I wish you would read that." Mr. Patterson: "Yes, sir, I will do it." Mr. Patterson then read the extract, in which he said the "reign of terror" was to be compared with the reign of the scalewags and carpet-baggers. Mr. Featherstone wanted this section cut out, and so did Mr. Abercrombie and others. He wished Col. Hoyt had left out that section. The constables were supplied with their pistols by our Governors. Mr. Patterson then read extracts from the investigation of fifty citizens, who looked into the liquor question. They were decidedly against prohibi tion laws, as judged from the experi ence of Iowa anid Maine. Prohibition has made a far worse record than the dispensary. It was as well to argue the abolishing the postal service, because of its shortages and scandals. 'Why not talk about the killings in the old bar room? He knew no one had ever been killed in a dispensary and hun dreds have been killed in bar rooms. Col. Hoyt, in his platform, has not a word about coalition, but he had no faith in coalition between prohibition and the license men. Mr. Snell: "You mean Hoyt is go ing to run a blind tiger?" Mr. Patterson: "I have no faith in such coalitions; that is all." In the Prohibition platform, which Col. Hoyt wrote, not one word is said by him about favoring a calition. You would have supposed by reading it that he would have been horrified at the idea of such a combination, but I tell you here to'day that he has advocated such a coalition, and will prove it to you from his own words, and that the State newspaper, in Columbia, wvhich has always been a bitter opponent of the dispensary law, is now supporting Ccl. Hoyt on account of his favoring a coali tion. In the State. January ->, he says in effect: "Let us all, all opponents of the dispensary, go together as far as we can; and when we have gone far enough to destroy the great machine, which is the chief impediment to prohibition, then let us agree, as we can, upon a lan which will give-prohibition a ma jor part of the territory wrested from the common enemy."~ Col. Hoyt quoted in the State. Now what do you think of this, you who are prohibitionists from principle? Here is the candidate of the prohibition p-a favoring a return to the saloon system in some countics and prohibi tion in others. What is it for? The man who does this simply wants office. Charleston, Columbia, Greenville and Spartanburg may wish the license sys tem, and that would be a winning card to play. Now let us see how Governor Mc Sweeney has enforced the dispensary law in Charleston. There are said to i be 354 blind tigers in Charleston; any how there are ISO United States revc nue licenses taken out there, and do you know how many constables Gover nor McSweeney has placed in Charles ton to enforece the law with? Only four. The constables are only required to make a few raids, and the indictments are turned over to the police, and I say riwght here that not one indictment has ever been brought in Charleston by the constables of the'State since Governor McSweeney has been in office. To show you the mockery of the en forcement of the dispensary law in Charleston by the police I have before me row a report of the chief of police to the Governor of thirty cases which he reported in July, ]S99, giving the names and addresses of the keepers of the blind tigers. All of these cases were thrown out by the grand jury. Wh) ? Because in every single one of them the same two men were the wit nesses. On Februrry 24, of this .year, Chief Boyle reported thirty-nine nev easts azd again only two witnceses were used. Do you blame the gracd jury for throin- ther, out? No. Why did not they h ul up reputable citizens who patronize these piaces aud make them testif. ? A s Sam -Jones said a few days ago, when down in Charleston, he could take aa >Ad pointer dog, stop up h1s nose with wax, and he would find aore blind tigers in ooe hour than the whole police in a month. How ca'n you blame the volice for not enforcing the law wh-en the aldermen run blind tigert? le read here from the Chris tian Citizen of May 4: April 21 the building of Mathies & Stelling, wholesale grocers. was raided by the State officers. They found en trance to a blind cellar, through a trap door, hidden by a large desk. Two hundred and scventy-four gallons of whiskey were found and confiscated. August Mathies, the senior partner, is an Alderman of the city. sworn to ob serve and enforce the laws of the State and municipality. The Federal au thorities removed the collector of the Custom House for a similar offence. Will the City Council remove the Al derman? You all remember the affair of the Custom House, used for the stor age of blind tiger liquor, and of $1,000 worth being emptied into the sewers? Who was responsible for this loss to the State? It was the Governor's duty to have the Custom House raided and these lig-iors seized, and if the officers resisted, to arrest them. Hlow can you expect the law to be enforced with aldermen violating the law? Mr. Josh Ashley: "Do you believe the law can ever be enforced in Jharles ton? Don't you think it better to have local optien?" Mr. Patterson: "Yes, it can be en forced. I would do so orstep down and out. I do not believe in the tail swing ing the dog. I tell you why McSweeney favors the tigers, and it is because the tigers control the vote in Charleston, and he wants that vote." Voice: 'I believe you can be bought cheaper than MeSweeney was." Mr. Patterson: "What's that?' Voice repeats. Mr. Pattersor: "You're a fool." The applause was loud and Mr. Pat terson went on and said Governor Mc Sweeney was too slow in seizing the Custom House liquor. The State had concurrent j-irisdiction. Then he sprung his mine and said: While I dislike to bring it up, yet there is another matter which the Gov ernor is charged with by his brethren of the press, and which he has never denied, and it is this: "That since he became Governor of South Carolina he has .patronized blind tigers 'aimself. Here is the paper that makes the charge, and the editor of it says that if he de ies it that he will produce the proof. He then read this: "The editor of this newspaper has had lebters from 'lifferent parts of this State asking that an editorial published in the Oconee News some time back, accusing Mr. McSweeney of drinking blind tiger liquor, be republished. That does not appear to be necessary. When Mr. McSweeney denies the charge we will give the names of those who in formed us that he did frequent the blind tigers and drink liquor Sunday night at the Merchants' and Manufac turers' Club."-The Oconee News, June 7, 1900. Governor McSweeney rose and quiet ly said: "As Governor of South Car olina the people know me and my re cord. and as to the charge that I pat ronized blind tigers it is absolutely false." And then Governor McSweeney sat down. There was much applause for both. No proof further than this editorial was offered and there the mat 'ter ended with the denial of Governor MS ween ey. He is an editor himself; he has for his private secretary the president of te Press Association, and who was formerly bitterly opposed to the dis pensary, and he has three newspaper reporters upon his staff for Governor. Not only this, my friends, but he has appointed the edlitor of The News and Courier harbor commissioner of Charleston. Some time ago The News and Courer came out in an editorial and stated that the newspapers were doing a greae deal of charitable work for politicians, and referred to the fact that they had published my announce ment. I called them down and told Ithem to send in their bill and it would be paid. In the same editorial of The News and Courier in which it referred to my annoucement, and that the press was doing .so much charitable work for the politicians, it praised up Governor McSweeney for taking every paper in the State and paying for them, I suppose, of course, that it believed, and the other papers also, that Gover nor McSweeney was paying for these papers out of his own pocket. Well, such is not the ease. For the vouchers in the Comptroller General's office show that Governor McSweeney has paid for his subscriptions to almost every news paper in South Carolina out of the Governor's contingent fund. Ho has taken money from your taxes and mine to pay his private debts. He had no [CONTINUED ON PA(GE 4.] HIS PLATFORM. Gov. McSweeney Stands on His Record and Administration HE ASKS ENDORSEMENT. The Dispensaty Law is Adminis tered More Effectually and With Less Friction Than Ever Before. In view of the fact that Col. Hoyt and Mr. Gary have gi ren the press the platforms upon which they will make the race for governor Tuesday upon filing his pledge Gov. McSweeney gave the press the following outline of the platform upon which we would ask the suffrage of the people in the coming primary: "In entering the campaign as a can didate for the nomination of governor I expect to stand on my record in the administration of the office during the time I have held it. Upon that record I am going before the people and ask their endorsement. If an administra tion has been successful the custom has been to endorse it by a re-election, and I invite the closest scrutiny of the administration, and if it has not been successful and business-like and non political, then I do not expect to ask the people to endorse it; but if it has been business-like and free from blun ders; if the affairs of the State have been administered by me as chief exec utive in a wise and judicious manner and in such a way as to emphasize the fact that I have endeavored to be the governor of all the people and have carried out my promise that I had no political enemies to punish and no po litical friends to reward; if factional differences have been wiped out and the peoplo have been brought together; if there has been progress and prosperi ty in the State under my administra tion; if the law has been enforced and peace and good order have prevailed throughout the State; if these things are and have been, then I feel that I have a right and it is my duty to ask my fellow citizens to endorse my ad ministration by j ving me the nomina tion in the appro, hing primary. And I believe that the sense of justice which characterizes the people of 9outh Carolina will give the endorsement I seek. I stand ready to meet any criti cism of the administration and I desire only to be judged by the record. "Much has been done during the past year to restore good feeling among our people and to bring all factions to gether and to get all the people in har mony and working together for the progress and development and upbuild ing of the State. "The State has gone forward more rapidly in the past year in material de velopment than in severa, years pre ceding, and every day wealth is seek ing investment in our borders and new enterprises are going up in all portions of the State. The people are happy and prosperous. Business conditions are good. The administration has the confidence of the business men and all of the State officers are working in ac cord for the achievement and develop ment of South Carolina. "The management of the.State hos pital for the insane is excellent and economical. "The affairs of the penitentiary are in excellent condition, and the superin tendent and board of directors have managed the institution with ;good business judgment. '-Under the reorganization of the dispensary the management has been good and entirely satisfactory. The board of directors and commissioners are working in harmony. "The chief plank in my platform is that I have honestly and faithfully tried to do the right as I saw it, and to conduct the affairs of my office on busi ness principles and free from politics and to recognize in county affairs the right of local self-government. Neither have I assumed to discharge the duties of any other department of the govern ment, but have referred all matters per taining to the different departments to which they properly belonged. "As to my position on those matters upon which there is difference of opin ion I refer to my annual message to the legislature. "The education of the people is the bulwark of our form of government. An educated yeomanry is worth more to the perpetuation of our government than large standing armies or great navies. I favor the hearty and liberal support of our common schools, for it is only in these that the great majority of our chilaren can be educated. I am also in favor of sustaining our State in stitutions of higher learning-not ex travagantly and yet not niggardly. The policy of the State in this matter is settled, and it would not be wise now to cripple or injure them by withhold ing more than is necessary for their proper and adequate maintenance. 'In my message I recommended a small appropriation to m ske search for the Black report, which was considered nessary to establish the claim of the State against the general government. This report, as a result of this recom mendation and the appr priation which was made, has been found and forward ed to Senator Tillman, and it is hoped that it will supply the missing link necessary to establish the claim of the State and thus enable the State to pay the claim of the general government against the State and also have a con siderable balance to our credit. "As to the dispensary, my position on this question is well known. In a circular which I issued in August of last year to the magistrates I stated that I believed that the dispensary sys temi, if properly and wisely enforced, was the best solution of the liquor question yet devised. I took the Eame position in my message to the legisla ture and I have had no occasion to change my views on this subject. Much of the opposition that formerly existed to the dispensary system has now been changed into its hearty sup port, and even many of those who still oppose it are willing to give it further trial and have ceased their active oppo sition. "I also issued last year a circular let ter to the mayors and intendants of the towns and cities of the State asking their cooperation in the enforcement of the law. They with one accord promised their hearty cooperation, and I believe the records will bear me out in the statement that the law has been better enforced during the past year than ever before since it was put on the statute books. "I reduced the constabulary force and in thc selection of constables have endeavored to secure men of character and standing, and I am glad to say that in the enforcement of the law there has been no conflict between the constables and citizens. The constabulary force is now considerably smaller than it was when I came into office, and I believe I can truthfully say without making in vidious comparisons, much more effi cient. "In the city of Charleston, by wise and discreet management. we were en abled to show that the United States officers were using the custom house as a storage for blind tiger whiskies and without conflict between the State and national authorities, and as a result of the investigation in this case the most notorious Republican in the State was removed from office and another, and I hope better, man put in his place. "Of course there are still violations of the laq, but whenever it has come to my knowledge that the law was being violated and the illicit sale of whiskey was being engaged in, in any commu n:y, I have promptly sent officers there with instructions to stop the illicit sales. "I know there are good and true men and Democrats who are honestly and sincerely advocating prohibition, but I am fully convinced that prohibi tory laws will not promote temperance, the object sought by these people; but, on the contrary, if a prohibitory law was enacted. blind tigers and the illicit sale of whiskey would increase and there would be no. machinery and no revenue with which to put a stop to it. For this reason many of those who are in favor of the open bar-room and the sale of whiskey are advocating prohibi tion, and even those who are in tavor of the license system advocate prohibi tion because they are convinced in their own minds that prohibition will be a failure, and if they can by these means repeal the dispensary law they feel that they will then be in a position to se cure what they want-the sale of whiskey under a license system. I do not believe that it would be wise or good judgment at this time to have the State torn up by a change of system for the handling of the liquor question, and for that reason, if for no other, it would be better to let the dispensary system stand. If the honest and sin cere advocates of temperance would stop and consider I am sure they would reach the conclusion that the dispen sary system, properly managed and en forced is a better temperance measure than prohibition would be. "In addition to this, it is not the province of the governor to enact laws, but simply to see that those placed on the statute books by the legislative de partment are enforced, and the election of a prohibition governor would not mean necessarily the enactment of a prohibitory law. "I will attend all of the campaign meeting where they do not interfere with my official duties." God Bless the Women. A fashion book says that belts, gloves and neckties of rattlesnake skin is now fashionable. We felt convinced that the rattlesnake would have to come to it sooner or later. It is about the only varmint left that the women didn't wear. Think of a woman being ar rayed in a silkworm dress, ostrich feather hat, sealskin sacque, goatskin shoes, whalebone stays. kidskin gloves, tortoise shell comb, fish scale trim mings stuffed canary bird ornaments, clam bshel1 buttons, Spitz dog muff, mink tail collarette, alligator hide purse, and a rattlesnake belt and neck tie. Solomon in all his glory was not such a menagerie as one of these, and yet we love them no matter what they wear. God bless the women! Out of Politics. Mr. E. C. Benedict, of New York, the other day was quoted as advocat ing the formation of a new political party. Mr. Benedict is a close friend of ox President Cleveland. Some of the New York papers, therefore, sur mised that Mr. Cleveland would en dorse his friend's plan, and sent repor ters to see him about the matter. "What he says has no bearing what ever on me," said Mr. Cleveland. "Mr. Benedict is able to paddle his own ea noe." The ex-president stated further that he was out of polities and intended to stay ,ut, and that not even the in dorsement of Mr. Bryan by the New York Democracy interested him. Called Htm a Boor. It is expensive to call a man a Boer in Great Britain nowadays. The other day a young Irish girl painted "I am a Boer" upon a gate belonging to a nurseryman at Wick, near Littlehamp ton. Her reason was that the nursery man did not hang out a flag in cele bration of the relief of Mafeking, but this means of expressing her displeas uro cost her ?3, 11s., IU. in court. The chairman of the bench saidi that he would not be called a Boer for ?100, adding that the defendant's conduct might have led to the prosecutor being lynched in the present state of public feeling. Black Woman Bounced. Mrs. Ruffin of Boston, who was ex luded from the Federation of Women's clubs convention, Milwaukee, on ac count of her color, left Chicago for Boston Wednesday afternoon. It ap pears that the dues paid by the Era club of Boston for admission to the National Federation of women's clubs were returned to Mrs. Ruffin before she left Milwaukee. In view of this fact, it is understood that the Woman's Era club of Boston will retain the money under protest, not waiving any rights of mem ship in the federation. A New Thing. To prevent the stealing of a watch from a vest pocket a New York man has patented a safety attachment, which can be sewed in any pocket, be ing formed of a heavy piece of fabric, with two eyelets in its upper edge, fhrough which the chain is laced be tore cnnecting it with the watch, WILL NOT RETIRE. The Grand Old Man of Methodism Still in Harness. A dispatch from Spartanburg to The State says the board of trustees of Wofford ccllege .as persuaded Dr. James 1H. Carlisle to act as president for another year. This was the most dramatic incident of commencement week, and the announcement creates great enthusiasm. The following are the graduates of Wofford College for this year and their addresses: Class Poem-C. C. Alex_,A'3r. Dar lington county. "John Ruskin"-B. H. Boyd, Lau rens county. "The Gospel of Work"-C. B. Bur nett, Spartanburg county. "Jackson as a Political Force"-J. C. Fairy, Orangeburg county. "Railroads and the Union"-P. 0. Garris, Colleton county. "College Athletics"-E. H. Hall, Fairfield county. "The Ordinary Man"-E. M. Lander Anderson county. "Discrimination in Ideals"-C. D. Lee Darlington county. "An Old English Poem"-E. C. Maji)r Greenwood county. "Four Types of Greatness"-W. C. Martin, Williamsburg county. "Our Best iB Letters"-E. P. Miller Greenwood county. "A New Southerv Problem"-C. P. Rodgers, Orangeburg county. "Calhoun and the Presideney"-H. T. Shockley, Spartanburg county. "Lost Leadership"- L. E. Wiggins Hampton county. "Class of 1900"-L. L. Hardin, Lex ington county. The following were excused from speaking: A. D. Gray, Laurens coun ty W. H. Phillips, Orangeburg county; J. E. Edwards, Abbeville county. After this interesting portion of the programme, which was thoroughly en joyed by all present, Dr. H. Baer of Charleston arose and presented the bronze tablet to Benjamin Wofford, the founder of the college, to the board of trustees. Bishop Duncan, chairman of the board, responded appropriately and expressed thanks for the valuable gift. The only degree conferred was that of A. M., on L. L. Dantzler of the class of '98. Bishop Duncan then made the annual report of the trustees. This showed clearly that the year just ended had been one of the most prosperous and successful in the history of Wofford. The greatest feature among the many was the promptness and punctuality of the student. The bishop then stated that the board of tratees had persuaded Dr. James H. Carlisle to hold over as president of the college for another year. This announcement almost set the cultured, sedate audience wild. Such a sight was never witnessed be fore in the chapel. People young and old, male and female, cheered vocifer ously and lustily. This was the big gest and most universally satisfactory piece of news of commencement week. The St. Louis Strike. To all appearances Wednesday wit nessed the beginning of the end of the riotous demonstrations and scenes of bloodshed that have characterized the street railway strike for over a month past at St. Louis. In many quarters it is thought the strike itself will soon be settled. These opinions are based upon statements of the- chief of police and sheriff that the critical stage has been passed and upon the fact that the St. Louis Transit company is slowly but surely approaching a complete resump tion of business with the aid of non union men. The inquest over the bodies of the victims of Sunday's riot began Wednesday. The testimony ad duced was not of a character calculated to base a decision as to which side was to blame for beginning hostilities the witnesses disagreeing on material points. Some plaaed the blame on the posse and others placed it on the strik ers. Many contradictions have arisen in the accounts of Sunday's tragedy and these were emphasized in the testimony taken. Wants Asbestos The secretary of State has received the following from C. W. Geiler, an exporter and importer of Hamburg, Germany, which is published so that any interested may open correspond ence with Mr. Geiler: "I understand that asbestos is found in South Caro lina and as I wish to buy crude asbes tos in fibre, pulp or powder, if quality and price is right. Yod would greatly oblige mc by sending me addresses of mines or parties where I can get it. Long fibred, sof t feeling white asbestos is mostly what I want-free from iron and acid proof, but can also use pulp or powder." Democrats at Work. The managers of the Democratic par ty's national affairs say they have brought into existence in the past year, and have ready now for the ensuing campaign a force of 500,000 workers, organized by election precincts, in all the close States and Congressional dis tricts of the country. Each worker is a contributor to the extent of $2 to the campaign fund. Through this force, Secretary Walsh says, the national com mittee can get at actual local condi tions in any part of the country, or in the whole country, in a few days. Vacant West Point Cadetship Senator Tillman writes The State from Washington as follows: "I have been notified by the secretary of war that I must name a cadet for West Point by July 10th. I desire to make this appointment by competitive ex amation and all candidates for the appointment will report in Columbia on July 3d, at 10 a. m , at the South Carolina college. I will be obliged if county papers will copy this announce ment." One More Reduced The State board of eqnalization of railroad property Wednesday finished up all its work so far as actual assess ments are concerned. -The only change made in thc list as originally published was the reduction of the assessment on the Hampton and Branchville road from $,000 per mile to $1,000. The board fixed the assessment upon the Pullman Palace Car company's business in this Sate a $80 per mile. TILLMAN'S SPEECH. He Sounds a Note of Warning to the Democracy WHICH SHOULD BE HEEDED. The injustice of Making Charges Against Candidates When They Had no Chance to Answer Them. Senator Tillman was at the campaign meeting at Orangeburg on Thursday and was received with the old time enthusi asm. He began his speech by saying everyone was hot and tired andhe would not talk long.*Someone had just told him to hurry up and get through before the dispensary closed. (Laughter.) To go on under any other system there was plenty of liquor at any and all times. There were a great many things he would like to talk about. Voice: "Anything will do." Senator Tillman said he came here in 1896. All that wag known of him at that time was from his letters in The News and Courier. He spoke at Jerusa lem Church and in 1890 he spoke here to about 4,000 voters. This county .gave him th next largest vote to any. There were divisions j then, but there is no such divison now. There are now indications of a cat and monkey time, but our people have gotten to be more tolerant. We have been going to school in politics and one thing of most value about reform is freedom of speech when a man has something to say. Some men think being a Senator iq easy. He did not go there merely to draw his salary. He promised to do his duty and use his pitchfork if necessary, and he has done the best he could. He has punched everybody who got in his way, using either end. This session has been his hardest. He feels more like going out in the grass than any thing else. It has been hard, very hard work. He has attended commit tees, attending the sessions, going to the departments and answering his cor respondence all session. Nothing but. a sense of duty to you, gentlemen, brings me here. He would be delighted to go all over the State this summer, and he wanted to assure everyone he had not gotten too big for his breeches. He took the liberty of advising his friends, because he fathered-the prim ary system. First, there ought to be no limit on any speaker. No man can speak with a gag in his mouth. Bet ter let every man remain here all day thau gag these speakers. You, gentlemen, now do not know anything about half a dozen charges made here. Whenever public men make charges it is your business to say: Prove it here and now or shut up. It is wrong to cut off these speeches. You have an evidence of ambition to hold office. The offices belong to you people. They used to get them by hocus pocus and shenanigan in conven tions. He would not speak at all if he were in this campaign, but he was going to help Pettigrew in South Dakota. He was not afraid to leave his candidacy to the people. Mind you, you people took me from my plough and sent me away, and when you get tired of me leave me at home. The candidates for Governor are all my friends. Col. Hoyt opposed me, but is my friend. He is a clean, high minded man and so are they all. But the Legislature deals with the liquor question. 1 ou want your candidates for the Legislature to take a pledge or oath that they will support the dispen sary. You want no sneaks under false colors. Ask every man: "What are you for?" You have no business send ing any man to Columbia who dees not define his position. His opponents had opened up the whole field. He wanted the people to elect their dispensers. He did not want the dispensers elected by county or State boards. He be lieved in the people at all times. He never had heard of any man who was short being sued. That is wrong and that is why you all have to keep the chunks up to the fire. Some candidates favored county con trol and management. It is wrong. There has been more or less scandal at the dispensary. If you can't watch one little State board how can you watch forty? If we hadforty we would have forty stinks. A great many argue for the goodey-goodey side. Some say the State ought not to deal in this busi ness. Long ago he asked himself whether he could enforce prohibi tion and he decided it could not be done. Prohibition will not do, sim ply because the old Ada'n in every man will show. You can only persuade by law. He did not want to see the peo ple go to lying and become hypocrites, for he knew the people will have liquor as certain as they will forever love wo men. Men are poor, frail mortals, and it is hard to keep them in the right track. He wanted to impress on every one here how the Northern Republi ans are playing with the South. The Southern States are moving to disfran chise the negro, one after the other. The North is waiting for us to get through and then if they have the next Bouse, the President and hold the Sen ate they are certain to reduce the rep resentation from this State. Mr. Spooner taunted him that 28,000 votes were cast for all the Congressmen last year. They do not want to understand the explanation. They say one white man here wields as much power as six Northern voters. This weapon should be taken away by registering .and vot ig every man in the district in the na tional election.. This is not blowing, but-.is of vital importance. The other Southern States will suffer likewise, Hie spoke of how he secured four esus super visors and m'ost of the enumeratore. He wanted an honest and clean census. He said he wanted to ask the advice of the audience as to what he should do. He wanted an expression as to whether he had better go into other close States and work or remain here in this State. Some one asked him to get that in the papers. You know, he went on to say, I once said that if The News and Courier supported melI knew something was wrong or I had sold out. Well, it is all right, but I have not sold out, and we are pretty good friends now. In conclusion Senator Tillman expressed his gratification at the con inued eoniene shown him.