Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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VOL. XIX, MANNING, S. C., WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 1905- NO. 49. BIG BRIBES Were Offered by the Whiskey Dealers Says Mr. Mixson. THE CHARGE DENIEP. Mr. F. M. Mixson Says That He Was Offered Great Sums of Money by Certain Houses if He Would Bay Whiskey from Them, Which He Declined. The legislative committee arpoint ed to investigate the dispensary was at work In Columbia last week. Hon. W. 0. Tatum, Commissioner, and Mr. Coster, of the State Treasurer's office, were examined, but nothing of a sen. sational character was disclosed. Mr. Tatum's testimony showed that he was managing the dispensary for the best interest of the State, and that under his administration things were being honestly administered. Some sensational testimony was giv en by ex-State Liquor Commissioner Mixxon, who was In charge of the in stitution ten or more years ago. He was the sole purchaser of whiskey for the dispensary. At that time the board consisted of Gov. John Gary Evans, Secretary of State D. H. Tompkins and Comptroller General Norton. To begin with the business the State borrowed $50,00C, which witness paid back in the form of meet ing the enpense of the 1895 constitu tional convention, Mr. Mixson says he had a complete stock-taking when he assumed chargt, and also when he retired. Up to 1896 the net profits went to the State, but after that to the school fun i. la the eleven months of his administration the gross sales were slightly less than a million dollars and the net profits to the State $160,000. There was no limit then to the profit the institution might make so far as the law was con erned. As to rebates which were alled discounts then, witness said that he made a practice of demsnding a discount of 5 per cent, which he then turned into the State. He bought from reliable house alone, which read Ily granted these discounts. The beer houses did not allow dis. eounts the witness said. He saved $20,000 to the State in rebates. Er ommisiner Mlxson's annual report was canvassed to show that he bought only from reputable houses, some of which are still trading with the State. "Colonel, in your dealings did any of the houses offer you any induce ments personally to buy?" "Yes, sir; several of them did. Sc. retary Hubbel, of the whiskey trust, connected with the Mill Creek Distil lery, Meholovitch, Fietcher & Co., Mr. Tanahan, of Lanahan & Son, of Balti more, and smaller offers from smaller concerns." Mr. Mirson then related how Mr. Hubble came to Columbia to see him and he took him into the sample room and offered him $262 50 for each car load of whiskey he bought from them. "Did you ever accept this or any other money or inducement?"1 "No, sir." Mr. Mixson then went into the de tails of the Interview with Mr. Hub bel. Witness told him that if he would credit this on the invoice that the offer would be accepted, the re bate to go to the State. Wnen wit. nes discovered that HubbAl intended the money for him personally be turned him down and never patronized him again. "I reported the matter to Gov. Evans," the witness asserted. Mr. Hnbbel Is now dead. When the witness related how a representative of Maholovitch, 3'liteher & Co., came down and made him an offer of $10,000 a year person anly to buy from his firm. He re jeted the offer and refused to buy from the house again. Next Mr. Mix on related an interview he had with gam J. Lanahan of William L-.nahan & Sons, of Baltimore, who made hIm an offer of $30,000 a year if Mr. Mix son,would buy $400,000 a year. DEN~IES THE CHARGE. A dispatch from Balt-imore says kamuel J. Lanahan makes vigorous denial of the Mixson charge of at tempted bribery in the South Caro lina dispensary investigation, refer ring to which he said. "1! the witness Is reported correct ly, I want to make an unqualified de nial of the truth of the tes;imony. "I know Mlxson, he made an effort to connect himself with our house, but we wouldn't have him. This faci may account for his testimony. I know of no other reason for it. "Our house has done a large busi ness with the dispensary every month for the last four or five years. In all our dealings there I never offered a bribe or other than a legitimate in ducement to transact business. I never offered Mixson $30,000 or any other amount. The conversation which he is reported as testifying to never took place and the incident he speaks of never happened. It is a fabrication, pure and simple. I posi tively deny its truth. If there is a way of making denial stronger, I would like to know it, so that I might make use of it." A Pot of Gold Found. A pot of gold, supposed to have been buried by Capt. :Kid, has been dug up on Sullivan's Island. The Charleston Post says "the gold was found near the chimney of the Buckley house on Saturday night, being turned up by one of the laborers who was raising the 'aouse to make room for the ex tension of the barracks of the arms post. The laborer who laid claim and made off with the mouiey could not be learned, but he was not a souvenir hunter, being content to take the gold and leave the rusted metal pot, including a number of old Spanish doubloons, valued at $16 each, pistols. Louis and .other coins, and the ex itement which the find has made among the native islanders has as. nmeA no smanl DIOportiODlS." AFIER MANY DAIS. A Fruit Laden Steamer Eas a Pcri IoUs Voyage. All on Board Forced to Eat Shark and Allowed One Swallow of - Water a Day. The steamer Athos, 17 days late, with eight pssengers and a cargo of rotten bananas and with the bones of half eaten sharks on board to indicate the perils of her voyage, arrived off Scotland lightship last Monday night. - On July 30, the Donald Steamship company's s;eamer Athos left Port An tonio, Jamaico, for New York, a six days' voyage, with provisions in plenty for this short period. Three hours cue of port an cocentric rod on the engine broke, and from that hour until last Sunday week, proceeding sometimes ony an hour a day under her own steam, the Athos drifted at the mercy of the storms, in constant danger of famine, once without drinking water, and receiving supplies from time to time off passing vessels until on Aug. ust 20 the disabled steamer gave up and signalled the steamer Altia for a tow. This steamer brought the Athos to New York. The trouble was in the engine all the time. From July 30 to August 7, one or two breaks daily were recorded in the engine. The log chronicles the fact that the daily delay was only 30 minutes long on August 5. Two days latter the catching of the sharks is recorded. Chinamen on board attempted to eat the sbarks but the meat made them ill and the fish were Dhrown into the sea. Daring the next wo days boats were lowered from the Athos to search for food fish. On August 8 the disabled steamr Oighted the steamship Adirondack and ignalled "All well on board," but on he tenth the last tank of water was pened and was found to be tainted ith the juice of rotting bananas. Some dolphin wer6 caught two days ater and on August 13th the incipient ,amine was further relieved by the ;teamer Montevideo, which supplied )rovisions. For nearly a week between August L0th and 17th the engine's shaft was seless. but not only was the steamer ,orced to drift about while repairs ere under way but for two days of his period a great storm and high eas broke over the helpless steamship. rhe log indicates meanwhile that more olphin were caught. Finally, on Aug st 18, the coupling flange broke and he Athos abandoned the attempt to nake New York under her own steam, Lfter 20 days of continuous accidents. Et was decided to accept the first offer )f a tow. This did not come for two lays, during which a second food fam ne was averted',by the steamer Vera, which came alongside the Athos sup Ilying eatables and drinkables. At Scotland lightship last Monday ight the tow line broke, as a last hapter in her long series of accidents Lnd the Athos could not repair the r ken line in the dark, but anchored1 ~or the night while the Altal brought ier passengens to quarantine. Tues ~ay tugs were sent out to bring the athos into port. Passengers of the Athos, on landing [nesday, reported that the famine ~saused small mutinies among the ships crew of 18 Chinamen. Trouble irst started among the coolies over he dearth of tobacco and rice. A iegro helper was stabbed during one f the lights of the hungry crew, but ~be effleers and passengers were not ~erousy menaced. At one time the only water to be ad was ccean brine which had been oied and condensed. One swailow a1 lay to each person was all that this proce.s allowed. Serious Charge. According to a special dispatch to he Augusta Chronicle from Atlanta, ;ys Mrs. Ed. L. Wight, .Tr., is held1 t the home of her relatives there un er the care of a special bailiff, on ac-1 ount of warrants sworn out by her ausband and his relatives, charging I arson and assault with intent to mur er and also a pc warrant. It Is laimed Mrs. Wight employed two negroes to burn the house in which ter husband lived. The negroes gave he plan away and were held as wit esses. Mrs. Wight was Miss Cooper, of Atlanta, and her relatives have sworn out warrants charging her with lunacy. Mr. Wight is a well known citizen and business man of Albany, Ga., and a son of a former mayor of that city. Fixed a Price. The Georgia division of the South ern Cotton association Wednesday adopted resolutions calling upon cot ton growers to fix a minimum price of 30 cents a bushel on cotton seed and to sell not a pound at a less price; also declaring that no cotton shall be sold by farmers under its jurisdiction at less than 10 cents a pound, until a fixed price shall be agreed upon by the exeutve committee at Its meeting at Asheville in September. As assess ment of one cent a bale based upon the number of bales raised last year was levied to meet the expenses of the State organization. The Genuine Arttele. A real daughter of the revolution has just died in Westmoreland coun ty, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Sarah Atchi son Ross was ninety-eight years old and was the daughter of Thomas Atchison, who fought under Wash ington at the battle of Trenton, and the widow of Tnomas Ross, a veteran of the Mexican war. She was one of three women to whom were presented gld spoons by the national society be cause of being daughters of men who fought in the struggle of '76. Walls Uollapse. At Pittsburg, Pa., Sunday the walls and first floor ceiling of the Avenue Theater building, which had been burned some time ago, and was being wrecked, preparatory to the construc tion of a new building, fell with a crash, carrying down about twenty Italian laborers, burying a number under the debris. In the confusion it is impossible to say how many are killed or wounded, but six badly wounde d persons have been taken out PAID FOR JOBS. Members of the State Constabu lary Bought Places. SEN'ATIONAL TALK. The Names of Prominent Gentlemen in Public Life in South Carolina Fig ure in Dispensary lovestigation on Hearsay Testimony Before Committee. In the dispensary exmination in Columbia on Thursday Division Chief Fant, of the constabulary force, made ome sensational stawements. A good :eal of it was hearsay, and this is un ortunate, but perhaps it is just as well for everything to come out, al though heasay evidence is often em barrassing and proves utterly ground less; Mr. Fan%, in his evidence, gave the distinct impression that certain parties in Spartanburg were regularly artering positions on the constabu lary force, from the smallest to the Mighest position. He said it was reported that Mr. Wiflam McGowan, of that city, was %redited with having a regular con ;tabulary mill and that he had the record of 28 men who had arranged ith Mr. McGowan to get jobs on the sonstabulary, and that the offers for ;he positions ranged all the way from 120 to $300, and that at one time hen his position was in jeopardy be 2ad Toland offer Mr. McGowan $300 'or the position of division chief, but his was done merely to gain time to ?uncture the scheme, and that he iever intended paying a aent for his osition, but that he wished to ex >ose the affair. He then went on to say he reported he entire matter to Governor Mc weeney, and that he was retained in 1s position, but that Governor Mc ;weeney could not expose the afftir, Lnd that then he appealed to Mr. Geo. R. Prince, and later on to Senator Cillman, to expose the affir, and, he aid, he offered them the evidence. )enator Tillman wrote him that he xad turned the matter over to Col. rmes H. Tillman, but that nothing ame of the repeated efforts to secure ublicity. Again he testified that he had told dr. McGowan one day that he was rery much annoyed by persons asking Aim for jobs on the force. Cpt. Mc 3owan had told him to turn all such ppl!cants over to him and he would ake them off Capt. Fant's hands. Cne grim old chief then narrated with ivident satisfaction that he had in riting the names of 28 persons who ad applied for places through Mc ;owan and the amounts paid by eacn. He had a record of the cirum tances. "Mr. McGowan was running he mill up there," he explained, "but e had a helper down here In Colum-. 'a. Private's places on the force ere going at $25, and for the place >f chief the bids were from $250 to 300." Capt. Fant then continued hat he wrote to Gov. McSweeney, living him all of this information. 'The Ill treatment of myself which iad been going on for a long time was topped then," he declared, "and I as given enough men to enforce the Mr. Fant said that the claim was nade In Spartanburg that Mr. Mc. lown had a worker in Columbia, andi inally, when pressed ta name who this orker was alleged to be, said that it as merely heresay, but that the name ised was that of Mr. U. X. Gunter, r., then assistant Attorney General. Kr. Fant did not know that any one lad ever paid for a position on the ~onstabulary or that Is had been got en through the alleged mill in Spar anburg, but that he was prepared to how that 28 men had taken the mat er up. Mr. Fant further alleged that it was eported to him that Chief Howie paid 1275 to Chief Clerk W. W. Harris for is position, and that William Gross dleged that he paid $125 to get on he county board of control. These natters wll be heard from and the ther side presented. Mr. Fant and dr. Seay testified that they had given 50 and $40 each to Mr. Dillingham or alleged expenses in connection with he candidacy of Governor Heyward n the primary. Mr. Fant and Mr. Seay stated that hey paid Mr. Dilingham this money m what they understood to be the epresentation that Mr. Dlllingham 1ad spent over $1,000 in the election >f Governor Hey ward and that they were asked to share in that expense. rhey both stated that it was a volun ~ary offering on their part but that t was with the understanding that it was to pay election expenses. JOE SEAT TESTIFEs. Joe Seay, an ex-c-nstable whose name had been mentioned before, was next put up. He explained lhe pistol incident referred to by Capt. Dilling tram. He was trying t-2 buy a pistol. Iere was nothing crooked in the transaction, he declared. When Hey ward was running for governor, he had gone out and worked for him be. nause Russell Giaffney had told him to go ahead and work hard for Heyward and af ter the election Mr. Dillingham would pay him. He had favored Gov. Heyward anyway. Mr. DillIngham gave him $2 for his day's work at the polls the first primary. He met Mr. Heyward that same day and was ask ed to work in the second primary. He had carried all but three votes out of 107 at his box for Heyward in the sec ond primary. Mr. Dilungham had then offbred him a position on the constabulary. Witness said he didn't want the job. but afterwards concluded that if there was a certainty of getting the j-ob hc would take it. Dillingham then told him to go home, rent his place and move to town. He Complied and with others waited In. Spartanburg to get jobs with Dillingham's assistance. He had waited and waited untIl he got In debt for rent and rations and had got to the point where he was praying for a job. Gave Mr. Dillingham a note for $50 to help bar the election expnsnes. Paid $10 the first month he was on the force. The second month when he went t) pay another Instalment Dillirgham said, "Joe, have you got that receipt?" Witness produced the receipt for the first $10. Dillingham said, "Give it to me and I will return your note, I didn't want anything out in black and white in this transao Lion." Witness was given back his note but continued to pay on it until he nad paid $40. He then asked for a suspension on the last $10, as he had nelped Mr. Dillingbam around the stable when he was waiting "or the job. He had never heard of Mr. Dilling ham complaining of E wbank selling liquor out of his stable. Knew noth ing of any reports of that kind. When questbn d by Dillirgbam, he told tiow he had lost his j.b. They bad been on a long raid and he got too much whiskey and expressed his mind ibout the other mcn going off and leaving him on watch. WHAT DILLINGHAM SAYS. Mr. Dillingham, on the other side, amitted that Mr. Fant had paid him $50, that Mr. Seay had paid him $40, and that he had collected other money, but that it was no part of any expense in connection with the nomination of Governor Hey ward and that Gcvernor Heyward had absolutely nothing to do with it. He insisted that he was paid 1 this money because in helping Fant and Seay and others get their jobs he had to lose time from his business and make visits to Columbia and that it vas a recompene for his time and work, and that those who paid him understood it that way, or he tried to make it so understood. He said that whatever expense he incurred in helping the candidacy of Governor Heyward by authority of Hr. Law, as the representative of 3overnor Heyward, was returned to nim, and that he felt that whatever Legitimate expense he went to in this ampaign was with the approval of lovernor Heyward and Mr. Law, the freind of Governor Heyward in his ompaign. If Governor Heyward, with the ad vice of his friends, thought it judicious and prudent to expend a limited sum t lor legitimate campaign expenses, that Ls his concern, but he never authorized ny approximation to the sum of $600 )r $700, which Mr. Dillingham says he lelt he had a right to expend in his nthusiasm to see Governor Heywad y ain the nomination. Successful cam paigns these days require money here C and there for necessary legitimate ex enses. GUNTER )ENIES IT. Mr. Gunter is sick with typhoid ever at the hospital and withhis clean cord as a man and officer it is unfor unate that his name should have been nixed up with this scandal on mere earsay. Mr. W. H. Townsend, the: ,ssistant attorney general, was asked or a statement in behalf of Mr. Gun ;er and gave the following interview Nhich he had had with Mr. Gunter. "The hearsay statement of the wit less Fant was shown Attorney Gener .1 Gunter at the Columbia hospital I rharsday evening; and he said it was famously false that he had asked, eceived, expected or wanted any com- E ensation or reward for aiding any iody anywhere to obtain a position or dfice conmected with the dispensary or ,y other governmental agency. Why . ts name should be connected with ~uch statements he cannot conceive. [hat he has never importuned any of ~he governors for such favors, as will e borne out by the governors them elves. No truthful man can be found who will say that he ever paid him ,nythng. Of course, his uame may ave been hawk~ed without his knowl ~dge by designing persons: if so such ~erson should, and must be, held ac :untable, and, he intends to use every ~ ~ffort to find out if such is the case, ust as soon af he is able to leaye the ospital.'' r JUDGE FRINCE's VERsION' c Judge Prince ssys that no papers or vidence and no specifiestion of aarges were ever filed with him by e ~ir. Fant or by any one else. He had ever heard of any being filed with hiv. McSweeney or with Senator Till-e nan. Judge Prince says that so fare , he can remember, Mr. Paut never nentioned to him in any way the anagement or conduct of the con ~tabulary force at Spartanburg but ~hat in a casual conversation Mr. iant did once state that some consta >es, perhaps a chief constable at ireenville, whose name escaped the udges memory, had been guilty of ~ome misconduct. The judge advised Er Fant to get up affidavits about the natter and file them with the gover- t or. He afterwards heard no more of C ne matter. CAPT. arOGOWAN'S REPLY. C A dispatch from Spartanburg to s he State says Capt. McGowan, who t as been out of town sin~e Wednes- 5 lay afternoon, on arriving went to s hief Fant and asked the names of C he 28 men who had appiled to him I Mc~owan) for positions and consta- d les. Chief Pant replied that It was I rumor, but he would get up the C ames if he could. Capt. McGowan's s ~onnecton with dispensary officials I ~as always been in the capacity of at- a orney. At one time, he said, he rep esented a member of the board of t ~ontrol before the county delegation t n the general assembly. z The matter was carried to the t State board and he was paid a fee. I Afterwards he was active In securing I he appointment of two constables t ad these persons paid his expenses to t olumbia and in each case this amount was not over $10. He said thathe al- t ways signed petitions of persons ask- I ng for positions on the constabulary I orce and was of the opinion that I ther members of the bar did the C ame. Capt. McGowan said that B. t . Toland had never off'red him one a ent or given him any inducement tot ave Chief Fant removed. t A; to Attorney General Gunter and :ispensary appointments, he said that 1 he had never in his life spoken to Mr. ' unter about such matters, except I probably once. A man named Groce, I who claimsd to oe a good friend of i unter and Chief Hammet, applieda Mr a position and asked him to speak a good word to Chief Hammet. Capt. I McGowan said that all his connections I with constables had been as attorney : and he will represent any and all of t them if they can pay the fee exacted. C He thinks that the ringing in of Mr. Gunter was cruel and unnecessary and : this opinion is shared by a large num e of people in Snartanburg. I THE BRICE LAW Fo Be Carried Into the Conrtc and There Tested 08 TO ITS LJGAIiY. [his Also Involves the Legality of tb Recent Election in Union County, and Judge Townsend Has Ordered the Dispensaries There to Remain Open. A special dispatch to The State from Jnlon says Judge Townsend Tuesday f last week isaued the following >rder: "It is ordered that the defendants lo show cause before me at my cham iers at Union, S. C., at 11 o'clock on he 6th day of September. 1905, why hey should not be perpetally enjjin d from closing the dispensaries as a esult of the recent election held on he 15th day of August 1905. Tnat he said defendants are hereby re trained and enjoined from closing d ceasing to operate said dispensar es until the further order of this ourt. "Let a copy of this order be served ith the summons, c':mplaivt and af idavits upon each of the defendants Lerein. "D. A. TOwNSEND. "Circuit Judge. "At Chambers, Union, S. U., 22nd Lugust, 1905." By the istuing of the above quoted irder, a delay has been put on the arrying out of the wishes of the vot rs of Union county, as expressed in he election held Tuesday, August 5th, when they declared by their bal Dts of "dispensary" 412 and "no dis ensary" 761 that they wished the ispensary to go. The action was brought by W. Boyd ivans and Lawson D. Melton, attor eys of Columbia and the complaint overs 11 pages of closely typewritten atter. No interference was made in the de laring of the election by the election ommissioners, as had been anticipat d; but about 4 o'clock the attorneys ppeared before Judge Townsend and ecured this temporary injunction on , complaint made by Carrie Barnett, well known farmer of the county, tving near Buffalo. The defendants are B. M. Fincher, zie Kelly and W. D. Wilkins, coun y board of control, and G. C. May, J. . Howell and J. R. Askew, county ispensers. Under this complaint Mr. larnett alleges that he is a taxpayer, sident citizen, and qualified voter of Tlon county; that the defendants amed have under their custody, con rol management and direction three iseposaries for the sale of intoxicat 2g liquors in this county. That by irtue of an alleged act of the general ssembly entitled "An act to amend acton 7 of an act entitled 'An act o provide for the election of the State oard of control, and to further regu Lte the sale, use, consumption, trans ortation and disposition of intoxicat sg and alcoholic liquors or liquids in his State, and prescribe further pen tles for the violation of the dispen ry law, and to police the same.'" pproved March 6th, 1896, and as menied by the general assembly of outh Carolina at its regular session i January, 1904, and approved Feb ary 25th, 1904. T. J Betenbaugh, ounty supervisor of Union county, rdered an election to be held, submit lg to the qualified voters of the said ounty of Union the question of "dis ensary" or "no dispensary," on the 5th day of August, 1905. That the lection was held on the day prescrib d, and the county board of commis oners have today declared the result favor of "no dispensary;" that said ounty board of control and dispensers ave threatened and declared their in ention to close the said dispensaries nd cease to operate the same, claim g it is their duty to do so as the re alt of the said election. THE GROUNDS. This the plaintiff alieges would be nlawful, unconstitutional and void, n the following grounds: () That this section 7, as above Ited, is in direct violation of the con Gitutional inhibition contained in ar Lcle 3, section 34 clause 11 of the con itation of South Carolina, 1905. That rid section is an attempt on the part f the general assembly to pass a spec 1 law to limit the operatlon of the ispnsary law to certain special local les, and the act being deprived of its haracter as a general law becomes a peial or local law. That the election eing made under said section is illeg I and void. (b) That by virtue of articles 8, sec Ion 11 of the constitution of 1895, be State cannot delegate to its citi ens any special localities determed by heir votes as to whether they shall e subject to the exercise of the said olce power regarding the manufac re, sale or prohibition of liquors or leverages. c) That the act popularly known as he Brice bill is unconstitutional, as he general assembly failed to provide or the holding of elections at which ie such questions as "dispensary" r "no dispensary" can be submitted o the people, and has failed to pre cribe the manner in which such elec ion shall be held and results ascer ained. (d) That under the general election aw the election should be held the first ~uesday following the first Monday in sovember, 1896, and each second year hereafter; that if it should be held nder this law such special questions a "dispensary" or "no dispensary" hould be submitted to the people, hen such election could only be held he first Tuesday of November, 1906, ,nd that T. J. Betenbaugh had no an hority to order said election for any ther time. () By virtue of a majority of the 'otes being for "no dispensary" levies special tax upon the tax payers of Tan county, whirch is in violation of article 1, section 7 of the constitution. Furthermore, that this bill originated in the senate, when under the consti. tution, article 3, section 15. "Bills for raising revenue shall originate in the house of representatives, but may be altered, amended or rejected by the senate, and all other bills may origi nate in either house, and may be al tered, amended or rejected by the other." The plaintiff alleges upon Informa tion and belief that the petition for an election on the question of "dis pensary" or "no dispensary" was not signed by one-forth of the qualified voters of Union cmunty, and that the supervisor ordered it without ascer -aining same; that the plaintiff is in. formed and believes the election was fraudulently and illegally held and conducted, in that many persons who were not qualified voters were allowed to vote, and many persons who were qualified voters were not allowed to vote; persons were allowed to vote at precincts other than those at which they resided; no registration books were furnished the managers, as re quired by law, and in many ways the law was not complied with; and as a result of this fraud and these irregu larities the election resulted in "no dispensary," whereas, if it had been conducted according to law, it would have resulted in favor of the dispen sary. That the plaintiff, as a citizen and resident of Union county, has a right to purchase intoxicating liquors form said dispensaries, and it same are closed, as threatened, the plaintiff and other citizens of Union county will be deprived of their rights and privileges to purchase alcoholic liquors, as he or they desire to do, and the county will be deprived of the revenue it is en titled to under the provisons of the dispensary law. On these grounds the plaintiff prays that the injunction be Issued to pre vent the said dispensaries from clos ing, and the election to b6 declared un::onstitutional, illegal and void. Following this are affidavits signed by J. B. Wilbanks and A. B. Burgess, mill operatives, and J. F. Wilbanks, a farmer, who allege that they did not authorize the signing of their names to the petition, and that as taxpayers they will be damaged because the elec tion cost the county 8300. THE sUPERVIsoE's PArT. The next affidavit is that signed by G. :0. May, beer dispenser, and J. G. Howell, dispenser, who allege that they, with W. Boyd Evans, visited Su pervisor T. J. Betenbaugh on the nigh of August 11th, and that Beten baugh said in their presence that when the petitions were first present ed to him there were about 1,000 sig natures to said petitions, and that he took them and carefully examined them for several days, and of the 1, 000 signatures to said petitions he found only 274 qualified voters to said petitions, and that he refused to order the election and returned the peti tions to those who had presented them; that those interested took the peti tions and went over them, and said they had found 50 or 60 additional qualified voters, but that he did not investigate to see whether or not this was correct; that later the same peti tions were presented to him again, with less than 200 additIonal signa tures, that he took the petitions and ordered the special election to be held in Union county on the question of "dispensary" or "no dispensary" on the 15th day of August, 1905, without further investigating the said peti. tions to see whether they contained the one-forth of the Qualified voters, as required by law, or not. At the same time he ordered the special elec tion he did not know whether the pe titions contained the one- fourth of the qualified voters or not, and did not know them; but that he ordered the said election because those who presented the petitions said that they had the one-fourth of the qualified voters; that if he had known what he knew then, that it was not his busi ness to find out whether the petitions contained the one-fourth or not; that the supervisor of registration did not make an affdavit that the petition contained one-fourth of the qualified voters, neither did those who present ed the petition the last time make such an affdavit, that he only took their wcrd for it, that he has been over the books of the supervisor of registratir for Union county, and that he knows that there are at least 1,800 qualified voters in the county of Union; that he could not make an af fidavit at time he ordered the election or then that the petitions asking for an election contained one-fourth of the qualified voters of Union county; that he would make an affdavit to this effect next morning, August 12th, 1905, when ne came to his offce; that instead of making said affdavit niext morning, as above stated, he refused, stating that he preferred to go to his offce and write out a history of the whole matter, in the form of an aff davit. Instead of going to his own offce, he went to the offce of ,T. A. Sawyer, where he spent the whole morning, and about 2 o'clock that af ternou, August 12th, he sent a letter to W. Boyd Evans stating an entirely different thing than that stat ed the night before in the presence of them; that the said letter is affxed to the affdivit. The letter referred to has already: been published. In closing it he s~ys: "At the time I ordered the electika I was satisfied that the petition con tained one-fourth of the qualified voters of the county, and I am now so satisfied." Charged to Carelessness. The findings and opinion of the court of inquiry which investigated the fatal explosion on the gunboat Bennington has been-made public by Secretary Bonaparte. The court ex jg:esses the opinion that the explosion was caused by excessive steam pres sure in her boilers, resulting from closing the steam valve connecting with the guage. The court says that D. N. Holland, the fireman on duty closed the valve. The court finds En sign Charles D. Wade of the engine department of the ship at fault in tail ing to see that the steam and safety guage valves were closed at the proper time, having accepted the report of subordinates that this had been done in March. He was declared negligent in the performance of duty and that he should be brought before a court SLAVES OF DRUGS. Fearful Prevalence of the Habit in Probitution Districts. Not Being Able to Get Other Stimu lants Cocoaine, Morphine ana Other Drugs Are Used. The Washington correspondent of the Columbia Record says Albert Lie ber, one of the most prominent citi zens of Indianapolis, has been In Wash ington on his way to New York to meet his father, Peter Liebr, United States consul at Dusseldorf, Germany. Consul Lieber ard his wife are re turning to the United States after a long residence abroad, and will spend some time in this country visiting rel atives and friends. "I wa3 appalled at some facts given me in the Arlington hotel by a South ern man stopping there," said Mr. Lieber to The Record correspondent, "and the statements are such that they should receive the earnest atten tion of the best thirking people of the United States The gentleman said that he had been informed that physicians in many portions of the South, especially where prohibition is in force, had found that the cocaine habit was making slaves of the negro race. They were prevented from sat isfying their appetites with beverages of some kind that would stimulate and they bad turned to cocaine, which was being consumed in immense quan tities, generally being put in cider or some other drink. Pnysicians had told the gentleman who had informed me that the long continuance of the habit would prove more destructive to the negro race than anything on the face of the earth, inasmuch as It not only wrecked them physically, mak them despise work, but would kill them off quickly. In the Washington Post of July 31st was an interview with Mr. E. J. Bowen, of Little Rock, Ark., who gave utterance to precisely similar views. He said that where co caine could not be obtained lemon ex tract was being used in prohibition communities. He said he knew a man who used to drink it incessantly until it killed him. There is often a brisk trade in perfumes, red Ink and nearly anything that could be used as a sub stitute for stimulating drinks. "I know of my own accord," went on Mr. Lieber, "that in many prohibi tion counties in the country men and women have begun the use of opium and drugs that will satisfy the craving for stimulants of some kind. It seems to me that this Is a fearful argument against sone of the existing forms of prohibition. Now, I believe in tem perance myself, but I do not know anything more foolish than to deprive people of stimulating beverages of some kind. Personally I would not object to rigid prohibition against whiskey in any community, but I be lieve all sensible people will admit that beer and the lighter drinks should not be shut out of any comma nity. Let us take the very communi ties where good authority says the people of a race are largely turning to cocaine and other drugs, and the probability is the same state of affairs exist all over the Siuth and in other portions of the country. Suppose the prchibition laws should admit beer and the drinks that do not produce drunkenness unless used to the gross est excess? These negroes would not desire the awful drugs that they now use. The small percentage of alcohol in beer would satisfy their appetites, and they would be happy. Human nature demands something that stimulates, and the least harmful of all drinks Is beer. "If the prohibitionists would deal with human nature as it Is and recog nize the demand for something stimu lating they would insist upon the ex elusion of the ardent spirits and ad mit beers, wines, etc. Prohibition now results in the surreptitious sale of whiskey where possible and tihe shutting out of wines, beers, ect., be eause they can only be handled in bulk. The effect is disastrous. Men and women, especially the ignorant ones, turn to opium, cacaine, nicotine, ginger ale, with t wice as much alcho Liol as beer; patent medicines, con: taining 40 to 50 per cent. of alcohol, and some of-the s-ida fountain drinks that are bad as opium." Adr-ift ror Forty kHonrs. Miss Zelda Stewart and her fiance, John Chartres, were found in an open boat forty miles out fromu Chicago In Lake Michigan late Thursday after noon. They were almost famished. They had been without food for forty hours. Water they secured from the lake by scooping It up In their hands. The couple left in a row boat from the foot of Montrose boulevard at 10 o'clock Sunday night for a boat ride on the lake. When found both were unconscious in the boat, and at first believed the long strain and suffering had brought death. When Miss Stew art and her fiance were taken on a launch both were soon revived. Up to a late hour Thursd3ay night neither had revived sufflciently to give any of the details of their mishap. The Home Merchants. "Who is the home merchant?" Asks an exchange. He is a man who helps pay for the streets on which you walk; he helps to keep up the church; In which you and yours worship; every subscription paper that is passed has his name upon It; he is the only one who cannot afford to swindle you, self Interest If nothing else, would prevent this; he bears his share of the burden of good government and stays with you in sunshine and darkness. Paste these facts In your hat, and then stop and consider whenever you are tempt ed to send away for anything kept in your own town. Earthquake Shocks. A dispatch from Chicago says Illi nois was shaken by an earthquake Tuesday night of last week. The shocks in the southern part of the State, especially in the region sur rounding East St. Louis, were severe enough to rattle dishes and furniture, cause dogs to bark and children to awaken and cry. Houses creaked and In many instancas their occupants rushed out In terror, fearing that the straining beams and joists would give wiy. St. Louis reports three distinct hocks HOW HE STANDS. Senator Manning Gives HisViews on the Dispensary. WANTS LAW AMENDED The Senator, Who May Become a Can didate for Governor, Does Not Ac cept System as It Is at Present. Opposes Prohibition as It Won't Be Enforced. The following letter from Senator Richard I. Manning, of Sumter, who may become a candidate for governor will be read with interest.: SUMTER, S. C., August 23.-A number of articles have appeared in the newspapers calling on those who are spoken of as probable candidates for guver in the Democratic primary next year to express themselves on the question which Is now agitating the public mind, namely, the liquor question. As one of those referred to, I desire to say that I have no hesitation in stating myposition on this question. In doing so I have no desire to precip itate the campaign at this time for although I have frequently been men tiened as a candidate for governor, I have not, up to this time, positively decided to be a candidate, and in now statimg my position on the ligqior ques tion I do not commit myself to enter the race. I do so now merely to pre vent the idea being formed in the public mind that I am awaiting to see which way the tide turns before stating my attitude thereto. In my opinion, a grave condition confronts our people, and its practical and wise solution should be of para mount importance to the political as pirations of any man or set of men. L-respective of any candidacy, I feel that it is the duty of every citizen who realizes the responsibilities of citizensbip to do his part in bringing about the wisest and best solution of the liquor question, to put aside prej udice, to put aside politics and every consideration save the earnest desire to bring about that condition which will promote temperance and straight forward, honest conduct and morality, and will minimize the evils of liquor. It is inevitable that differences of opinion will exist as to the way to ac complish this desirable end even among those earnestly and honest ly striving after the same object. I respect the position of the prohibi tionist who believes that prohibition can be effective in South Carolina. I admit that there has been a growing tendency to curtail drink, and the time may come when the tone of our people will be educated up to such a degree of self-discipline, self-restraint and respect for law that a prohibitory law against the use or sale of liquor may be observed, but in my judgment that time has not yet come in South Carolina. But the time has come wheh the people .of this State will no longer submit to a continuance of the mal administration of the dispensary law -this condition has become intolera ble. The dispensary must be purged, and every act of administration con trary to its purpose of restricting the sale of liquor must be corrected, the officers or employe responsible there f or punished, and every act of wrong doing wiped out. The issue In South. Carolina Is dis penary or prohibition; this does not mean that the issue must be "dispen sary-as-It-is" or "prohibition." bnt "'dispensary amended and honestly ad ministered" or "prohibition." A bill will be Introduced at the com ing session of the legislature which will, if adopted, so change the dis penary law that it will.be distinctly a law to restrict and curtail the use of liqaor-will make the prohibitive fea tures prominent and imperative, per mit the sale of liquor only under con ditions that will reduce the evils to the minimum, and suburdinate the profit feature of the law. This bill will also make the salaries of dispen sers and employes absolutely indepen dent of the amon~at of sales, will throw every possible safeguard around the purchase of liqauor to 'prevent bri bery and corruption, and will endeavor to correct such defects and eliminate such abuses as the work of the Inves tigating committee may reveal, and make such other changes as may be deemed best. I believe that such a law can and will be a great step toward reduc ing the evils of liquor; that it can be made effective and that it w1il not I -trfere with other functions of gov ernent. With such a law, the issue would be "dispensary law so amended," or "prohibition." On this issue, I would stand for the dispensary law so amended; but I do not stand for the aispensary law as it is. R~ICHAD L. MENNhING. Wants to Relp. Governor Heyward has received a letter from W. H. Moms, of San.Tose, Cal., suggesting that he would like to aid in building a home for Confeder ate soldiers in some state of the South. He says he was a "Yankee" soldier, but he is willing to help out and thinks he could secure several thous ands of dollars from NoTrthern states for the purpose. Mr. Norment, in the absence of Gov. Heyward, will re fer the letter to Gen. Carwile. Wantse to FiIght The New York Tribune says Veno zuela has placed orders In Europe for torpedo boats, guns and ammunition at the cost of about 82.500,000, a lar ger amount than that little South American republic has ever expended at one tIme for war material. An American, who has just returned from Venezuela, says that President Cas tro recently declared that he was go ing to fight the Yankee, which ex p~i aI a ei unusually large order for snips. arms and ammunition.