The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-06-14

heretofore consumed by South Oarolln'
ians in three hundred and sixty FIVE days
and nights.
The present Legislature of this State
although of a decided rustic caste, knows
good thing by sight as we'll as by TASTE
South Carolina in days past has pro-
mulgated many unique things, hatched
vague theories and gone mad after dismal
phantoms, but it remained for an Alli-
ance Legislature Of to-day to place upon
the statute books what is known as the
dispensary law, which. aside from the
miserable and mandatory feature of con-
6scating more than sS,OOo,OO0-the
entire belongings of the retail whiskey
aellers-and anuihilating a hitherto legit'
innate private business, if a success, will
prove bonanza to once proud but now
pauperized State.
Necessity is the mother of all great
measures, and there is bit of romance
connected with the enactment of the
dispensary system by the Palmetto State
It was purely an accident, for which 9
woman is responsible.
Last summer prohibition ~ave swept
over this Stste, and in the Democratic
primary polled 8 majority of about 10000.
The line, however, was not sharply
drawn, as the main issue of the campaign
was "Tillman and Anti-Tillman." The
State Democratic committee, which III
controlled by the Tillman faction, fearing;
a clash with the Prohibitionists, passed 81
resolution permitting the white ribbon
element to have a box at all the election
precincts in which ballots we're to b.
cast, so that the popular sentiment on ths
prohibition question might be ascertain
ed. The whiskey men made no organized
6ght-in fact, nc, fight at all further than
to poll an Indifferent vote-while tho
prohibition men and women, preachers
and lecturers, made an active canvass,
even visiting school houses and discuss
ing it from the pulpit. The result of the
election was, as has already been stated,
an overwhelming victory for the Prohi-
bitionists. Emboldened by their partial
success in obtaining majority of the
voting population Of the State, the prohd.
bition leaders introduced at the last sit-
ting of the General Assembly prohibi-
ton bill.
1t was during the debate on this
proposed measure, which lasted for
several days and nights, and was at times
stormy and personal, that the woman,
ever ubiquitous woman, appeared on the
scene. The galleries were crowded with
friends and foes of the bill under consii.
GRAFTON. Governor Tillmau, who is
avowedly opposed to prohibition, but did
not wish to assume the responsibility Of
defeating the bill by his veto, had sent a
message to both bodies telling them that
be would sign any measure which they
in their wise judgment might pass. The
Prohibitionists loudly cheered this new
development, and it looked for q time as
if South Carolina was doomed to prohihi.
Ftion-in name at least. During this
excitement Governor Tillman was seated
in the gallery of the honse in company
with number of ladies, and among the
number was g bright Georgia woman
from the classic city of Athens. While
everything was in confusion in the hall
below and accusations and rejoindep
we're being hurled across the aisle, she
turned to Governor Tillman and told
him of the Law then in force in Athens,
known as the dispensary system. That
settled it, Governor Tillman Immediately
left the gallery, and going to the excel
tive Office dispatched his messenger for
his leaders in the House and Sena:e.
Within five hours the caucus had assem-
bled, and the present law was framed
and introduced in the Senate as a substi'
tute for the Prohibition bill. 1t passed
both Houses and was approved by the
Governor within remarkably short
space of time.
Thus the General Assembly rose to The
occasion and met condition with a
theory-iustead OF a prohibition trey
enacted a law which is claimed by its
opponents TO be socialistic and in direct
contradiction to the Alliance war cry,
Equal rights to ALL"
The building to be used for the State
dispensary is the old Agricultural Hall,
which is the property of the State. Il is
three stories high, more than 200 feet
long, and about eighty feet wide. A
macadam wine cellar runs the whole
length.
A twenty horse power engine will run
the corking, bottling and washing ma
chimes, and pretty women, instead OF
men, will see that the work is neatly
done. The stock with which South
Carolina will Open up her great bar room
will consist of SIG 900 corks, $4,000 gal
Ions of whiskey, halfs million bottles,
several thousand gallons of wine, hun
dredu of kegs and jugs, and thousands OF
crates to be used for shipping
Mr. D. 81. Traxler, the commissioner,
is thorough business man, and up to the
time of his appointment was successful
merchant. He is a member of the Bap-
tist Church, and his wife is q prominent
official in the Woman's Christian Tem-
persuce Uuion of this State. No one
doubts that Mr.. Traxler's administration
of the Office will be honest and economi-
cal. II there is a man in South Carolina
who is capable of making q SUCCESS OF
the law it is the present commissioners.
Although the Legislature only appro'
priated $4,000, sum hardly sufficient
II L 1~.o