The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1893-06-30
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Reported for the TINES.

g:a. G. 2. Ee-..sz On the Dispsusary.
The following is verbatim report of an
interview held with ex-Representative G. b.
Fowler: upon the working of the Dispensary
law as it now stands: s4.s''
Question-That do you think Of the Dis.
pensary bill? d.
Answer-Weil that is a great deal asked
in one!question. But upon the whole will
say that am in favor of the bill--mainiy,
because hope that in the end il will bring
about a strictly prohibition law.
Ques.-What do you think of the provis-
ions, aud the general bearing Of the bill, as
it stands nowS
Ans.-I prefer it to the old way of dealing
out whiskey; because the profits arising
from the sales go 10 the State, (or onc-h,lf If
it will, and, therefore, help the tax payer,
to some extent. OF course, mean they will
get part of their money back, and hope we.
will have less drunkenness.
But there are mauy and serious objections
to the bill dislike to see any disfranchis-
ing tendencies in the bill which the Leps,a-
ture can and should remedy.
In the first place, the Incorporated cities
and towns have no just right to half the
profits. 1t should 60 to the people, because
the people work for and make it, and the
people OF the cities and towns are only enti-
tied to an equal chance in the race of life,
anu not 10 any special favorS. -
Again, every officer created uuder the Dis
pensary act -is appointed -hel;.-.3--R Rsr~s
should be left to the people of the several
asepBpt9iss Ba tAs saSs e ssa. sas sggSss ssass
1t can be used in the interest of those who
are in office at the time of election. The
appointee is above the people and only res.
fonsib!e to the appointing power, and, to a
great extent, the voice of the people is ST.
fenced.
The bill itself is proof that when the
rights of The people are delegated to one, two
or few people at most, their voice is not
needed, strictly. Had the voice Of the peo-
pie, as expressed by their ballots at the last
election, been needed, we would have had
prohibition instead of the dispeasary law.
SO, think the Legislature event back on
the peop'e' when 1t refused to give them
prohibition. 1t was the white people who
asked for prohibition but instead thereof
they gave them q scorpeon, in the way of
the Dispensary act.
Ques.-Do ysu think il i, open, TO or af.
.fords q chanca for faud?
Ans.-Weli, of course, 1 don't think it will
be handed dishonesty at all but you know
the people would not be as safe il the treasur-
er had the power TO appoint the auditor over
the people rs they are when the auditor is
put in or displaced by The peopie-one
checks the other; and l am in favor of let
ting the people elect every ofIicer in the
government, from the road overserr to the
President of the United States. That is one
of the brightest planks in the platform of The
Reformers.
Ques.-Do You think tha' If tho officers
under the Dispensary law were eloctel that
the colored voters would control
Ans.-No. That is ON old fighting rem-
edy, TO whip the white voters iuto line. II
they could elect their Dispens,ry officers
they could eltct their own Legislature. But
they cannot. aud don't interfere with the
elections. The white primary settles that.
Briefly, the injustice Of the step that ten Is
TO take from the people the only means OF
government control. either State or National,
the ballot, is plain TO be seou, viii mortify
the pride Of al those who believe in equsl
rights They cannot willingly suppprt such
- 'agovernment or defend its fiag. Therefore.
the people should be consulted AMI dsciIe
by their ballots who should fill the Offices Of
our country. think the founders OF our
government intended that the States should
have the right TO msnage their own affairs,
10 a great extent, and contend that the
constitution Of the United States shouid bo
so amended that no State can take the ballot
from any Of her citizens, unless it be for
crime. ills.