The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1893-11-07
lv~estigation and 90 successfully de-

Tended.
Then again, the question naturally
arises, why should the State adopt
this indirect system Of taxation and
what excuse or necessity is there for
it? Why not sell the liquor at cost
with expenses added and leave the
money In the hands Of the people, to
be paid out I'm taxes, 1t may be, but
under a more uniform system. This
would accomplish the same purpose,
for money saved Is money made" as
poor Richard said. Everything con-
sidered, it seems to me that 1t would
be best to eliminate the profit feature
and sell the liquor for cost, with only
30 much added as may be necessary to
pay the expenses OF bringing, keeping
and selling 1t, or to maintain the dis
pensaries on an economical footing.
Besides meeting the objections to
the law, as indicated above, there 10
also, 1t seems to me, certain advan-
tages to be gained by such a course, all
of which L recapitulate, without much
discussion, as they are mostly self
LIST. To eliminate the profit feature
would be to eliminate also the consti-
t%utional question now before the courts
as to the State making a monopoly
for profit OF the liquor traffic, because
no one questions its right to control
the traffic asa prohibition or police
measure.
End. It will relieve not only the
State OF tho charge of monopolizing
the trade for her own benefit, but also
the various dispensers Of being engaged
in q business not countenanced by the
church or society In general.
Sd. Under proper management it
would furnish the best and purest
liquors for the lowest price, and in
this way save :" the profits " to the peo-
pie.
4th. 1t would eliminate the "blind
tigers" as the State buying at whole,
sale could make it Improbable, as we'll
as unsafe to break the law.
9TH. 1t would make the e%mploymon.
of q large c~onstabulary to watch the
" blind tigers" and other people UNI
necessary, as there would be but little
inducement to break the law, for good,
pure liquors could be bought moro
cheaply from the State than elsewhere.
9th. 1t would be a fair test of both
the prohibition and ~dispensary laws.
18th. With proper regulations and
would satisfy the prohibitionists and
eliminate the liquor question, for the
present, from politics.
9Th. 1t would avoid the inducement
or necessity to override the local OPP
ton law, and forcing ~dispensaries on
unwilling communities in order to
make the law a success financially, and
it is probable that it would then be ac-
copied without objection.
9th. 1t would then become really
and truly a reform measure in every
ense.
Writing from the standpoint of a
reformer, az l have heretofore said, l
consider the reform movement as al
ready a success so far as all of its
original and essential planks or fea-
lures are concerned, and if we are now
to become responsible for the dispen-
sary, as we must be, because it was
passed by a reform Legislature, let us
make it meet the demands of both the
reformers and prohibitionists and give
it q fair trial on it's merits and not for
the purpose of making money.
There are but two questions that are
likely to cause much agitation or bit
terness in State politics in the APP
preaching campaign. One is the pro-
hibition or d~ispensary question and the
other is the constitutional convention.
The first can be eliminated by e'im'nat-
ing the profit feature, then l hope and
believe our people will unite together
and send wise and safe mon to a con
v~ention which will give us a constitu-
tion in accord with the demands of our
people and with which we can all be
satisfied. Being thus free from all
Unnecessary agitation and bitterness
in State politics We could then turn
our attention to national affairs, and
largely help to secure that relief in
financial affairs which the great ma
jority of our people demand. If we
pursue q wise and prudent course, it
is more than probable that we will
have plan sailing in State politics
next year, and our whole energies and
attention can then be turned not only
to the progress of the State, but to the
securing of financial and tariff relief
from the only source from which it can
can come-the national government.
l am, very respectfully,
Fl. l.. FARLEY.