The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-01-31
Dispensary or Saloon.
Associate Reform Presbyterian.

| AS matters stand In this State at presen
| the issue Is not Prohibition or the Saloon
but the Dispensary or the Saloon. We are tc
make our choice between these two. To oui
MUD 1t Is not q desirable alternative, but ii
| iS the alternative nevertheless. AS between
these two we have made our choice. 80 far as
| the present law has been tested, In favor o
the Dspensary. Just now there is so much
politics in the experiment that full and fair
test can scarcely be hoped for. Whatever
posi- ton is taken, whether pro or con, Is re-
not as an expression of Impartial judgment
We prefer, therefore, TO give the opinion ol
IN outsider, who can not be suspected OF any
feeling as between the factions In this st ate.
1t Is the view OF one who has always stood
for Prohibition, not an extreme Prohibition-
list. who says, Prohibition or nothing, but
OF one who IL ready to accept any practicable
measure for the restriction, as we'll as the
suppression of the liquor traffic. We give
below an edl ltorial from the last issue OF the
United Presby terian:
The law has been in operation six months,
and there has been much interest to see the
result. From the outset 1t has encountered bit.
ter opposition from the the greater part OF
the city secular press. but has had the sup
port of the country papers and, app arantly,
cities where the saloon interests are very
great and the inf1uenence OF the liquor deal
ers very strong, there has been open resistance
Ing TO cooperate with the State in enforcing
the statute. Politicians have made partisan
issue, and the dispensary has been held up as
u restriction OF the rights OF the citizen, as
unequal and unjust, rs a burden to the tax
payers, and premium on Illicit selling,
The governors Message WAS therefore walt
ed for with special interest. We are glad TO
see that so far the system has proved Itself
much better than anything that preceded 1t
In that State, Six months Is a very short
time in which to get the law In operation
and gain results that may indicate its work
ing. All the more gratifying are the stnte-
ments OF the governor. AS TO financial re-
suits, he reports net profit Of SS2, 600 In four
months. This is one of the weak points OF
the law; the temptation 10 make II a source
OF revenue to the State. AS TO moral results,
reports have been received from twenty-five
towns, including the larger ones, and as com.
pared with last year there has been q decrease
OF arrests for drunkenness from sos to 4l9, or
over forty five per cent. In the first three
months.
Among the grounds on which the governor
supports he system are the following: AS
the agents salery Is fixed, there Is no temp
tation TO increase the sales. The liquor Is
opened on the ground, and thus the peculiar
saloon" element Is eliminated from the case.
There IL no hanging around the premises, no
open bar, and no treating, nor anything In
which one becomes the tempter Of another.
AS the sales are restricted to the daytime,
all that comes under the cover OF darkness
Is taken away. The dlspensary is not place
for evening lOaflng after men quit work. AS
the State furnish the stock, the whisky
power back of the saloon. the distilleries and
oreweries have their trade broken up. AS
the agents are appointed by the State, the
whiskey ring has no politics.