Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-04-08
'THE DISPBNSARY law.
HOW TEE SOUTH CAROLINA LIQUOR Law
CANE TO Be ENACTED.
Blind Tiger, Abount, Blockai. Wagons Sell Con-
Eaband Liquor All Over the STATE and the
Iillnan SpiH Search Private Houses for
Liquor = Something Of the Bitter Feeling
Among the People against the Law.

SPssiaI Correspondence or ne Sunday EScisse-
CHARLESTON, S. c., April 6.-The
State of South Carolina was redeemed
from Radical aud Carpet-bag rule In
1876 under General Wade Hampton.
From that date to 1890 only two parties
have existed-tbs whites, in the main
Democrats, and the colorsds who are
Republicans for the most part. About
1856 there were signs Of dissatisfaction
on the part of some Of the whites, who
were tired Of the affairs Of the State be-
ing In the hands OF the wel-,o-do and
intelligent class OF cltizens-aristocrats
they called them.
This eliminated In the success OF the
Farmers Movement party in 1890 when
Benjamin +. Tillman was elected Gov
ernor. The farmers carried all OF the
elections that year and controlled the
Legislature.
When the election OF 1892 was APP
preaching the Prohibitionists OF the
State proposed to take part in the
campaign by nominating a candidate for
Governor. Tillman saw at once that he
must have
HAND IN THIS MOVEMENT,
so proposed to some OF the Prohibition
lists that popular vote be taken
throughout the State for prohibition.
This was done, aud carried the day by
large majority. The understanding
was that II this was the case, the Legis-
lature would pass bill TO this effect.
When the Legislature next met a
voluminous Till was prepared, but when
ii reached the Senate the Dispensary
law, by which the State gained COM
plete control OF tho liquor traffic, was
adopted instead and went into effect the
LIST OF July, 1891. The cardinal points
of this law are very rigid. No club can
keep liquor or distribute II, no physi-
clan can prescribe liquor TO be bought
and druggists can use u in no medicines
that can be taken as beverages. No
railroad or express company can land
liquor in the State, and no man Is al
lowed to convey IL by wagon or boat IN
order to sell it or give IL away.
There has been from the start
GREAT OPPOSITION TO THIS LAW
and IL grows more violent daily. First
OF all the prohibitioniSts object 10 1t be-
cause, instead OF getting prohbitory
law as they expected, when the Gov
ernor signed the bill they found the
scheme to be a pure and simple money
making speculation. The better class
OF men, both from the towns and coun-
try, object TO IL because, when they
want TO take drink they wish to 90
into a well-ftted bar, take a we'll
mixed drink over counter
and be done with 10. They DO not care
to go into a dlspensary, buy ilasklor a
jug and step into some alley or dark
corner and take drink. The ten cent
drinkers dislike it because II lets them
out altogether
The greatest opposition, however,
arises from the manner of carrying out
the law. Governor Tillmam has spies
all over the State TO See that his pet
scheme is enforced. These men are
usually hirelings, who will do any dirty
Job for 81 per day, and are exceedingly
tough In appearance. They are upheld
by him in every action, and II they yio-
late any law, make
ANY UNwARRANTED ATTACK
upon anybody and are tried and found
guilty, they are always sure OF pardon
and always get II. They have killed
,pv nu,n har ~ mon sfpca thu lay- want
into effect, and are taught that this is
right The Governor sends them secret
orders aud their work Is very like that
OF detectives.
When bsr-rooms we're in operation II
was an exceedingly rare thing 20 hear
of blind tiger In town. Occasionally
one would hear OF blockade wagon go
ing through the country. The dispen-
ssry law has filed the towns with blind
tigers. To begin with, the revenue
from this business Is enormous and 10
end with IL is human nature. Blockade
wagons TEEN throughout the country
and do thriving business.
The only class that the law has bene-
fitted in any way Is the very poor people.
II has reduced tho drinking In their
ranks somewhat for tbs prices Of all
State liquors are so high that they can
not afford TO drink so have TO do with
out.
THE sADDEsT OUTCOME
OF the whole scheme Is that II has
taught the people OF proud old South
Carolina TO be dissemblers. The courts
nj iuatfca hava heeoma go derraded that