The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-10-17
WILL ENFORCE THE LAW.
Tlasl Wa: the Mayo. OF Florsnce Says
He Will Do
"Florelca. 5. c.. .Oct. 10 ISG4.

"Ftorelce, 5. c., Oct. 10, 1884.
His Ex;-ilelcy, B. R. TliIm4a. GOV
ernoc AMI Chairman OF the State
B)ard of Control, C1lumbil, 5. 9.
"Hoaored Sir: | notice through the
papers tla; the Ac; Of 1893, knowD as
the Dtspersary ACT, has been declared
good and Valid By tha Supreme Court
of this State. You no dou)t remembar
that jIst previous tc the rendition of
the decision in Mccullough IS. Bro vn,
in which the Ac, of 1892 was declared
unconstitutional, l called at your Office
In obeijeuce to summons from you
and, while there, the situation in Flor
ence WAS discussed relative to the prof
its which, under the Law, should be
turned over to this city. l endeayored
then tostate to you fully nv action rel
ative to The enforcement Of the law at
this place, to wit: That We had always
furnished the constables with all the
aid desired by them for their protection
and assistance in The performance Of
their duties here; aad that the County
Board of Control, who had Kept sharp
watch over my conduct, had stated ID
you by letter that We should receiyo our
profits as they had made thorough 10
vestlgation of the matter and were sat
isied that the city authorities had done
what they could to suppress the Illicit
traffic OF liquors in this city. You no
doubt remember stating TO me on Ghst
occasion that you would order our
profits turned over to US aud desired
our cooperation in the enforcement of
the law. The next day the above de-
cision was filed and since then every
thing has been taking its own course
here ald elsewhere, anI nothing fur
ther has passed between US conc srning
the profits and the enforcement Of the
Law. Since this law has now received
the sanction of the highest court in the
State it will be necessary for all citizens
to bow to it. To enforce It will be a
difficult task to these who have 1t In
charge and 1t will take no doubt the
combined efforts CT the State, county
and city authorities 70 give the law the
effect aimed at, to wit: Abs 0lutely con-
fning the sale of whtskey to the Dis.
pensaIies, but with the cooperation OF
these it occurs to me that it might be
enforced without friction and without
much expense. My reason for saying
this Is as follows: Numbers OF the
best people 10 this city are in sympathy
with the law aud will assistIn its en-
forcement il properly treated and will
aid in the conviction OF the parties VINO
violate it. an quite satisfied that If
the State Board of Control will turn
over to US the profits now due US, which
we are Justly entitled TO, AID We get
our portion of the profits hereafter
made, the Illicit traffic in whiskey in
the city Of Florence can be suppressed
with the aid Of one State Constable.
The reason is that when our best citl-
zens lind that they will be benefited and
their taxes lesseDed by the proh;s de.
rived from this source thsy will neatt-
lily joiI in with the city authorities and
sae that this law is properly carried
out and by that meaos we will all be
benefited l would like to hear from
you as to whether YOU do not think
that the viz VS. herein expressed reason
able and whether the req lest N de not
Just and proper. Your kind attention
sill be greatly appreciated by
your Obedient seIv.nt.
az. W. HURsEY, Mayor
The council of Florence backed
Mayor Hursey in his letter by passing
the folio wing ordinaac!:
"Florence, S. c.. Oct. 10, 1894.
"Be it resolved by the Mayor and
Aldermen of the city of Fiorenca in
council assembled, and by the authori-
ty of the same:
First. That the letter written by
Hon. W. w. Hur5ey, Mayor, dated
October 10, 1894. and addressed to MS
Excellency. 3. r. Tillman, Governor
and Chairman OF the State Board of
Control, be adopted IS the action Of this
council.
Second. That copy of this resolu.
tion accompany the letter to the Cover
nor. "E. II. LUCAS,
"Clerk of City Council.'
THE GOVERNORS ANSWER.
Governor Tillman yesterday sent the
following answer to Mayor Hurssv:
columbia, S. c., Oct. II, 1894.
"Hon. w. ". Hursey, Florence, S. G.
Dear Sir: Your letter Of October
10, enclosing copy Of the resolutions
passed by your city council received.
After consultation with the Attorney
General who is member of the State
Board of Control, desire to say that
it is the purpose of the State Board to
encourage in every way possible the en-
forcemant of the Dlspensary law by the
municipal authorities of the different
cities and towns in the State.
"We would be glad to dispense with
the use of constaoles entirely If posi-
BILE. In reference to the profits which
would have been due 10 the city OF
Florence had the law been enforced
there to our satisfaction, and which
you ask to have paid to you now, we
cannot agree that 1t is either just or
proper, because the State, solely by
reason Of the neglect of duty on the part
of the police, suffered a heavy loss by
the looting Of the DIspensary at Flor
ence last April. But We are willing to
let bygones be bygones and If the city
authorities will act in good faith IN the
future, the share of the profits to which
you are entitled under the law will be
cheerfully paid you. We do not want
it, and would never have ordered 1t
withheld last spring had We not felt
that The police of your city we're dere.
licV. l must presume that your ofsr
was made In good faith and hope there
will be no cause of complaint on either
side in the future. One Of the best
consta5les on the force is now In Flor
ence, and if you will co operate with
him there Is no donbt that the Illicit
sale of whiskey can be stopped, and the
morals and good ordar of your town
improved. | an, VERY respectfully,
"B. r TILLMAN,
"GoYernor."
A DIsaster.