The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-12-05

TeOfSdlllZdIlOll dllu rcStofdtlou VI oiAo
company as punishment enough for
its refusal to go to Darlington; but
the second act of mutiny and insult to
the State and its Executivei is too much
To be possessors of old historic names
is a grand heritage. To assist in
maintaining an organization with
such proud memories and so glorious
history is worthy ambition. 1t is
pity to destroy what is so old, so
linked with the States glorious past;
but an example should be made. These
NEIL have been false to every obliga-
ton of duty; have disobeyed the order
of the COMMANDMENTS Chief; have in
suited the Governor; and, wrapped in
the cloud of their self-idoaltry, they
depend on social, political and Judicial
influences to save them from deserved
disgrace and punishment. The General
Assembly alone can deal with them,
and can do it in spite of Judge Golf.
ENFORCEMENT OF THE DISPENsARY LAW.
Governor Tillman next reviews the
course of things under the Dispensary
Law from the time when it Was de-
clared by the Supreme Court to be un-
constitutional till the reopening of the
dispensaries: He says:
But while I obeyed what l thought
was the law under the decision of the
Court, I resolved to thwart the Court
if could, and every effort was put
forth to prevent the Act of 1893 from
coming before the Court as it was then
constituted. In the meantime we had
a whiskey deluge. During the period
from July 1st, 1893, when the dispen-
sary law went into effect, to April 21st,
1894, when it was suspended, two hun
dred and seventy-seven United States
retail licenses were issued. In the time
the dispensaries were closed, April 81
to August 1st, 1,474 were issued. All
the old dealers-those who had left
the State and those who remained
laid in stocks. Men who had never
sold liquor went into the business, and
at every town, hamlet and crossroads
almost, whiskey could be bought,
with no effort at concealment.
Prohibition had come. By judicial
enactment, it is true, but nevertheless
prohibition. But the prohibitionist
who had fought the dispensary and
refused to touch the unclean thing,
looked on in silent amazement and dis
gust. He had worked for prohibition,
had prayed for prohibition, and now
that the dream had come to a realIza-
ton, not an angel Of light met his
gaze, but an abortion, ajubilant de-
mon, whojeered and laughed as he
polished his bar glasses and cried
''What are YOU going to do aboutit?"
Like Fear, in Collins Ode,
HE back recolled, he knew not why,
Even at the sound himself had made.
and felt that the
"Reign ofchaos and Old Night"
had come,
1t is safe to say that of the men who
voted for Prohibition in 1892 not one
thousand remain who believe that pro-
hibition is practicable.
The stock of liquors on hand at the
State dispensary, with other necessary
supplies, was valued at$99, 1.26, and
the amount held at the several dispen-
saries was 500, ,932.72 while the debts
due by the State G. Commissioner,amount
ed to $S4, 52S.93. These liquors were
being held at a heavy expense for
rent, salaries, insurance, ETC., while
the State was flooded with liquor sold
contrary to law. The act of 1893 had
been ignored by the court in two
cases, and change in the court made
me feel it to be my duty to revive the
act of 1893 and test the question of its
constitutionality once for all. So July
ed I issued a proclamation ordering
the dispensaries to be reopened Au-
gust 1st, and warning all public car
riers and illicit dealers to obey the
law. The constabulary had been dis
missed April 21st. The force was re-
organized about the middle of August
and putt work, being gradually in
creased and instructed to close down
on the liquorsellers by degrees. Every
facility was offered those so desiring
| to get rid of their liquors and ship them
out of the State.
At this time I have sixty-five men
employed as constables and detectives,
and the expense has been very heavy.
But it was to be expected that both
time and work would be required to
regain the lost ground, ,.and reach even
the position occupied 21st April, when
the illicit traffic had almost ceased in
three-fourths of the counties. That
the constables have been active, and
that most of them have been well
chosen, is shown by the results of their
work. The contraband liquors seized
and confscated are valued by the Com
missioner at $11, ,451, and good deal
of other property is in the hands Of the
Courts awaiting the results of the trials
under Section 22, for maintaining
nuisances,
"The Governor next reviews the
different cased arising, in the courts,
out of the Dispensary stating
these as they have already appeared in
the public prints He recommends.
1. That some means be devised to
control distilling, without the embar'
rassment of any seeming conflict with
the Federal governor.
2. That an additional bookkeeper
be employed, who shall also be secre-
tary of the State Board of Control.
3. That Clemson College be incorp'
grated, for purposes of police control :
such control extending the boundaries
through radius of five miles-this
to control the liquor traffic at Pendle'
ton and other adjacent points.
f. That a system of metropolitan
police be provided for Charleston, and
for other cities. as conditions may
seem to demand.
! That the Governor Should have