The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-08-01
DfspensarIes to Reopen.

COLUMBIA, July 22.-The whole city is
agog to-day. And it is very appropriate
to use tho word agog, for the sensatlon OF
ouiet midsummer Sabbath, Is the an
I1ouncement on the newspaper bulletin
boards that Governor Tillman during the
morning stated positively that on to-mor
row morning he would issue bis official
nroolama alton as the Chief Executive OF
the State, charged with the administration
of the laws of the State, announcing that
the dlspensaries would all be opened on
August /; that on that date the operation
of The 1903 law, which he holds is consti-
tutiopal, will be resumed; and that he
Intends, after giving the liquor dealers
now in business few days to dispose OF
their stock, to enforce the law more rigid
ly than has ever been attempted before.
All doubt as to the Governors inten-
tions az expressed in his recent speeches
ia now removed. There can be no further
doubt. The Governor speech yesterday
at Holly's Ferry, in which he made the
assertion that the dispensaries would be
re-opened on August /, and gave his rea-
Sons for suspending the operation OF tne
law in the last few months, was taken
this morning to be pretty conclusive. l.,
however,. to make absolutely certain 6I
the Governors intentions, called upon
him at the Executive Mansion this morn,
ing and asked him directly for an Official
statement with regard to the matter. he
said it was of no use to make such
statement to-day. Then he told me that
Tomorrow be would issue his official
nroclamation re-opening the dispensaries
on August l, and saying to the people all
he cared to say. ~.
The strange part about 1t all is that
none of Governor Tillman's right-hand
lieutenants have seemed to know any
thing about it. Ihave closely questioned
all Of them in the last few days and nave
obtained direct statements from every one
of them that they knew nothing about IT.
r. therefore appears that Governor Till
man has taken the whole matter into his
own hands and has acted without consul
tation with his leaders. There can now
he no longer doubt that he Is going to
trust the fate of the dispensary to Asso-
ciate Justice Gary's hands as soon as ne
dons the ermine. It is. hard position 10
place person In.
The fact remains, too, that Governor
Tillman, after saying he thought the dls-
pensary decision meant prohloltlon,
changed his opinion and arrived at the
belief that the 1893 law had not been han
died by the Court. He says that sucn Is
the case. Consequently the Governor has
assumed the authority of snspendIng the
law for several months, and were condl-
tions different he would he impeaohed,
no doubt. But this the Governor &C.
knowledges, and says he assumed the
responsibility of so doing in order to
prevent the 1893 law from getting into the
hands of an adverse Court. The Cover
nor is beyond doubt law unto himself.
It cannot but be said, too, that the State
Supreme Court is partially to blame for
the situation, and for what trouble the
future may hold in not saying In plain
everyday English what 1t decided.
Now as to the object of the Governors
action in re-opening the liquor question
no one seems to know anything. From
all appearances what has been SAID IN
this correspondence in regard to this mat
ter is no doubt about right. If 1t is the
desire to stir up the old time feeling ana
excitement after the appeals on all sides
for peace and unity, the Governor WILL
doubtless be eminently successful. AS
TO the effect of the move upon the cam
paipn and the political situation predlc-
lions are impossible. One thing is Ger.
tain and that is that there will no doubt
be lively times ahead when the ball opens,
and many conservative, tar-seeing men
predict that, in view Of the approach o.
the elections, troubulous times are ahead
for South Carolina.
AS already stated many of Governor
Tillman's lieutenants In the last few days
have spoken out against the touching O
the dispensary business again till after
the election. But vox populi and vox
Del are not in it these days with yoa
Tillmani. Such is the situation to-day
Time reveals all things, and I am moral.
ly certain that there are going to be some
lively times ahead. What actual business
arrangements Governor Tillman has
made for the reopening of the gin mills
of course, are not known. Everyone
| hereabouts is talking about the outlook
and every man deeply regrets that the at
tempt is to be made to reopen all the Ole
excitem and Courier.