The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-09-24

small fortune. There are yet to be search
INK Investigations by the Legislature TO
ascertain who has got the bosdle.
or course the lack OF profits is sore
disappointment to those who expected TO
be relieved OF taxation. As a matter or
fact the dispensary has been loss to the
people Of the State. for the cities and
towns have not realized nearly so much
from their share OF the profits as they did
from the licenses OF bars. The State dis
pensary sells the liquor to county disDen-
sors at an advance on the original cost to
cover expenses and profit. The dispensers
add another profit before selling TO the
Consumers. out OF that profit they pay
themselves and their expenses and the re-
malnder IS divided equally between the
town and county. II has often occurred
that these latter get nothing. II is often
asked. How much longer Will the dis
pensary live. and at its demise will we
have prohibition or high license with local
option?
Iu-ing The constitutional convention
last fan IL was attempted to make the
dispensary n constitutional institution.
This could not be carried. The friends
OF the dispcnsary, which then was weak
ening, 20 strengthen it with the friends OF
more liberal education and also with the
patrons Of common schools. proposed that
the profits should be paid over 70 the
school fund. This was done. On the
strength Of that II was decreed that
should the people OF the State vote against
the dispcnsary. saloons should not again
be opened. but that persons might be
licensed 10 sell liquor, in packages Of not
o 10 hot
unless the people voting on a constitu-
tional amendment override that provision,
there viii bee no more counter drinking"
in this state
PROHIBITIONIsTS AGAINST DISPEN-
sARY.
Prohibitionists first favored the dispen-
sarv Now they are fighting It, Yet. when
the dspcnsary IS dead prohibition viii not
succeed IT, The State Is not for prohibit
ton. The vote in 1892 was not "a majority
OF the people, and besides. many who
voted for prohibition then were not IN
favor of If. but preferred II TO the dis
Ueusary. Then the leading rcformers are
an ON record as TO the impOssibility Of pro
hiliti0n prohibiting. Again, many who
may have formerly considered IL possible
10 enforce such % law have had an oppor-
tunity 20 learn By the experience or the
Gispensary that law against the sale OF
liquor cannot be enforced where there arc
q sufficient number Of purchasers to make
the sale profitable. They have seen that
f. is mllic sentiment and not acts OF
LEGISLATURES which cnforccs or make null
liquor laws Then the people viii be un-
likely 10 wi IN TO try another experiment.
The dispcnsary viii live for two years
longer. The legislature for that period has
u I e. aflnr % Fu
net likely TO pull the dispcnsary down
without a public warrant for that action.
which cannot be given before the next
election. Il is possible that under new
m1rarement and If no further scandals de-
,eiop. r. may live ont the century. bat that
IS unlikely. Whenever II goes. however.
local ortion with high license viii come.
There has always been @ strong sentiment
in favor of high license I'm this state, ana
local option. until the dispensary came.
was recognized by this people as funda-
mental Democratic principle. In the pri-
mary held three weeks ago Mt Harrison.
-rh0 was a candidate for Governor and
who EXPRESSED himself in favor OF local
option. received 1900 votes although Mr.
rllorhe. The successful candidate, was very
rorrlar with both factions. and is local
option man. but dil not make that an
issue. While many thousands or local
0ntfon people voted for Eilcrbe, Harrison S
vote indicated how strongly O great many
people feel in regard 20 that subject.
The change SIS not made in the Consti-
tuition by amendment. so that saloons Of
tte cid style may succeed the dispensafios.
The license OF individuals 10 sell liquor I'm
bottles viii undoubtedly be made suiii-
GENTLY high 20 keep the business IN the
hands Of responsible men. Low license
VIII never return in this State. while high
license is the only system which has given
satisfaction TO all respectable classes
when 81 has been given q trial. as exempli-
fed I'm the case of WATERFORD.
The dlspensary is too heavy a load for
any party 20 carry. and ! believe three
fourths Of its nominal supporters would
De Glad OF an excuse TO preemptorily put
an end 20 60 unsatisfactory an experiment
and launch the State on the safe. prohia-
bio and respectable middle road OF high
license when local option permits the sale
OF liquor-Atlanta Constitution