The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-03-19
THE CHURCH AND THE STATE,

Bishop Duncan Is Asked to Specify What
Oispensaries are Open TO the Cnaraes
Mace by HIm--lmportant Suggestions to the
New Dispensay Board.
Some time ago there was reference
| in The News aud Courier to complaints
that had been made by Bishop Duncan
| AS to the dispcnsary. The matter was
taken up by the county board OF CON
troll and is now taken up by Governor
Evans. 1t is stated that this course
was taken to find out where the real
trouble, If any, existed, and to have
the blame placed where it ought. AS
the date OF the letter will indicate. #
was written some time ago, and as
there has been no reply to it Governor
Evans has given it out Gin Justice to
the State authorities :"
COLUMBIA, February 10, 1896.
bishop w. w. Duncan, Spartanbnrg,
S. c., Bishop: | have just read in the
Charleston Sun the correspondence
between you and Chairman Whaley
relative to the Charleston dispensaries,
and the statement made by you from
tho pulpit of the Spring Street Meth
odist Church that the State dispen-
sarics were the lounging places for
debauchcd womon and drunkards."
IN your letter to Mr.. Whaley you ex-
onerate the Charleston dispensaries,
ard we arc forced to the conclusion
that your information was in reference
to dispensaries in other parts of the
State. AS Governor it is my duty to
sec that this law as we'll as others are
properly enforced. AS you are doubt
less aware there is an express provis-
ion in the dispensary law that prohi-
bits loafing in or about the dispenss-
rles OF any and ali persons, and no
drunkard can purchase anything from
them. Dlspensaries are not allowed,
except In incorporated towns, and
these towns invariably have ordi-
nances, prohibiting debauched women
and drunkards upon their streets, and
l know OF no town or city in the State so
loosely governed as to permit such
practices.
You, as the official head of tho
church, are interested in seeing law
and order prevail, and perfect state
ol morals among the citizens of the
State. |, as the official head of the
government, will assist YOU with all tn @
power placed within my hands. I
cannot do so, however, if you refuse to
Inform mo whore this indecent state of
affairs, mentioned in your sermon,
exists.
trust you will inform me at once to
what dispcnsary in the State YOU had
reference, and | assure you, if neces-
sary to stop it, l will abolish at once
the dlspensary, and take such stops as
may pc necessary to put an end to such
practices.
With the assurances of my highest
esteem aud regards, I am yours re-
spcctfully,
JOHN GARY EVANS, Governor.
Governor Evans says that there is no
use for people to talk about non.cu-
forcement of the dspcnsary law, as
there Is q way to stop violations of the
law by those charged with enforcing
1T. Instructions, it Is announced,
have been issued to all dispensers tb al
they must SEQ that the law is enforced
Constables, itappears, have been given
additional risdiction-looking after
the dispensers.
No one is authorized to say what will
be the policy of the new board of con
troll that will have charge of the dis
pensary. Tho members have nevo,
met and some OF them arc entirely un
known to those who now have charge
OF the dispcnsary business. The board
may or 1T may not, just as it soea fit
make radical char &, - in tho man
agement and operations of the law
Ihc conditions may be kept as the,