The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-03-17
COLUMBIA, Febr uary 10, 1896.


Bishop w. W. Duncan, Spartanbnrp
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
the pulpit OF the Spring Street Meth.
odtst Church "that the State dispen.
saries were the lounging places for
debauched women and drunkards.' .
In your letter to Mr.. Whaley you ex.
onerate the Charleston dispensaries,
ard we are 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
see that this law as well as others are
| properly enforced. AS you arc doubt
less aware there is an express previs.
lon In the dispensary law that prohi-
bits loafng In or about the dispensa-
| rie8 OF any and oil persons, and no
drunkard can purchase anything from
them. Dispensaries arc not allowed,
except In incorporated towns, and
these towns invariably have ordi-
nances, prohibiting debauched women
and drunkards upon their streets, and
| know OF no town or city in the State 80
loosely governed rs to permit such
practices.
You, as the official head OF tho
church, arc interested in seeing law
and order prevail, and a perfect state
OF morals emorg the citizens of the
State. 1, as the official head of the
government, will assist you with all the
power placed within my hands. 1
cannot do so, however, If you refuse to
inform me whore this Indecent state of
affairs, mentioned in your sermon,
l trust you will inform me at once to
what dispensary in the State you had
reference, and I assure you, II neces-
sary to stop 1t, will abolish at once
the dispensary, and take such steps as
may be necessary to put an end to such
With the assurances of my highest
esteem and regards, I am yours re-
spectfully,
JOHN GARY EVANS, Governor.
Governor Evans says that there is no
use for people to talk about non-en-
forcement OF the dispensary law, as
there Is a way to stop violations of tho
law by those charged with enforcing
1t. Instructions, 1t is announced,
have been Issued to all dispensers that
they must see that the law Is enforced.
Constables, it appears, have been given
additional Notwithstanding 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 never
met and some Of them are entirely un-
known to those who now have charge
OF tho dispensary business. The board
may or 1t may not, just as Ii secs tit,
make radical changes In tho mar
agement and operations of the law.
The conditions may be kept as they
now are or they may be changed. For
instance, the new board may decide ia
do away with tho bottling establish.
ment here and the reshipment OF goods
and have all orders filled directly by
| the wholesale house from which the
liquor Is purchased. This, 1t is said,
will avoid any loss in refilling and
save freights. There may be other
reasons, however, why the present
plan had better be continued, CHIEF
among them Is that labor is cheaper
here than in Cincinnati.
There Is already some talk OF the
new board being likely to dispense
with certain OF the dispensaries where
they do not pay and for other reasons
The State board may also make radi
cal changes in the prices of the LIQUOR
and some such thing is spoken Of. I
80 happens that the quarter of dispen
sary business closes with this month
and that the new board of control goe
Into Office at the Same time.