The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-08-21


gave expression to their devotion by dub
bing themselves Den Tiliman Rifles,
"Bcn Tiilman Volunteers" and ''Dsn Till
man Guards The absorption Of dispcn-
sary whisky became q test OF loyalty to
the cause. and for time the blind ugers
had to depend upon the conservative eie-
rent. while their enemies bankrupted them
selves out Of pure patriotism.
Meanwhile the courts had been appealed
TO and so many conflicting opinions rem
dcred that no one could pretend to keep tho
run OF them. Hut at length, u short time
after the Darlington war. the supreme
court decided that the law was unconsti-
tuilonal. This closed the dlspensary and
ropened the harrooms. But ut tho next
session the leslslnure changed the COM
ploxiun of the supreme court aud passed
q new dspensary bill. The former de-
cson was reversed, OF course, and since
that time the institutlon hus been running
fun blast.
But II has never been out Of trouble In
the courts Senator Tillman, during his
last term as governor. had tho Legislature
10 pass bill empowering the executive to
appoint metropolitan police over towns aud
cities which failed to enforce the dispon-
sary law. lilo held II over Charleston TO the
successor John Gary Evans, did use II.
however, aud the appropriately OF the act
contributed to his defeat for the United
states senate last year and Will initiate
AGAINST him Mt the coming primary,
Furthermore. 1t multiplied tho opposi-
tion TO the dispensary systom. Charleston
had been unusually submissive before the
mctropolitans were put In charge, but since
then neither money nor palms has been
spared TO urroot the system, The State
courts being hopeiessly closed against
them, they have appealed to the Federal
courts and the recent decision OF Judge
simonton. projecting the importation and
sale OF liquor In original packages has
settled the question Already dozens OF
original package houses are In operation.
selling In open opposition TO the disprnsary.
The struggle ,ls an uneven ono aud the Is
sue is not doubtful. Protected by the Fed
eral courts, the importers can sell cheaper
than the dIspensary can buy, and II 10 only
y question OF time when tho competition
win force the State to surrender.
Governor Ellcrbee. whoso election was
due to n promise to remove tho metropoli-
tans from Charlcston--a promise which he
subsequently, thought better of--scems de-
termincd to fight TO the last ditch. Before
his election he was not considered q dis
pcnsary advocate; but now hc devotos tho
greater part OF his time TO building moE
Of straw for tho Federal court 10 knock
down. He has staked his career on the
metropolitan police Issue and Will most
probably keep up the iight until the nttor-
ney general calls halt.
Ae for Senator Tillman. he seems TO take
the matter more To heart than any one
else. He was defiant as long us he thought
there were ANY hopes for his bill In con-
srese. When II failed he came home and
for two weeks has been making speeches
in defense OF the institution. even threaten
Ing to resign his seat In tho senate and to
run for governor again on the dispensary
issue. In the course OF his remarks he
has been unsparing in abuse OF the Federal
courts the barkeepers, tho preachers and
tho devil, who, he says. are leagued against
him,
But no one believes for all that that
Tillman has any idea OF running for gov
ernor and there are not a few who would
offer him money Oh bls defeat II he did.
For he is not as strong now 0s when he
went 10 the senate and the risk would be
too great to run ut this time. Some say
that he VIII have trouble retaining his seat
when his term expires In 1900 and his
weakness is all traeeablc to the dIspensnry.
To give I'M idea OF how much strength
he has lost No longer than two years ago
every OF INC IUctlun
boosted OF his loyalty to Tillmon. Those
who were fortunate enough to receive his
Endorsement considered IL equivalent to
election, Now, Of the flve candidates for
the United Staten senate stamping The
State not one refers to Tillmnn or claims
any credit for having supported him. Each
seems to dread being considered Tiliman's
favorIte, Furthermore. all dscuss the dis
pensary and metropolitan police questions
regardless OF his Views. Time was when
such temerity would have meant certain
defeat.
Another class that will have cause to
regret the downfall OF the dispensary sys-
tenn III tho "blind pig" class. There were
nearly 100 blind tigers In Charleston alone.
and there 10 no saying how many places
were In the State. Their profits were
enormous, aud their losses from seizures
merely incidental. One Illicit dealer. who
ran Wholesale business In Charleston.
claims TO have had 10000 worth OF liquor
seized from first to last, but says that he
could well afford IL with profits such as he
made. Now no says the original package
houses are supplying his customers to
whom he sold at one time az much as 1900
gallons OF whisky IN single day, His oc-
cupation Is gone. and return to ordinary
profits Is not welcome, for all the show he
made OF fighting the dispensary
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