The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-07-21
WHAT THE PEOPLE THINK.
Tie Workings of the Dispensary az
Regarded by Representative Cfti.
zens-'.Has Worked Well" Say They
Au-Drunkenness on the Decline.

Tie Workings of the Dispensary Az
Regarded by Representative Citi.
| zens-sHas Worked Well" Say They
AII-DruDkenness' on the Decline.
The oft repeated assertion tha the dispen.
sary system is d doomed because the sentiment
OF the people Is against 1t caused q Press and
Banner representative TO try 10 hnd out "ha1
the people actually do think about It, -.
Inquiry has been made OF representlVe GILL
zeus OF various political opinions, various
professions and from several sections OF the
county. Following are some OF the opinions
given on a direct inquiry on the dispensary
system as II relates TO Aboeville County.
w. A. Templeton, merchant, said:
The dispensary system Is a marked I'm.
provement on any other system OF handling
the liquor traffic l have seen tried. there.
fore favor 1t over any other system. l was
one among the original opponents of the dis
pensary In Abbeville. attribute the success
and the good effects OF the system here to the
excellent management the local dlspensary
has had. l believe the principal trouble with,
and consequent objection, to the dispensary
In other places comes from non-adherepce to
the letter and spirit OF the law Faithful ad.
herence to the law has been our advantage
over other communities. The Illicit liquor
trade In this section has for several years been
Insignificant.
Sheriff F. w. r. Nance said:
am a dispensary man. 1t is the best sys.
tenn tried in my day and time. But believe
lQG Suu vi IuC ulbpClodIy 10 al u Sihioh
toms decision gives unlimited license to illic-
1t liquor dealers, every encouragement 10
blind tigers.
Max Below, farmer, native OF Germany,
twenty-eight years In America. said:
The dispensary is the best solution. yet. Ii
has been much TO the advantage Oh the peo'
pie.
Nj. M. Patterson, contractor, said:
The system has improved the morals or the
people. There Is much less disorder than I'm.
country people as we'll as those in town have
been improved. However, l favor the plan
of allowing each county TO regulate It's W
LIQUOR affairs. Leave the matter of dispense
ries or prohibition to the people.
p. A. Cheatham, farmer, said
1t is the best law ever put on our books.
Whiskey drinking Is on the decrease.
Judge j. Fuller Lyon, lawyer, said:
The main features Of the law are good. Oh
course It has been abused. The effect Of the
Excellent management Is one OF the reasons
for It's popularity The constabulary feature
Is bad and arouses great hostility to the whole
system. I favor the regulation by each coun-
ty of It's dispensary affairs.
Treasurer j. R. Blake said:
My official duties bring me into contact
with practically all the citizens Of the coun-
ty. My opportunities for juding the effects
of the dispensary are unsurpassed. during
the winter months my office Ia crowded all
day and into the night. In bar room days
these crowds, mixed and varlegated as they
were. often became hoisterous, quarrelsome
and disagreeable generally, and night was
the favorite time. Since the dispensary has
been In operation 1 nave noticed very little
drunkenness and no disorder among the
thongs that necessarily wait about the office.
The change is marvellous. 1 regard the dis.
liquor question. Under the conditions of the
times prohibition is IMPOSSIBLE. Since preJu-
dice against the system has died out there
has been no friction In Abbeville. My 1udg'
ment Is. seeing all sorts Of people as 90. the
| dispensary has worked a great good change
among the whole people.
Chief of Police Riley said:
l nave been an officer in Abbeville fifteen
years, and 1 have served through license, pro,
hibition and dispensary systems.~ The dis
pensary is far the best wbiskey regulation ]
have seen tried. Since the dispensary started
there has been much less drunkenness and
disorder. There have been fewer arrests since
period before, Notwithstanding The fact thal
the population OF tile town has nearly doubled
since 1898, when the local dispensary was
opened.
Auditor W. W. Bradley said:
l am a thorough dIspensary man. The ef
feet of the system has been good. The bes
evidence of lis virtue is in the fact that 1t hal
overcome factlonal prejudice ard now hal
the support Of practically all our people, IN
against bar rooms 10 such an extent tina
whiskey will not again be sold In South Caro-
lima except under a plan the salient features
of which will be those OF the dispensary.
Master Walter L. Miller said:
The dispensary system Abbeville County
has worked well. 1 think that It is one i'm
provement OH the bar rooms. The restric
lions thrown around IT, such as The Limited
hours Of sale, prohibiting drinking on thu
premises, the fact that no sales are made a
night, are especially desirable features. Al
classes Of people In Abbeville County sustain
the dispensary, without regard to factiona
differences.
r. W. Cannon, merchant said:
1t is a decided Improvement over barrooms
Drunkenness has decreased over hall.
]. c. Ellis, insurance agentand cotton buyer
said:
The dispensary beats either bar rooms o
prohibition. IL has greatly enhanced the 30
briefly Of the people.
Probate Judge R. E. Hill said:
There Is no doubt tibet the effect has beer
salutary. There Is much less drunkenness
than formerly. People generally regard 1t al
lar vote would by a large majority sustain TIT
dispensary.
g.. A. Visanska, merchant, said:
The dispensary has, l think, been beneficial
in some respects. ! seriously object 10 th'
monopoly feature. The best feature OF th'
system IL that 1t largely keeps young mer
from being up at night, and keeps them GU
of bad company. There Is not as much
drunkenness as in the days OF barrooms.
P. B. Speed. Druggist said:
1t Is the best solution of the TROUBLESOME
whisk ey question yet offered. and I want Il
see II continued as 1t is. 1t Is much prefera
BILE 10 bar rooms. Night drinking, so demon
alizing and deadly to young men, Ia almos
entirely stopped. II Is a thoroughly gooo
law.
Frank B.. Gary, lawyer, said:
The dispenSary has has worked well IL
Abbeville county and ] believe through the
State generally. Except in Charleston anc
Columbia end other places where the law has
been so bitterly fought, II has worked we'll
The dispensary has not only helped the NOR
ais of this town, but has enhanced the value
or property. One street, formerly q row o.
| grog-shops, has been made decent.
Mayor r. M. Hill said:
The dispensary, as 1t has been managed
here, Is the best regulation Of liquor have
seen. Several causes have operated TO Inn
prove the behaviour of this town, and Inc
dispensary Is one OF them. The best feature
OF The dispensary system Is that 1t does away
with social drinking to a large extent, de-
creases night gatherings and consee uently
lessons night lawlessness and disorder. II
does away with BUNS. Under the bar room
system street rows were numerous. The
facilities for getting liquor have been lessen
ed, particularly in the way of doing away
with the credit business. The management
-, laa- al ;, ro h1n