The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-08-21
DlSPENsARY IS BUSTED.
The TllImaa Measure Has Bcen Com.
pletely knockcd Out.
HISTORY OF THE FAMOUS STATUS
Tho Legality ~ tho "Oriwinal Pack
age" Law EfectaaIiy silcnces tho
state Dar Noona schemc.

hpunuOntuent OF one OIL inc must tutcIcstiuS
experiments over made. This experiment
is the famous liquor dispcnsary system, a
sketch OF which from Its origin to the
present day is timely.
one night In December. 1899. Governor
Tillman. thon on the crest OF the wave Of
house Of representatives and listened to n
prohibition debate. a prohibition primary
had been held In the previous summer
and tho liquor people had sustained a
stunning defeat. The bill under discus-
sion was In accordance With this result.
Tiliman was deeply rlrtcrestcd. He had
not taken part In the campaign, but one OF
his dearest wishes was to see tho liquor
mcn-who had opposed him all along--
downed to a man. L. ID. childs, a mem
bcr from Columbia. had the floor. AS the
leader Of tho republican forces IN the
State lie was making the speech OF the
session. The great, brilliantly lighted hall
was packed. But not sound interrupted
the speaker who held the undivided at
tcntion OF his audience.
With Governor Tillman In the gallery
we're several ladies' One, u young and
pretty girl from Athens, Ga. finally grew
tired OF the eloquence Of AIR. Childs and.
turning TO tho governor, asked MIN why
they did not resort TO tho dispensary sys-
tenn. as in vogue IN Athens, as solution
OF the question:
TiIlman was not well informed man III
those days and frankly admitted that he
knew very little about the Athens system,
He expressed some interest, however. aud
the young ludy--ono OF the few In thou
sand who interest themselves IN details =
rapidly outlined II TO him. The novelty OF
the idea struck him, and, excusing him.
solf. he went to the executive office, called
his lieuionnuts In the house around him.
ard before daylight had framed II bill--thc
first disponsary bill--for introduction An
administration measure" II was passed
over all opposition and Mr.. Childs speech
was thrown away.
The explanation for this new departure
TO the people who had expected aimon
pure prohibition law was short. and, so far
us Governor Tillman's adhcrenta were con-
ccrned. satisfactory By restricting and
regulating the salc II was asserted that It
would diminish drunkenness and abolish
n majority Of the evils charged to the bar
room system. 1t would protect the wealth
as well az the morals Of to people by fur
Iisling them with only chemically pure
liquors. Furthermore. 1t would pay
81 .000.0 900 yearly into the state treasury
more than enough Ia run the State govern
ment and public school system; In short,
It would relieve tho taxpayers OF state
taxes.
But despite all this the institution was
received with the reverse OF favor. The
conservative, or antl-Tiliman element ro-
fused to see anything good in what Till
man had done and thousands OF them reg
"Tillman liquor" The papers took up the
constitutional and moral questions involved
and with few exceptions denounced II. The
"reformers' even resented having to sign
their names to applications for pints and
balf-pints OF corn whisky, as being re-
strction and an infringement upon their
liberties. IA a result blind tigers'' were
opened In every town and patronized much
In the same spirit out Of which the Boston
iaps threw the tea into the water,
The consequence was what Tillman had
foreseen when he drew UP the bill and pro-
vided dspensary constabulary. The State
was placed under semi martial law. In
every town and village two or three con
stables parGded the streets, armed 10 the
teeth with Winchester rifles and Colts re-
volvers Furthermore. they wera armed
with unlimited power. which included tho
right to enter and search private houses
where liquors were known or supposed 10
be stored: also TO examine the baggage OF
passengers on railroad platforms. Occos-
ionally. In searching house, a woman was
insulted, and occasionally In examining
baggage q woman's trunk was opened and
the crowd treated to a sight OF dainty silks
and musllns tumbled In heap On the
ground.
Newspapers kept track Of these occur
reDccs and served them up to-their readers
under appropriate headings until ut the
next session OF the general assembly they
had made tho institution so unpopular that
the SALARY OF the State dispenser was raised
on account--as his friends said In open de-
bate-of the "odium" attached TO the Of
fee
The s,rangest part Of the whole business
liz why, with naturally fiery people like
those OF South Carolina there was from
start to finish so little bfoodshed, The con-
stables recruited from class whom
Onlhu cOuiu mol utter, were an luhOitut
as mercilcss dragons. Women who barred
their entrance 10 private apartments were
slapped In the face. while their husbands.
at the point OF pistol looked on helpless
". A few coDstabies were killed. II 10 true.
At Darlington pitched battle was fought
and two citizens and two constables sent
TO eternity. But the majority OF the people
submitted quietly, turned their houses
over TO the raiders when they came and
contented themselves with waiting for
day when they could express themselves at
tho ballot box. The constables have killed
nearly three score people, but so far none
have been punished. all being pardoned.
The reformere would probably have
abandoned TiIlman and his scheme years
ago but for the Darlington war above re-
ferred to- They had already begun to
grow tired OF being dragooned by the con-
stables and the unusually high price OF the
dispensary liquors added fuel to their dis
content. But Tiilman was too astute q
politician to let such an opportunity pass-
A 10 harocnaH thu fight Al Darlington WAS