The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-01-21

system to any unpre JUDGED mind but
proves the necessity that exists for its
continuance ~ except to the political
drunkenness and drunk and disorderly
| cases and the increased yield to the
| city and county Of dispensary profits.
the largo number Of convictions OF
dlspensary Offenders and the amount
OF fines collected and turned into tho
county and city treasures, is idence
enough of faithful work.
Much more etfactive worl. co,L,
nave been accomplished by the de-.
partment had another tribunal been
open to them whore cases could hov,
been promptly prosecuted when mad
by the officers. AS the law now stnnd>
vlolators can only be reached tbroupb
the court OF General Sessions, whieh
convcnes only three times a. year, and
1t is impossible under such conuitions
W Try ohe'ha'i OF The cases brought
against tho vioators Of the law. Dnr
Ing the February and juno terms OF
tho court last year the police depart
mcnt made handsome showing, bul
was seriously handicapped in tbei}.
efforts at tho November term by u con
tlnuance OF cases against the most no.
torious blind tigers in the city. These
delays naturally embolden those en-.
gagged in this unlawful business, and
make 1t more difficult to suppress th9
illicit sale of liquor.
In the enfOrccmert'of the disponsnrv
law the police force have not neglect.
Cd their duty in the detection OF other
ollenders against the peace and goo,t
order or tho city, and no complaint;
have been made on this scoro.
Cupt }. Eimorc Martin has enforced
Inc laws III an aggressive and vigor-
Gus manner. Notwithstanding tn,
| hundreds OF arrests made and the in
| tr'cate and delicate questions he hp;
| haa 10 decide as tho executive Office.
OF the department., on every occasion
| ne has displayed the ability to amicp.
| bly, adjust the issues involved H.
ana his efficient force and the police
0Mmissioncrs deserve the thanks nf
all good citizens in placing Char!c5tul
upon as high plane as tho Other
cities Of the State.
80 far as tho other cities of tho
State are concerned, | um happy to
state that the municipal authorities in
every instance have shown O. desire TO
cooperate viii the State admiuistru-
tlon in enforcing this law, and while
we do not claim 20 have entirely
stamped out the illicit traffic, all gooi
citizens must admit that in mbia.
Greenvillc, Spartanburg aud the
smaller towns IL better feeling exists
and earnest efforts are being made to
ontCrCe the law.
l desire to call your attention to u
feature Of the law which think could
be dispensed with. The county boards
Of cOntrOlin most instances do not con
trol. They could easily be abolished
and their duties imposed upon tho
State board Of control, and three or
four inspectors, whose duty would be
to visit the county dispcnsaries from
time to time and sec that thev arc
properly conducted.
There have been several shortages
IN the accounts of county dispensers
and they have been invariably the re-
suits OF negligence on the part Of tho
county board Of control. These delin-
quent dispensers have been promptly
reported by mo to tho Attorney Cen
eral with instructions to prosecute,
and he has performed his duty in
manner deemed best by him. 1t is no
argument against this law because
forso0th an oRicer occasionally errs
and becomes unworthy of his position.
We might as we'll argue that the
banking system should be DESTROYED
because cashier occasionally goes
astray. There are good men and hOa-
est men and they can be had to fill
these positions. 1t is your duty not
only to the dispensary law, but to the
Reform movement and to those having
its interests at heart, to investigate
this business from, it's organization 10
the present time. If anything wrong
is discovered, let it be ventilated and
punish the guilty parties and rebukc
not only with the dispensary, but with
ovcry department Of the State govern
ment where the slightest wrong doing
is suspected. In this way alone can
your government be kept honest ard
be pcrpetuated. -