The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-05-26
Will it be the End =!

IT is generally regarded not only by
those who are or have been all along OPP
posed to the system, but the systems
most ardent friends, by the representa-
lives of the State of South Carolina them
selves, that the fate of the State dispen-
sary system ls hanging in the balance to.
day. And to most OF these it looks as if
the liquor laden boat is going to 20 to
wreck on the Vandercock reef. 1t is to
be decided whether citizens of other
States are not entitled to ship liquors
into the State of South Carolina in origi-
nal packages, and sell them, and the con-
Of the remodeled dispensary act is to be
passed upon.
The States attorneys have admitted
freely that this is the first time a really
serious attack has been made at the
vitals Of the dispensary act, and in adj
m%inistration circles it is generally con-
coded that the dispensary cannot be con-
tinued if the prayer of the Vandercocks
made to Judge Simonton is granted. If
Judge Simonton grants a temporary in
junction upon the petition filed it will be
of as much force as a perpetual injunc-
ton issued against the State by the Su-
preme Court of the United States, unless
the Judge see fit to suspend it pending
final ad Notwithstanding that no
one seems to think possible.
This case is regarded as the crisis for
the dispensary system. If the prayer of
the petitioner is not granted the State can
go on, and the dispensary will stand
solid until a few more Beckroge trunk
affairs come along to increase the rapidly
growing disgust with the system in its
present shape.
Acknowledgement Barber and Assistant
Attorney-G General Townsend, to use the
words of the attorney-general himself,
left yesterday afternoon for Charleston to
make the best fight they know how to
make. They carried with them the re-
turn of the State to the petition of the
Vandercock company, and their argu-
ment is all ready. They have worked
hard and gotten up all the authorities
possible to use in this case. The hearing
in the case is set for 10 o'clock this morn.
ing before Judge Simonton in Charles
ton. Mr.. j.. P. X. Bryan is the COM
mander.in chief Of the attacking army;
he is the attorney who won the Donald
Interstate commerce case all along the
line-even in the United States Supreme
Cortland he knows every little weak
spot of the dispensary law. Mr.. Bryan
will certainly make n Of the efforts of
LIS lllO Oh LID CaoO dCCloioL aIuy
be several days or possibly weeks in be-
ing announced, yet at the same time the
Judge may announce his action immedi-
ately and file a decree later.
All over the State the result of this
case is being awaited with the keenest
degree of interest. The dispensary has
less friends now than it once had, and
even before this case was instituted sew
eral prominent dispensary advocates
heretofore were expressing thems elves
in favor Of change to the constitutional
high license system or to absolute prohi-
bition. Senator Mayfield recently said
that be was going to remodel his local
option bill now pending before the legis-
lature and push it for all it was worth at
the approaching session.
Many take it that the system will not
do it run by officers of the State for rea-
sons that are more obvious than ever in
the light of recent events, n they wish
to see something else tried.
1t is being freely talked here and there
that in case Judge Simonton's decision is
against this State a request will be made
for the general assem- bly, to be called in
extra session Immediately, the idea being
to pass a strict prohibition law. Gov.
Ellerbe laughed when told of this talk
Saturday and remarked that that was the
first he had heard Of it. 1t is thought,
however, that an extra session would be
very likely in such an event columbia
| State.