The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-18
BUTLER'S OPINION
SYSTEM Is A ROTTEN AND
CORRUPT ONE.
Drunkards as Many as Ever Before and the
Cause Of Temperance Has Been In.
lured-somo Sensible Notions
Made Plain.

The following correspondence, in
which Gen. Nj. @. Butler gives his
opinion of the dispensary law, will be
read with general interest in South
Carolina:
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN,
MADISON, WIS.,, FEB. 18th, 1897.
The Hon. M. Q. Butler, Edgefield,
S. @.
Dear Sir: Being engaged in an
extensive investigation of the South
Carolina dispensary system, l am do
sirous Of obtaining as much reliable
information on tho subject rs posi-
ble.. If you will kindly answer the
following questions you will confer a
very great favor. If you could also
refer me to any published articles on
the subject or refer me to any au-
thorities on the subject it would also
greatly aid mo.
l. Was the opposition to tho dis
pensary law in South Carolina such
as to seriously hamper its successful
operations
2. Are violations of the law fre-
quent at tho present timer
3. In your opinion would it be ad-
visable to introduce a similar system
into another State (for example, Wis
consinY
4. Would the different conditions
existing in Wisconsin render it much
moro difficult to Introduce and en-
force the systemf
s. Are the provisions of the law
in regard to the selling of liquors to
minors, intoxicated persons, otc., rig
idly enforcedp
q. What are your personal views
in regard to tho merits of the sys-
temp
Hoping you will find it convenient
to comply with my request,
| am yours very respectfully,
(Signed) PHILIP l.. ALLEN.
GEN. BUTLER's REPLY.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb.--1S07.
Mr.. Philip L. Allen, Madison Wis.
Dear Sir: I owe you an apology
for the long delay in answering
yours of the 18th of February last,
and plead in extonuation the pres
sure of personal and professional en-
gagements.
In reply to your first question, 1
will say that the onnosition to tho
dispensary was, and is :.ry strong
in South Carolina, but l do not
think it was of such a character "as
to seriously hamper it's successful
operation" The law has never been
honestly and judiciously executed.
Dispensaries have been forced on
communities that did not want
them, in many instances where H.
quor had not been sold for years, un-
der the local option and high license
laws existing when the dispensars
system was. adopted.
To the second question 1 will say
from the best information I have the
law is evnded now in various ways
and in my opinion moro liquor is
now sold and consumed in tho
State than ever before in it's his.
tory.
TO the 3rd. I should regard the
introduction of tho dispcnsary sys-
tenn in yours or any other State as
the greatest calamity that could be-
fall it.
L can not answer the fourth ques.
tion because l am not familiar with
tho different conditions" to which
you refer.
TO the 9th. I don't think any
body finds difficulty, minors, drunk
ards or what not, in getting all the
liquor they want, and the law has
not boon "rigidly enforced"' as to
that class of persons, and never can
or will be.
You will doubtless anticipate my
'porsonal views" in regards to tho
morits of the "system" from tho fore
going.
In the first place it has all tho
evils of the saloon without any COM
pensating advantages. Tho fact
that the liquor traffic, whiskey selling