The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-10-06
TIE LIQUOR PROBLEM.
JHEEMsTlNG CONOiTiONS;N 5CUTN
CAROLINA DISCUSSED.

TIE EElS lN0 CONOi iUNS IN SUI u
CAROLINA DISCUSSED.
An Able Defense OF The Dip 'nssry Law
It's Workings Coprraseed with The For
mer Sslo, Sysrem-Rish LiceDse and
Prohibition.
Mr.. A. H. Patterson, Of Bsrn well,
while in Columbia recently WAS inter
viewed oy a reporter of the Register
in reference to the Dispensiry Law.
The following is the interview:
Mr.. 4. e. Patterson of Barnwell
was in the city last week Knowing
that he was firm friend OF the dis
penssry law, reporter for The Rels-
ter called upon him to get his views as
to present con litions and the follow
ing was the result:
"Mr. Patterson, while you are not
now q member of the general assem-
bly,, yet as The Register is desirous of
knowing the sentiment Of the people
in regard to the dispensary law as 1t
now stands will you give US your
views of it2''
II am glad tnat you asked me the
question, as I sm heartily in favor Of
the dispepsary law, and I believe that
if it ever had friends that now is the
time for them to speak out, and then
7 am not one to desert what believe
to be good law under fire.
1.-The enemies of the dispensary have
Systematically fought it from the
time of its creation, and, led by some
of the daily papers Of the state, they
expect to preach its funeral sc the next
session of the legislature. They are
already marshaling their forces, and
are determined, if possible, 10 have
the law repealed before the Tillman-
Latimer bill passes congress. Every
influence and argument will be
brought to bear upon the members OF
the general assembly between now
and during the next session. Only a
few days ago, the News and Courier
addressed the following questions to
the members of the legislature:
"'Do you think the disDensary law
will stand as at present2 Il not what
is your solution OF the matter2"
'Wby this question three months
before the legislature convenesa Be
cause under the recent decisions ct the
federal court and the consequent food
ing OF the state with original packages
they imagine that they have the dis
pensary il hole, and that now,
while the tide is high, they will get
the weakened friends of the law
among the legislature to commit them
selves before they get to the state
heuse.
''This ruse, though, appears to
have fallen fat, as a msjorlty of the
members, SC far, have expressed them
selves SIS being favorable to the dis
pensary-to the great discontinue OF
the News and Courier, judging from
its sarcastic headlines.
''The dispensarv is by no means
dead, and those who think so will find
that it IS pretty lively corpse during
tbs next session of the legislature, aud
in the campaign of next year. The
recent senatorial race was quasi vic
tory for the dispensary, for no candi
date could have been elected that did
not pledge himself to support the Till
man. Latimer bill. Open opposition
to the djspensary would have been the
political death kneH of any one of the
candidates in that race. say this be-
cause I believe that three fourths OF
the democratic voters of this state, re-
gardless of factions, are now N favor
of the law"
"What do you think of the prohi.
bition movement now being organized
in the stste2'
I think that they are making a
great mistake, and that if successful,
they will realjze that pandemonium
will reign in this state until the legisla
ture can repeal ltheir law. Atone time
was strongly in favor of prohibition,
and voted for the Childs' bill while in
the legislature. Since then I have
been convinced that prohibition could
not be enforced and that the dispense
ry law under present conditions IN
our state is the best solution OF the
liquor problem. During the two years
that we had prohibition in Barnwel!
county I was county chairman Of the
prohibition party, and l mus: admit
that the law was a perfect farce. Il
was violated upon every side and the
grand jury would throw out the cases
as fast as they were presented. The
prohibitionists deserve the credit
though, for the dispensary law, as il
was through their agitation thatit was
passed. ! would now be in favor o.
prohibition if it would prohibit, but i
virtually means free liquor.
What do you think of having s
high license law, with the constitution
alrestrictions2"
It would mean a victory for ths
barkeepers and be curse to the state
We would be retrogarding, and all O
the work that has been done sgsins
the saloon for the past ten years II
this state would be lost. In q few
years the constitutional restriction
would be ignored. for experience ha
taught us that the saloonkeeper vii
not respect laws that aft ect his pocket
book. We had laws against selling
to minors, drunkards, selling upor
election days and on Sundays, before
the dispensary law was adopted; ye
they were violated with impunity
Such law would not be enforced, fol
everybody's business is nobody's 5usi
ness. If it is almost impossible nov
under the dispensary law. to get s
reputable citizen to testify against s
fellow that runs a misera ole "blinc
tiger" how much more difficult woulc
it be 10 get him to voluntarily repor
a licensed saloonkeeper for allowins
him TO drink upon the premises o.
selling to hin alter sundown! Don
YOU know that he would not do 1t?
whenever you piace the sale o
liquor in the hands OF an indlvloua
whose sole object is to make as grea
8 profit GU. OF it SIS be possibly can, h'
will violate the law. On the contrary
under the dispensary law, you have