The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-05-19

Arralgnment Of
Dispensary Law.
Mr.. Bryan Attacks the States
Great Monopoly.
The United States court room held
to day Que of the largest crowds that
has ye. assembled 10 it, Every class
Of Charleston citizenship was pres
eot aud the attention of all was rivited
oo Mr.. j. ? K. Bryan. who is now
! makiug the effort to bis life, to break
up the dispensary law. lawyers were
present to bear the law expounded 90
the subject, constables we're there 10
hear how far they had abridged the
rights Of individuals in the eoforce-
meut of the law, aud several alleged
blind tigers" through mercenary mo-
tives, we're on baod TO hear Mr.. Bry-
| ans effort and icdulge 10 the expecta
ton of the laws overthrow. Tbeo
there we're maoy in the court room,
who we're there out Of idle curiosity or
for the want Of something to do.
Among the spectators we're Ex-Com-
missioner F. M Mi7sop. Ex. Constable
Swami aud other well-known dispeo-
sary officials and those who formerly
assisted in the operation Of the sys-
ten.
The court coDv Dveued promptly at 10
o'clock, and at 2 o'clock Judge Simon
ton, after conference with the attor-
neys 10 the case, postponed the hear
ing until tomorrow morning. when
Mr.. Bryan vii! resume his argument,
beginning With the inspection clause of
the act Attorney General Barber,
Assistant Attorney Geoeral Townsend
and Mr. W. Gibbes Whaley, who is as.
sociated 10 the case with Messrs. Bar
Der aud Townsend, will be heard, Gsn.
Townsend stated to-day that the State
will not consume much time with its
side.
nh. BRYAN's ARGUMENT.
Mr.. Bryan> spoke to-day for four
hours, during which time he held the
close aud united attention of the court
and all the spectators in the room. Els
argument. that portion of it delivered
to-day, was masterfui, eloquent and
most comprehensive in all les details
It was all law. supported with authori-
ties. constantly read from books which
we're piled upon all about him
The interstate commerce act, With
the monopolistic features of the dispen-
sary system, formed the basis Of his ar
gumeus. He aualyzed the Law aud the
manper of its operation aod enforce
ment He showed where, as be
thought, the law is conflict with the
constitution of the Uoited States and
common law. He showed that the
acts provisions we're saulty in them
selves and in consequence of its too
elaborate aw adments or two few of
them, = Ill ,rt Of what it should be.
TO be Law ii. In doing this, be re-
ferred to the sale of broken and CO.
broken packages, the disposition of the
profits, its manner OF enforcement, etc.
Mr.. Brsan asserted that sale IA the
general recognized object Of importa-
ton. While the state claimed personal
consu mmatioo was. He followed this
throughout to its logical conclusion.
He said that the dispepsary sold the
product Of this state or favored states.
which affiliated against the products OF
the unfavored states He asked VIA,
would the Uoited States gove:uueut
have TO say if France or any foreign
power made the point Of the restriction
Of commerce 10 this state. TIE dis.
pensary system iuterferes With the com.
merce between states The makers of
the Constitution wisely foresaw this
probable trouble and ordained that the
matter of commerce should be placed
in the hands of the central government
Mr.. Bryan characterized the Law as
"absurd, utterly uuleuable and hopeless
ly incongruous.
He said that the right of import TO-
cludes the right Of sale No state lioes
could be recognized 10 the operation of
the interstate commerce law.
THE VITAL POINT
Mr.. Bryan finally reached the point
on which the decision of the court will
rest. He said that to be valid, law
mus: be equal in its effects He
showed that the state board Of control
had the power uoder the Law to pur.
chase liquors from bouses that it saw 6t
or desired. The effect Of this was to