The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-05-19

lSCplSS aAN SLai e ttlA Pi4S~ NJ @ w
ccctiou that never saw the woTuo OF
sill. Suppose 8 man wanted whlskey
for sick wife or child, and he had
secured one Of these spurious bottles
and il not having the desired and ex-
pecte6 effect, the pa:ieut had died.
Why, our State would have been
morally gully OF murder, and mur.
der, too, for ain. We car uneess!acd
how prive barkaeper might adol-
terate his |: 4or for the sake OF profit,
but it is as anne snd an outrage for
sovereign State to 60 into any ousl-
ress. after wsecing out competition,
and then sa;indiing its own people.
The Manning Times Of last week
published an insinuation that two OF
the State Board OF Control were with
a LIQUOR drummer, and spent the night
with him at his hotel and as that
drummer's guests. This report has
also reached our ears. Now. It IS
very wrong, and looks bad, indeed,
for State officer to accept courtesles
rom one with whom ne must have
public transactions. Report also says
that those members have ever after sd-
vocated the purchase of that drum
ner's LIQUORS, and he gets the lions
share OF the business. Now, We know
nothing whatever Of this report per
sonally; but the facts can be easily
secured by reference to the registers OF
the Columbia hotels, and see II these
parties did accept hospitalities st the
hands of man with whom they must
transact important business for the
State. 4 public official should be like
unto Caesars wife; and no man can
&C! with impartiaIity in making liquor
purchases while under personal obi
cations to the one OF the parties with
whom he must deal.
As doubtless every County Dispsn-
ser will testify, IN sending orders to
the State Dispensary for liquors, It's
he hardest kind of work 70 have the
orders pre- cperly filed. Different brands
and kinds Of liquors are shipped than
those ordered. Now, We do assert
that the County Dispensers better know
what their customers require and want
tban the shipping clerk IN Coluuola,
and he has no right to tois. upon and
charge up against them other kinds
OF liquors than those wanted and or
dered. It would be well, while that
investigation is going on, to examine
Why this neglect of orders IS prac:lced.
Of course each dealer wants to sell SIS
.oucb of his brand as possible, and If
tolerated this changing Of orders IN
Columbia presents wide field for
speculation.
There are other reports connected
with the DiSpenssry managamentthat
have reached our ears, bal they are OF
minor Importance compared with those
we have enumerated above. Let those
we have made be investigated, and Ii
will not be necessary TO summons a
single witress. for tee evl1ence can be
had right at hand
Il WAS published, and never denied,
at the time of ex Commissioner Trax'
lers appointment, that belng strlct
church member, he prayed 20 the
Lord for guidance and direction as to
whether or rot he should accept the
place, and it was revealed to him that
ne should take the $4,000 job. Now,
We do not believe that the Lord has
aught to do with the sale OF liqror IN
Any guise or maurer-either torcugh
oarrcons. blind tigers, Raines hotels,
or the DispeDsary system.
II the reports that have reached our
ears, and as give9 above are true. then
the whole State Dispensarv has beel
reeking with corruption and the thing
should either be thoroughly over
hauled, from top to bottom, and purl-
fed, or torn up root and branch The
great mass Of our people are honest
and incorrupt ptible and will not brook
or countenance aught that spackS OF
venality. Tney demand that the
State Dispenpsary be investigated from
mud-sills to rafters, and every word
of testimony secured be published to
the world. Any public institution
that cannot stand the x rays turned
thereon, should be swept from the
face of the earth.
And when this investigation is made
lot not any white washing omnittees
be appoin!ed. Not man II acy man
ner whatever connected with the State
government, or who is even probable
candidate for office, should be allowed
70 serve upon or become connected IN
any manner with the Investigation.
1t would be better to have nsjority
OF that committee madeup OF men who
are opposed to the Dispensary, for
here would be no danger Of their
covering up anything the people
should know. And then Let the attor
aey who represents the State be chosen
from the outside. Give the facts and
the testimony to the people, and they
viii then make up a fair verdict, It
matters not what be the report OF the
committee.
The Reform party is no! responsible,
and should not hs held responsible for
the transgressions Of public officers
But now that certain reports have
been b,ought Onward, If the admins
tration aud the ruling faction fails to
have a full and free investigation.
then the Reform movement will be
held responsible, and should bear the
ouus.
The Headlight demands that the
fullest glare be turred upon the State
Dlspensary, and every fac. brought
out. Don't make scape.goat OF 8 few
subordinates, and try aud blind the
people to sus oectsd wholesale corrup
;lon by raising great rumpus over g
few cigars ami peaches and second
hand trunk. We denounce as wrong
this thing OF Dispsnsary officials ap
propristiag 10 their own use goods
seized oy constables, and while Mr.
Scruggs is our personal friend, we DO
assert that it vas exceedingly wrong
in him to have taken those articles,
even were they Of small matter; bat
when two mem bers OF the State Board
accept from Mr., Scruggs and then
smoked the cigars after he had told