The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-02-15
THE LIQUOR QUESTION IN THE HOUSE.
AN EARNEST DEBATE ON THE
ALL.ABSORBING TOPIC.


pions--Thc Discussion Wake
Warm and the Speakers Gro,
Eloquent.
At the conclusion OF the third read
ing bills, Mr.. Childs called for the spc
cial order Of the day, his bill "to pre-
vide for the election OF State boar
OF control, and to further regulate tn
sale, use, consumption, transportation
and disposition Of Intoxicating IN,
alcoholic liquors Of liquids in thi
State, for medical, scientific and mc
chanical use only, and prescribe fur
ther penalties for violation Of the dis
pensary laws, and to police the same.
Mr.. Stevenson stated that tie pend
Ing question vas ~ POllock's ub
stitute bill which had becn offered ~
an amendment to Mr.. Childs' bill. a:
MIR. Pollock was quite unwell ant
might be for several days, Mr.. S,ovon
son asked permission to Withdraw Mr.
Pollock's amendment from the files
The house granted his request.
MIR. Garris-I feel that in this dis
cussion those OF us who oppose this
bill will have trouble to make our.
selves understood. | am unwilling &c
have it said that favor liquor setting
in South Carolina. But when give
poses to prohibit ihe sale of liquor AS
beverage | must give it to u bill
which purpOrts to be more restrictive
than the one before us. This bill is
not prohibition bill. In section one
there are three classes Of liquor sell
Ing not declared to be against the
morals, safety and society Of the State.
First. Importation for personal use.
We cannot under the ruling Of the
courts prohibit the Importation for per.
sonal use. This furnishes to the illict
liquor dealer the permission to flood
the State with liquor.
Second. Those liquors bought from
the authorized State agent. If one
moral Of affairs will not be changed
under this law.
Third. All liquor examined b. State
chemists and found pure.
From studying this bill it seems like
but an attempt to reform the dispen
sarY law. How many men who voted
Tor prohibition, did not vote for pOlti
cal purposes How many liquor deal
ers voted. for pt ohibition in order that
they might sell the stuff without hav-
ing to pay license?
This bill contemplates a State board
of control Of five members, also dis
pensers in each county: If there is to
be no revenue, where is the good sense
in adopting such a bill. If u man buys
for medicinal purposes he is as much
entitled to it cheap as the druggist.
Then where is the revenue. 10 my
humble judgment we would have free
whiskey instead of prohibition. We
should pass our laws, not from senti.
ment, but from cool, calculating bust.
ness. They talk OF the danger to our
sons from the continuance of the dis
pensnry | am responsible to my son
for my views. ! had rather my sou, il
he must drink, buy from the dispen.
sary in manly, open way than to
sneak around to blind tigers. The dis
pensary law is not infallible. Even
friends OF the dispensary law have a
right to complain. However, it re-
lieves whiskey selling from the in
famous retailing system also of gaming
tables and other vicious accessories.
The laboring man on his way from
work after sundown can find no place
TO spend his money legitimately for
liquor. Among the objections to the
law ware the granting of beer privileges
and OF hotel privileges.
a great deal more OF the poverty Of
South Carolina lies at the door Of
whiskey than belongs there. The cry
OF widow and orphan can be heard from
oJner causes than whiskey. Bloody
usury OF the money lenders has caused
more people to go out into fricndless
world than whiskey ever caused. There
are honest money lenders and there
are honest merchants, but there are
hundreds who are graSping.
Mr.. Yeldell-I am prohibitonst
and have always been. Eighty per
n,f IF ani, In, h,S - &, 4 l..
this hellish stuff. Thousands of our
brightest young men die from this
cause. 1t invades our homes and our
society. All around US we see it's ef-
fects. II destroys health and life. 1t
brings down youth to the grave.
Makes wives widows and children
orphans. Though | am prohibition
ist, yet feel called upon to lay aside
my hearts desires and to express my
self as favoriLg the present system
rather than q mock prohibition. |
was a member ia 1892, and was
anxious for prohibition law to be en-
acted. 1t is very fortunate for the
cause that prohibition was not carried.
Thousands Of the best people in South
Carolina have locked arms with the
liquor men and have brought about
this unfortunate state Of affairs in
which they hope to wreck the dispen-
sary. The result will be baneful to
prohibition.
Mr. Mccullough felt that he would
he recreant to his feelings and to the
good people of South Carolina not to
express his views on this subject. He
replied to Mr.. Garris who was opposed
to the particular measures OF this
particular bill, but does not say wheth-
er he will vote for q clean cut prohibi.
tion law. Mr.. Chiids' bill knocks out
also the feature Of profit. The State
the courts of South Caroliua over the
rights to sell liquor. He believes thai
the dispensary system is wrong, The
to do that which is wrong for the In
dividual citizen.
Mr. Yeldell states that although the
principles of the dispensary are wrong
yet good results may accrue from il
Here he recited an incident in the lif,
of Abraham Lincoln, In which tha
great American stated that he woulC
rather die than 10 accomplish goo,
through evil means. Passing by tn,
State dispensary every day he coul,
see barrels upon barrels of liquor com
ing In, and for what purpose ? T.
make drunkards drunker? No, t
make the sober drunk, for the sale /
drunkards Is prohibited. Better sci
to the drunkards and not to the sober
What is the object OF government
To develop man. The dispensery is
part OF our government. Look at tn
picture. The States educational ir
atttuttnna 6aualnpin0 uh n :, tho Ctafa