The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-12-08
ABOUT THE DISPENSARY.
ITS OPERATIONS.

ITS OPERATIONS.
A Question For The Legislature.
North Carolina Baptist.
The Legislature just elected will
have this question before them square,
~. The Dispensary has been tried in
North Carolina and has proved sue.
cess in lessenlng the evils of drink.
We shall speak from personal observa-
ton. The Dlspensary in Fayetteville
has been closely watched by US. We
worked hard for its establishment in
order to overthrow the dozen saloons
in the town. It was opened in the
face of violent opposition. The Su-
perior and the Supreme Courts were
invoked to close its doors. The saloon
power was not ready to give up with
out hard fight, and every effort was
made to destroy the "infant industry"
But 1t was not so easily destroyed. On
the other hand, 1t has gone on making
friends right and lett, in town and
country, among residents and non-resi-
dents. Many who opposed its establi-
shment and fought it before the Legis-
lature are now earnest advocates of it.
OF course it has its enemies. There
are those directly interested in the H.
quor traffic, those indirectly interested
and some who just want the old saloon
system, who are ready to stab 1t when
ever the opportunity occurs. From OBJ
servation and inquiry we are of the
opinion thata large majority of the
better element of our people are IN ia
vor of the Dispensary remaining in
our midst. There are some amend
ments necessary to the law, but the
principle has proven itself worthy
OF support. It has materially lessened
drunkenness, both in the town and
country. Immediately after its estab-
lishment there were more "blind tigers
than for some time, but aggressive
work on the part of state and federal
courts soon cured a number of offend
ers. The illicit traffic now is not very
large.
The Dispensary opens at sunrise and
closes at sunset. It does not sell to
minors or drunkards. There are now
on the books of the institution a num-
ber of "proscribed" persons. The man.
ager and his assistants do not sell to
them. It is an easy matter to get a
drunkard on the "dead list. There
is no drinking in the place and no
treating. There is no congregating
about the place. It has no back door,
no billiard attachment, no
eating department. The liquors
are sold in packages and deliv.
cred direct to the purchaser. A salari-
ed man runs it. The profits go into
the city and county treasury. Both OF
these have received far more money
during the past year than they did un-
der the old saloon license system.
This feature OF it has won over those
who favored the saloons as revenue
getters. The Dispensary closes on big
political days and when there appears
anything like trouble In the city.
The institution is not perfect oh nc
but with some amendments it will con-
tinue to lessen drunkenness in this
country. We favor 1t as police
measure. It there we're the possibility
OF getting established prohibition IN
this country we would strive for the
overthrow OF the dispensary. 1t is a
step toward prohibition by the elimin'
alton of the traffic from politics and
the elimination of the profit feature
from the dealer.
There are yet many towns in this
State which are cursed with the open
saloon. It you can get prohibition
go to work for it at once. If there is
no possible chance for it, go to work
now to get dispensary established by
the nexta legislature. We would be
glad that the people of North Carolina
could have period of experience with
out the terrible. curse of the open sa
loon. It they could, we believe thai
like our sister, South Carolina, We
would soon have the saloons forever
outlawed by the constitution.
The secret of success in life is for {
man to be ready for his opportunit,
when it comes.-Disraeli.
A holy life has q voice; it speak
when the tongue is silent, and is either