The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-06-15

cost of Furnishing all high crimes and
misdemeanors, as we'll as supporting
all pauper and pauper lunatics sup
posed to have been made such by
licensed whiskey
1t was just such accumulation of
iniquities ss those that aroused the
former bitter prejudice and jealousy
of the country people against the
towns which displayed itsel: vigor
| ously in 1890 and again manifested
its deep rooted strength in 1892.
where majority ofthe voters at side
election declared for prohibition, and
it has unmistabably exhibited itself
third time in patiently submitting to
the tyrannical dispensary substitute
for prohibition. and although that
substitute has proven an unwise, cor
rupt and extravagant failure yet rural
voters are still ready to try any other
method of licensing whiskey, than
going back to the old one sided plan
OF having the towns boss the job and
pocket the Profits.
"The only other cause that probab
" contributed a good deal to that
surprising prohibition vote 10 1892
was disgust at the general adultera
ton of bar room whiskey that then
prevailed by reason of the absence of
any expert official inspection to pre-.
vent it. defect since partially re
medied by the dispensary which is
the only original redeeming feature
Of the dispenssry, aud q feature that
can easily be ingrafted on a county
license system
.Rural voters should ponder we'll
the present absurd state of our dis
pensary license law. in that. although
the constitution seems to forbid any
town granting license, yet, such town
can and does still establish State
dispensary bar, despite neighboring
rural voters, who are just as helpless
as they ever were about town
granting license. and then getting
large part of the "net income for
town purposes /" 1t was intended TO
bribe the towns to get them to sup.
port State bars against county bars
as the price for allowing the towns
"local option" while denying it to
rural voters altogether Can the lat
ter continue to be hoodwinked much
longer Rustic voters out of self
respect should punish such double
dealing.
..The forty counties in the State by
moderate license at each court
house, and al. numerous other eligible
towns. could probably pay 100000
year into their several county
treasures. In Jolly. 1893. according
to Governor Tillman's message Of
that year, the amount of license
money paid into the towns and county
treasures of the State, in 1892. was
S2l5, 1872. and if that big sum was
collected that year. when between
forty and fifty towns and villages as
we'll as SIX whole counties had pro-
hibition, It is safe presumption that
q general and jadicious licensing of
whiskey sales at only eligible places
would now yield probably 100000
County bar rooms would gather Ii
ceose money for couasy purposes. while
dispeo..ry bars would only save "ces
income" Git aay,) partly to educate
the negro
Besides, license money from county
bars would go to reducelaxes. whereas,
.uet inc.mer from dispeussry or State
bars of any kind, would yield mighty
little Income for public schools or for
anything else. because nearly all. or at
least about $500 600 has to 60 for the
salaries. wages. fees, shortages, aud
st4slages of the four or Eve hundred
of6:ers. agents, and employees of the
diapenssry. who get twice or three
times as much pay Us they ought and
should be made to hustle for living.
oultivsting cotton at I've cents. or toll
log at other hard jobs these hard times,
like otAer people.
when the dispsnsary weos iuto
operation 10 July 1898. there we're 6l2
private licensed bars in full blast.
whose license tax as before said, vas
oct pro6s to the public. Now. the
State has only 80 dispeosaties. but they
cost so immeose SUN. which must be
earued before ooe dollar is oetted to the
State For instance, to say nothing
of many other large items Of ex.
peuse, the average annual cost of each
OF these dispensaries for salaries alone.
is abou. $2,222 approximately as fol-
lows
County board of control, three
members for each county, at
500, s 10000
80 dispensers at an average of
700. $4,000