The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-02-16
, Due and Jnst Exemption.


Whatever is to be said foror against
the dispcnsary law, it will be general
ly conceded that the House acted
properly and Justly in cxcmrting
Oconcc, York and Pickens from its
further operations. for the reasons
given by the Representatives Of those
Counties.
MIR. Werner stated on behalf of
Oconcc County, that its people do not
want the law because they do not want
70 buy and sell Intoxicating liquors.
They were satisfied with prohibi
ton and in such conditions it was
a wrong and an injustice to force the
hurtful traffic on them. That it has
been hurtful was plainly shown. The
County was Il prohibition County
when the dispcnsary was forced on it..
Every man aud woman in the town
where the dispcnsary is located pcti-
toned for its removal The authori-
ties had to buy y lot outside Of the
town for its purposes. The enforced
presence Of the concern led speedily
to the development OF it's peculiar
business The first year it sold
$500 worth of liquors. The second
year it sold So, 1000 worth. The third
year it sold $4,000 worth. 4 pro
fesscdly moral law was employed to
dcmoralizc the community, or 50
much Of it rs could be dcmoralizcd, in
face Of the protests and petitions Of
the community itself rs a whole.
1t was the same story in tho case Of
York. There is but one dispcnsary
in the County. The people were sat
isfied with prohibition. The State
dispcnsary officials wanted to estab-
lish a disrensary at the Court House,
Yorkvillc. The people Of the town
| protested against it. The people of
Rock Hill did the same. 1t was cs-
tablishcd at the little village Of Tir-
zah. THE whole community has
been cursed by it, and by the origi-
/ nal package store which it made pc
siblc. A few days ago ''the fourtec..
voters at Tirzah voted against the dis
penser and his clerk alone voted for
it,
The right and plain view Of the mat
ter was distinctly presented by the
advocates Of the proposed exemption.
Mr.. Mccullough said lit was a
burning shame to force the law or
Counties that did not want it, mean
ing Counties which did not want the
liquor traffic which it authorizes. Mr..
Stevenson s'rcad the law and said the
present status was unjustly forced on
these Counties "It is not a uues-
tion of politics. lie declared, but one
Of Justice
DR.. Wychc took ii comprehensive
view Of the matter. Gle thought It
better to pass Il local option BILL and
he was right. 1t was wrong to force
the dcmoralizing traffic on Counties
which had forbidden it. 1t is Just as
wrong to continue it in force In Coun-
ties which would prohibit it if they
were allowed to do SO. Giving all due
weight to the argument that the liquor
traffic cannot be suppressed wholly in
any community, and that it is proper
and expcdicnt, therefore, for it's con
| duct under sanitary and police regula-
tions, the counter argument that a
community which prohibits the traffic
and s; disconragcs it, and tries to up
| press it, should have the fullest sup
| port Of the State in their commcnda-
bic %cndeavor, must prevail. Every
| good and right law should he made
general in its application. There
cannot be too many exceptions to a
bad one. "Prohibition" should be
made practicable and easy of adoption
to every County, and every communi-
ty, and every person, who desires to
adopt it and practice it. A local op-
tion law would do this.
The House came short Of the full
measure OF its duty and opportunity
in not extending the exemption 80
justly and wisely accorded TO three
Counties, to every other County that
should choose to claim it on the same
tcrms.-Ncr and Conrier.
Tjun uI,udrob Dotioufc