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

n OuC ttlu CtlSJ IIACIipllVUs
Whatever is to be said foror against
the dispcnsary law, it will be general
ly conceded that the House acted
properly and justly in exemptins
Oconee, York and Pickens from its
further operations, for the reasons
given by the Representatives of those
Counties.
Mr.. Werner stated on behalf of
Oconee County, that its people do not
want the law because they do not want
to buy and sell intoxicating liquors.
"They were satisfied with prohibi-
ton" and in such conditions it was
wrong and an injustice to force the
hurtful traffic on them. That it has
been hurtful was plainly shown. The
County was a prohibition County
when the dispensary was forced on it.
every man and woman in the town
where the dispensary is located petit
toned for it's removal. The authori-
ties chad to buy lot outside of the
town for it's purposes The enforced
presence of the concern led speedily
to the development Of its peculiar
business The first year it sold
$3.50 worth of liquors. The second
year it sold $1,000 worth. The third
year it sold $4,000 worth. A pro-
fessedly "moral law was employed to
demoralize the community, or SO
much Of it as could be demoralized, in
face Of the protests and petitions of
the community itself as whole.
1t was the same story in the case of
York. There is but one dispensary
in the County. The people were sat
isfed with prohibition. The State
dispensary officials wanted to estab-
lish dispensary at the Court House,
Yorkville. The "people'' Of the town
protested against it. The people of
Rock Hill did the same. 1t was es-
tablished at the little village Of Tir-
7oh ;IThe whole community has
been cursed by it, and by the origi-
nal package store which it made pos
sible. A few days ago "the fourteen
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 on
Counties that did not want it, mean
ing Counties which did not want the
liquor traffic which it authorizes. Mr..
Stevenson "read the law and said the
present status was unjustly forced on
these Counties. 1t is not a ques-
tion Of politics." he declared, but one
Of justice.
DR.. Wychc took a comprehensive
view of the matter. ':He thought it
better to pass local option bill, . and
he was right. 1t was wrong to force
the demoralizing 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 expcdient, therefore, for its con-
duct under sanitary and police regula-
tions, the counter argument that a
community which prohibits the traffic
and s; discourages it, and tries to sup
press it. should have the fullest sup
port of the State in their commenda-
bic endeavor, must prevail. Every
good and right law should be 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-
ry, 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 so
Justly and wisely accorded to three
Counties, to every other County that
should choose to claim it on the same
terms. Meats and Courier.
Nine Hundred Patients.