The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-10-18
STOp, THIEF!

We have refrained from giving ex-
preston to our views, regarding the
recent performances OF the State
Board OF Control for the reason, that
we first wanted to become better &C
ouainted with the issues, but the
longer we wait, the more confused
we get, except on one point, viz: The
board in summarily dismissing Com
missioner Douthit and shipping clerk
QUITS, without giving them hearing
convinces US of the existence of a
factional feud among the members,
and that Douthit and QUITS are the
victims of partisan spleen. The dis
charged men may be guilty OF the
charges preferred by Haselden and
Robinson, yet the accused had {"
right to face their accusers and de-
fend themselves, this right was refus-
ed them by the board. Donthit has
applied to the courts for relief, and
QUITS makes his defense in the press;
II QUITS tells the truth, then
the action of the board shows
method in desiring to rid themselves
of men who would not be plant tools.
We do not pretend to vouch for QUITS
declarations, but discount his state
ments so per cent, we then Ind
in them enough to suspect a secret
bond between Miles, HaseIden and
Robinson, for the purpose of making
money out Of the dispensary. We
have been, and are still a believer in
the dispenssry plan to control the
liquor traffic, but rather than be an
noyed with the filthy scandals that
emanate from the State Board of
Control, we would be willing for the
entire system to go to the wall, and
return the nefarious traffic back to
those from whom it was taken. The
dispensary's throughout the State
with but few exceptions have done a
great deal Of good, and if each county
could have the management of its
own liquor traffic with q general su-
pervision by State officials, such as
the Auditors and Treasurer's are
now under, perhaps the thing could
be managed better, but there is no
doubt about it, the management by a
State Board Of Control is q colossal
humbug and legalized opportunity
for nasty, dirty, scandals, besides a
seething mass of corruption.
Ever since the establishment OF a
State Board of Control, there has
been elimination and recrimination,
and now the concern is being shown
up by discharged employee in a
manner to disgust the strongest ad-
vocates of the dispensary system.
We have no hesitency in saying the
legislature should at the coming ses-
sion devise some plan to rid the State
of the present management. The
State Board as now organized must
60, even if the whole system has TO
60 with it. The people are worked
up against those who are constantly
accusing each other with being COR
rupt, aud they have about come to
the conclusion that both factions OF
the board are telling the truth.
"Wben thieves fall out honest men
get their Dues" is an old saying, and
now that an uncompromisiug row is
on between the two factions OF the
State Board of Control, the people
will become acquainted with all OF the
rottenness about the institution.
We believe the Legislature Can de-
wise plan whereby the dispensary
can be run with the same smoothness
as other departments OF the State,
but to do so, no political hacks on
the make, should have place in its
management. In the counties where
the liquor is sold there is very little
trouble, occasionally dispenser gets
short, but such things will happen in
all institutions where money is hand
led, banks, factories, post Offices,
stores, in fact, in almost ell kinds OF
business but these are merely incl
dents of business which can be rene
died. The trouble that af1icts the
the dispensary system and which is
causing the people to become very
restleness is at headquarters, where
the liquor is bought, when ever cog
slips, out creeps a scandal and those
at the head of affairs are charged
with bribery, theft, and all manner of
crime; the charges coming so often
and with such a clear presentation ss
is made by QUITS, leaves conviction
that there is more merit in the QUITS
indictment against Miles, Haselden