The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-03-22
4 NORTHERN VIEW
Of the Working of the South Caro-
lima Dispensary.
THINKS IT is A GOOD LAW.
The unQuestioned Success At
tanned Under the Law. Should
Commend it to the Study
of Temperance People.

| SSllIIllSitN IL ~ kltS
of Temperance People.
The March number Of the Zion
Herald, published at Boston, contains
the following report Of an investigation
into the operation of the dispensary
law:
We arrived at Columbia, the capital
Of South Carolina, about 5 p. N.
Learning that the legislature was in
session IN the evening, we looked IN on
both houses and listened for consider
bic time to the proceedings. While
the dispensary law was up for consld-
Grafton, we observed that it was true
as we had been previously informed
that both senators and representatives
were very careful to profess that they
believed in it and were supporters OF
it. This fact indicates the measure OF
approval of the act which is now gener.
al throughout the state; but more OF
this later. The Negro of the South
has been so thoroughly eliminated from
politics and Office holding that there is
| but one colored man in the house and
pone in the senate. As there are cities
in the State. notably Charlesto0, where,
if we remember correctly, there are
more Negroes than white people, 1t will
| BE seen that the process OF elimination
is very successful. The personnel OF
both houses was very credltable, and
the speeches heard were able and peril
nent. The speaker of the house and
the president of the senate were ar
rayed in richly -colored robes-a custom
we have not seen in any other common
wealth. The State house is cherries
and unattractive building, looking more
like a railroad station than anything
else.
Columbia has population of twenty
FIVE thousand people, but the city as a
whole is disappointing. There are
spacious streets, but they are unpaved,
and the sidewalks, if there be any
worthy the name, even on the main
business streets, are perllous. South
ern cities are very poorly lighted IN the
evening. 1t is difficult to understand
how the people, with so fine location
and city so well laid out, can be so
Indifferent to improvements which, a.
slight expense, would add so much to
its beauty and convenience.
But we are here to study the dlspen,.
sary law, and so devote our time to 1t,
mainly. The next morning, with an
apologetic air (for no one is supposed to
60 into the dispensary except to buy
liquor and it cannot be purchased else
where), we asked to be directed to
dispensary. 1t was few doors from
our hotel. We recognized it because
the word ''Dispensary' was painted
across the front window; and this Is all
the sign or indication that is allowed.
1t is little after 9 o'clock in the morn
ing. and when We enter we find no other
person there except man behind the
counter. and here we are at last, III
dispensary! What sort Of a place
is it? Certainly not an inviting
place in which to linger. There Is not
a picture on the naked wall, nor IS
there any chance to sit down, not even
on a three-legged stool. There are no
refreshments Of any kind to attract the
driukcr, such as are advertised by the
saloons of our cities. And, as If TO
prevent any social relation or conversa-
ton between buyer and seller, the
manager is shut in behind his high,
broad counters, fenced away from all
close contact with his visitors. Moth
Ing is to be seen in this store, which IS
perhaps thirty feet deep and twenty
feet wide, in addition to what has been
mentioned, except bottles on the plain
shelves on either side of the counters.
We commence our inquiries, which are
respectfully answered. The dispcnsary
is open from sunrise to sunset. never
erenings. Any adul. can purchase
liquor, if he is known not to be drunk-
ard or man whose wife has requested
the manager not to sell liquor to him.
No minor can purchase liquor IN dis
pensary. The dispensary is not open
Sundays, holidays or evenings. Every
particle of liquor bought in the State
must be purchased at the dispensary
under these and more exacting ard in
violable conditions. Every bottle OF
liquor is sealed, and the seal must be
broken outside the dispensary, and IN
no instance can it be tested or drunk
on the premises. There are four dis
pensaries in this city Of 25, 900.
We are not arguing this case, but
reporting it. We are anxious, how
ever. that our readers should catch the
full significance Of what it means to
thus strangle the liquor trade and crowd
it into such confinement. How would
it seem in good old New England if
there were no saloons and no entlce-
mcnts to drink, no treating, and no op-
portunities for going into place to
purchase liquors and drinkingit there?
How would it seem if no boy or-to
our shame be 1t said-girl could go into
anv place IN our cities aud purchase
wine and other intoxicants? How
would it seem if there were no selling
Of liquor among US in the evening or
night, when carnivals Of hell are carrl-
cd on in our very sight? With US the
laboriug man is enticed into the saloon
in the evening, and wastes there his
substance and himself in riotOus living,
only to go to his home, late, drunken,
robbed and ugly. Nothing Of this kind
can take place in South Carolina. The
manager Of the dispensary is put under
So, 900 bonds, and his bond is good for
two years after he resigns or is removed
from his Office; and if he violates a sin
gle one Of the many conditions under
which he acts, his bondsnen are liable.
In the half hour that we remained III
that dispensary four people came IN to
buy liquor-three negroes and one white