The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-11-22
Wednesday, Nov. %, 1899.
1t Fools Nobody.
The State says :

The State says:
The Abbeville Press and Banner Ia becom-
ing addicted TO the habit OF complimentng
The State. Here is the latest:
I'VE would suggest that the legislature ap.
poInt The State q committee Of one, with
bower 10 send for persons and papers, and
ibe appointment OF a sworn stenographer
who shall record every word OF the testimony.
sired TO increase the number OF the commit
tee add two members of the house and Two
from the senate OF the chairman's choosing,
who shall report TO the general assembly, fur.
said report 10 based.
"If there has been fraud In the manage
ment OF the dispensary we want TO know It.,
and the public IL entitled to the information.
..If our memory serves US correctly there
has been made within the last few years, q
whole lot Of charges and insinuation against
public officials, or candidates for office, and
as far as we can now recollect. very few OF
them have been proven.
"Let US have the investigation OF the dis.
pensary, and let those who are opposed to 1t
be placed on the committee.
ut Is time that charges and lns1nuatlons
give glace to proof and we hope that all the
Investigation that 10 desired may be had In
the most thorough manner. and that II any
member Of the board has been guilty OF
misconduct that he be dismissed at once
LET the investigation proceed. The max,
ing Of unproven charges is one thing and
wrong doing are two different things"
The State further says:
lift were possible for The State to find out
the secret workings OF the dispensary the
public wonld have known the facts long ago
without any appointment from the legisla'
ture.
AS the Press and Banner Is always serious.
we infer that there Is no attempt at humor In
the suggestions above, 80 that we may re-
mind the Abbevllle paper that the legiSla-
mittee and besides there is no probability
that the legislature would wish to do 80.
But even II q committee OF In vestigation were
appointed, 1t would hardly discover very
the confines OF this State and the witnesses
who are in this State could not very we'll
give evidence without discriminating them
selves. Should an investigation be ordered.
the committee ought 10 be composed OF hon
est men, be they favorable or opposed to the
dispensary, men who would not fail or fear to
~ While i we We believe that an investigation
might reveal some interesting scandals, II is
quite evident that the plea for an investigs-
On II sssson b aDd
next summers campaign. This attempt to
stave of the fight is too transparent 10 fool
anybody who has grain OF sense. The peo-
pie should be already convinced that the
dispensary Is q rotten and corrupt machine
and II the legislature interprets public senti-
ment correctly, we believe the system will be
abolished at the approaching session.
The dlspensaryites OF the Abbeviile Press
and Banner stripe are not the wisest friends
OF the great moral institution. The sharper
members OF that party are ready TO admit
some short comings just enough to make q
compromise possible, and to agree certain
changes. The sponsor for the dispensary is
so doing he hopes TO avoid an Investigation
while at the same time winning over enc
mies by offering the semblance OF q reform in
BODY bod ss Who is not ss an1ions % to % be fooled 't
The only remedy, as we have pointed out
before. is for the opponents OF the dispensary
TO combine and abolish 1t. for they have the
power. There Is nothing to be gained by q
compromise such as is offered, which Is
wholly to the advantage Of the dispensary.
and an investigation would not convince
which refuse to be Influenced by the abund.
ance Of evidence brought TO light during the
whole period Of the dispensary's existence.
Upon which the Press and Banner would
remark:
1.-THE good name OF the dispensary demands
It, investigation should be made Of the con-
duct OF the institution.
II fraud is being perpetrated on the public
the guilty parties should be removed and
brought to justice.
The gentlemen OF the Board Of Control who
support Douthit in cheating the public by
placing XXX's on x. liquor and charging
the price of XXX-liquor for X liquor should
be allowed an opportunity to explain. AS
matters now stand their personal good name
as we'll as the purity OF their official record
may .be the subject OF unpleasant thoughts.
even II these gentlemen should escape open
and public denunciation.
The conduct OF the members OF the Board Of
Control in supporting Douthit in comm lifting
in their name an admitted fraud on the public
is one thing that should certainly be explain
ed. At this distance their position places
them at q disadvantage before the public.
We do not see how the men who try to cor.
rect irregularities should have 80 much
unlavorable criticism, while the men who
excuse Douthit for his admitted wrongdoing
should receive no attention.
We join The State most heartily and IN
all sincerely In demanding an investiga.
ion. We knew o! course that the Legis-
lature could not appoint The State on the
Investigating committee without his consent.
but we thought he might serve, and II he
would we know Of no one whom we believe to
be more able or more willing to expose any
rascalty that might exist. II this newspa.
per has any influence whatever we shall lend
our aid in the most vigorous search for
improper conduct in the dispensary.
In Justice to the gentlemen OF the Board Of
Control who have placed themselves In such
an ugly light before the public, we will
urge that they be allowed to tell the people OF
this State why they condoned or excused the
admitted fraud which was committed, by
another, in their own name.
There are some things which we do not
understand. and the attitude OF these gentle
men in excusing Douthit and desiring to con.
tinue him In office 10 one of them.