The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-01-18

tnat us pIOuluttioo caautoate po''eu
the foll prohibition vote in the FIRST
primary. while 10 the second he poled
the vote of the antagonists Of the dis
pensary system, from whatever cause
that autsgonism arose, aud. 10 addition,
.be strength of all the ''sore-heads"
and a.sgruDtled office seekers and
politicians of both factions. The
election in Charleston is striking
evidence of this. Il will hardly be
disputed that, if the people of Charles
ton want prohibition, as their votes
would seem to show, it is because they
feel sure that under that system there
will be practically 90 restraint on the
sale Of whiskey.
Turning now TO the practical consid
GRAFTON of the dispenssry, lido not think
whiskey should be sold iu any couuty
where the majority Of the people favor
prohibition. | therefore recommend the
submission Of the liquor question to the
qualified electors of each county, that
each couasy may vote as it prefers.
Any county, however. that votes for
prohibition should be made to bear all
expenses Of enforcing the prohibitory
Law and such should not receive any
OF the profits from the dispensary.
Under the constitution, she profits ac-
| cruing erom the sale of liquor go to the
support of our free schools Now the
county of Marlboro, which never had 8
dispeosary, and which is nov under the
most rigid from of prohibition. With
no possibility Of legal liquor traits with
In it's borders, receives It's proportioDase
share Of dispeusary profits, while at the
same time the State is charged With
naiasaining conssables il that county
TO enforce the Law and prevent the sale
of liquor. Il submit that this is unfair
to the other counties. The same thing
obtains in the county Of York where the
only dispensary, the one at Tirzab. has
been discontinued. leaving the county
without asy place where liquor eau be
legally boughszfuu will call to mind
that these TWO counties are close to the
North Carolins boundry, and it is we'll
known that there is large Influx Of
Bhiskey from distilleries across the line.
by wagons and other conveyapces.
OF course. these counties may have
liquor imported for personal use with
out restriction. but it can not be sold
legally. / believe that it is but right
and just for those counties which have
prohibition, or may hereafter adopt it
as the means Of controlling the liquor
traffic. to be taxed to enforce such laws,
nor should they receive any part of the
profits arising from the sale Of liquor 10
the other counties. TO add to their
school funds If the county officers,
magistrates and sherids, enforce the
Law. veil and good-there will be no
need for constables bns if they do not,
the governor should be given the au
thorisy. upon petition setting forth such
violosion, to appoint conssables, and to
require levy in such counties sufficient
for their maintenance.
Now let us consider matters concern
ing the administration of the Law other
than those mentioned as dealiog with
it's violations. When the dispensary
system was 6rss inaugerased, the State
board was composed of the governor.
the oomp,rolles general. and the atsor
ney general, ex-oficio, aud in these
was vested the power TO appoint the |
State commissioner aud the county
board of control. and to exercise geoer-
al supervision over the working of the !
dispersary in the whole State. After
the retirement of Governor Tillman, in
the middle of Governor Evans term.
the legislature chaaged this provision,
and created new State board of con-
troll, consisting Of FIVE members to be
elected by itself The governor was
ief, without official connection with the
dispepsary, except the right to appoint
and control the conssables. This sys
ten has now been 10 force three years.
and. in my opinion, it has failed to ac-
complish the purposes of its advocates.
The idea was to divorce the dispeosary
system from politics and to put it IN
der strictly business management
No scch result has followed 1t is no.
torious that the dispensary is as much
OF more in politics than it ever was.
AS governor, | nave had little or no
authority 10 connection with the ad-
Illustration of the Law, and no power
of restraint or direction over it; and
ye. I have been held responsible By the
people at large, aud BY my enemies in
particular. for the mistakes aud short.
comings OF its management. RESPONSE
bili,y without authority is most IN
pleasant aud uojust burden and while
do 90. seek additional responsibilities
in eonnection With the dispensarv.