The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-01-12
RECORD OF THE DIsPENsARY,
The State Board OF Control Promises
q Full Exhibit OF it's History
Hunting for Places on tho ROard

Col. Il. Larry CAN'T, of the Spartan
burg Evening Star, has been to Colum.
bia recently, and tells what he heard
at the capital.
Great interest is manifested in what
the Legislature will do about the dis.
pensary law, but the general impres.
zion Is that the present law will be left
practically unchanged. The prohibi.
tionists throughout the State are thor
oughly organized and are confident OF
overthrowing the dispensary, but the
advocates OF the dispensary system
have q decided majority and say the
law is is in no danger whatever.
The State board OF control, 80 re-
ports say, will make statement tC
the Legislature that will produce a
profound sensation. One Of its lead.
| ing members remarked to the Star
editor that 1t was right the people
| should know the full workings OF that
institution from the day it opened till
the present hour, and they were now
gathering facts and figures. They pro.
pose to show just hat the dlspensary
has done each year and where every
dollar received has been expended.
They will show how the cost OF liquor
to the State has beer largely reduced
in spite of the fact that the tax there
on has been increased 20 cents per
gallon. They will also show that con-
costing 100000 year, more than the
salaries uf every State official COM
bined, and more than South Carolina
pays to maintain any three Of her edu-
cational institutions.
The members Of the State board are
managing the affaire OF the dispensary
in Straight. forward, business-like
manner and will court the most rigid
investigation of their every transac-
tion. They will show how they have
brought the dispensary up from q
losing venture to pay to the public
school fund OF our State 500, 900 every
month and besides an equal sum to the
cities and counties.
1t is mistake about Governor Eller-
be opposing the dtspensary or even de-
string Its control to be put back in the
charge OF the State House officers.
Governor Ellerbe was elected on q
clean cut dispensary issue, and he in
tends to stand by the pledges he made
the people, and stand by the present
law. He will probably recommend a
few changes, but they will be imma.
terial. We receive this information
from q gentleman in close touch with
The Governor.
There will be two now members of
the State board to elect, one to succeed
Mr.. M. r. Cooper, and the other Mr..
Douthit, whose term has expired.
There Is no doubt about Mr.. Douthit's
recollection, for as Captain Webb, chief
bookkeeper, remarked, "DOuthlt is
the Corlss engine of the State board,
and whenever there Is any hard or dis
agreeable work to do he volunta tarily as
sumes the task" Mr.. Simmons, of Col
Teton County, will also be candidate,
and he Is very highly spoken of. The
friends OF Mr.. Cole Blease, OF New
berry, say that he will also enter the
race
It is conceded that the contest for
the superintendent Of the peniten.
tiary lies between Col. Neal and Mr..
Griffith but there is not shadow Of a
doubt about Col. Noal's reelection, and
he will 60 in on the first ballot by a
decisive, majority. Col. Neal has dis
charged his duties satisfactorily,
honestly, fearlessly and to the best in
terest OF the tag payers 0f our State.
In spite OF the low price of cotton and
the seed sprouting in the boil, reduc-
ing the grade Of that staple raised on
the State farm, and the further fact
that the majority of the convicts are
now given to the different counties,
Col. Neal will turn into the State
treasury before the Legislature meets
$40, 900 In cash, besides expending more
than that sum in permanent improve.
ments on the property. Col. Neal, as
of the most progressive and successful
farmers in the South, and he would
not have accepted State Office but for
the fact that he wanted to move to
| some city where he could educate his
large family of children.
Capt. Wharton, Of Laurens, is q
member of the board Of penitentiary
| directors and has opposed Col. Nea
| for reelection. Capt. Wharton remarked
to the editor OF this paper: "As
every one knows, was elected to my
present position against the protest o,
Neal, and was his open and avoweG
enemy in fact, Col. Neal did all he
could to prevent me taking my seat al
o member of his board. 1t was my In
tention to become candidate against
him for election, but after being as
sociated with Col. Neal 80 long and In
timately and closely, I have become
one of his most ardent friends and
staunchest supporters. 1t was my duty
and intent to watch Col. Meals every
|
wrong or crooked about the manage
meat Of the State penitentiary tC
publish the fact to the world but
know whereof speak when l assert
that there never breathed q more fair
minded, honest, incorruptible an(
clear sighted business man than w
A. Neal. He watches the expenditure
of every nickle made from the State
funds, and | know he has saved the
tax payers the salary be has received
ten times over. Our board OF direc
tors is composed OF honorable, high
minded and responsible business mer
and the entire madagement OF the
State penitentiary comes under our di
rect supervision. If there had heer
anything crooked about the business
since Col. Neal has haG charge OF 1
we would have discovered and report
ed the same, for 1t was our duty to loot
into every transaction. Col. Neal ha
already been vindicated against th'
old charges made against him by un
| . ho ri lofn