The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-01-17

pie from the country to the towns and
cities, as in present conditions country
people are denied easy access 70 the
churches and schools.
'Thc country he says SIS the
prcservcr Of true manhood aud the fos-
ter father Of manly Independence.
Nothing will conducc more to the de-
vclopmcnt and dcsraDility "a. place
Of residence than the building Of good
roads
"Our conditions are such that it
would scarcely be wise to levy an ad
ditional tax for this purpose But by
wise and p.oper use Of the means at
our disposal much more might be ac-
complishcd than is now done. In
many the counties much Of the work
on public roads is but shiftlcss pre-
tcncc. Under our system Of county
chain gangs, if the force were kept at
work on permanent improvements and
the building Of permanent roads in
stead Of cleaning out ditchcs and
throwing Il little dirt in the middle,
which has to bc done over after each
rain, mucl more might be accomplish
ed. Some Of the counties have real
izel he Importance Of this permanent
work and as Il result good aud perma
ncnt roads are being built submit
for your consideration the Importance
Of requiring all county chain gang, to
be kept on permanent work and not be
permitted TO friltcr away their time on
worn that ~ll have to be done over
two or three times year.
TIE bIsrENsARY QUESTION.
There is no question that will en-
gage your attention at this session
that will demand more careful thought
and in which there is more interest
manifested than that OF the control Of
liquor. 1t is important that you
should take hold of the question in a
positive and direct manner lnd meet
the issue s1uarcly. Under the const-
tuition OF the State there are only three
modes allowed for dealing with this
question. The general assembly may
license persons or corporations to man
ufacturc and sell and retail alcoholic
liquors or beverages within the State
or the general assembly may prohibit
the manufacture aud sale and retail Of
alcoholic liquors and beverages within
the State; or it may authorize and
empower State, county and municipal
officers, all or either, under the au-
thority and in the name Of the State,
To buy in any market ard retail within
the State liquors and beverages in such
packages and quantities, under such
rules and regulations as it deems cx-
pcdient And in no case shall it be
sold in less quantities than QUE half
pint or between sun n-down and sun rise,
and it shall not be drunk on the prem
iscs. Neither can the general assem-
bly, delegate to any municipal corpo
ration the power to issue licenses to
sell the same. Under the last altern
ative the dispcnsary law is in force
at the present time and in view Of the
era of material progress and develop
mcnt upon which the State has enter
cd, | do not believe it would be wise or
good business judgment to refer this
question to popular election. Not
that there is any uncasincss or unwill-
ingncss to trust the people, but it
would have tendency to renew strifcs
and bitterness and cngcnder bad feel
ing, and ! believe would rctard the
progress Of the State in its material
development. Much of the prejudice
that has heretofore existed against the
dispensary law has been broken down
and many of the most bitter opponents
have come to realize its good features
and are ready and willing and anxious
to sec it improved and enforced. With
certain amendments which seem ne
cessary, and which will commend
themselves to your good judgment,
should be made at the present session,
and with the proper enforcement of
the law, it is the best solution of the
liquor question yet devised. Even
those who Onpose tho diRnensarv law
admit that it has good features.
Whiskey has been put under tho ban,
and whether you prohibit it, license
it, or take entire charge Of it, the
principle is the same. 1t seems to me
that it would be good judgment to take
hold Of the present law and amend and
improve it. Prohibition is very nice
in theory, but in existing circumstan-
ces and conditions I do not believe
that it would be practicable. Ex-