The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1900-11-22
GOVERNORS QUESTIONS
About Enforcement of the Dlspensary
Law.

Is again endeavoring to fDSi the pulse
Of the people Of the State in rcSard to
the dispensary law. He is doing this
by writing to mayors of cities and in
| tendants Of towns, asking il they are
enforcing the law, etc. These officials,
with one exception so far, declare that
they are trying to carry out the law
as they are sworn to do. Quite a
number OF mayors have been heard
from, the most unique reply being that
of the chief executive OF Yorkville.
The mayor Of Columbia has not re-
piled.
The governors circl\.' to lie mu-
nicipal executives reads as follows:
Columbia, Nov. 1, $50.
Dear Sir: Soon after l came into
boffice addressed q communication to
the mayors and intendants Of the
varions cities and towns in this State,
asking their cooperation in the en-
forcemelt OF the dispensary law. The
response which l received werc very
encouraging and / am sure that this
request for the cooperation OF the
municipal authorities resulted in good
and better enforcement Of the law.
My purpose now is not only to renew
my request for the hearty co-opera-
tiCn OF the municipal authorities in
the enforcement of this law but also
to receive any suggestions that any OF
these officers may feel inclined to
make. Irasmuch as the people Of the
State have shown in several elections
by a ver,1 decided majority that they
are in favor Of the, dispensary system
it seems to me that the best thing for
all good citizens to do IS to go earn
estly to work to amend and improve
the law and as far as possible perfect
the system. This should be the duty
not only of those who are in favor OF
the system, but also OF those who
have opposed it.
I have endeavored to enforce the
law without friction and without
bloodshed and l feel gratifled at the
result. l feel satisfied, that the only
way to secure a strict enforcement OF
the law is to have a healthy public
sentiment in favor of its enforcement.
This can be accomplished much bet
ter when all the law officers in the
State, including the municipal au-
thorities, cooperate with the special
ccnstsbles in its enforcement. l desire
to certain information in regard to
the enforcement of the law In your
town and in order to get it l will ap-
preciate it II you would answer the
questions which l enclose herewith. l
am fully convinced that much OF the
prejudice which has heretofore existed
against the dispensary law does not
now exist and great many OF those
who at one time bitterly opposed it
have come to realize that 1t Is the
btst solution Of the liquor question
that has yet been devised. The prin-
cipal thing now is to have 1t properly
enforced and with a healthy public
sentiment in its favor and realiza'
ton on the part OF the municipal au-
thorities that it is part Of their duty
to assist and cooperate in its en-
forcement violations Of the law will
grow less and less. 1t is my desire t
see that Illicit sales of whiskey are put
down and also that those in charge OF
the dispensary do not violate the law
either.
II s0ecial constables are not needed
in your town to assist the police will
withdraw them and on the contrary
if they are need / will be glad to have
you indicate it and will see that they
are sent. I believe as rule you can
enforce the law better with your own
police than it can be done by special
constable.
I would like to have an early re-
sronse fror, you to the questions
which l have asked and also any sug-
gestions which you may think ad-
visable for the improvement and en-
rorcement of the law and | will be
clad to have you give your views
fully. Yours truly,
M. B. McS,. EENEY,
Governor.
The questions submitted to Iue mu-
nicipal executives were as follows:
/. Is the dispensary law strictly en-.
forced in your town?
2. Have you given instructions to
your police to enforce the law?
8. Do you need ii special State con-
stable to assist the municipal authorl-
ties in its enforcement?
4. Is the sentiment of your town IN
favor OF the Sspensary law and its
strict enforcement?
5. Are you and your city council in
favor Of the strict enforcement of the
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