The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-11-30


the use and not the abuse of intoxicating
liquors. and yet under it there is more
drunkenness than before. 1t fosters de-
ception. too The value of a mans oath
in Maine has decreased so per cent Then
there is the spectacle of temperance
movements becoming identified with poll
tics.
High license is equally unsuccessful and
presents many of the same difficulties
| which prohibition occasions.
Previous to 1892, South Carolina had
local option. 1t was not success, and
a change became necessary. High license
would have been return to the saloon.
What was wanted was some system that
would restrain the abuse of Intoxicating
liquors and not prohibit their use in vain
fer mans love for strong drink can only
| be restrained, and not prohibited. The
! Dispensary System was the only one to
fit the need. 1t is one that is responsive
that to enlightened public opinion.
1t was tried and proved success. The
| hundreds OF saloons have been reduced
TO few government dispensaries. The
domination of local whskey rings is now
thing of the past In the last election
when the entire General Assembly was
elected solid for the dispensary. Local
authorities report a great decrease in the
number of drunkards. There has been
| tremendous falling off in the consump-
tion of LIQUOR. and therefore a great re-
duction in the amount of crime Not only
is the element of personal profit for the
Liquor traffic eliminated, but the liquor
money of the poor man is turned into an
income for schools and other public in
stitutions. Its plan eliminates the posi-
i bi.ity of control by rings The board of
control is elected by the Legislature, and
the county boards and constables are ap-
pointed by the board. 1t restraints eff
fectually the licuor traffic There are
no sales to drunkards or minors no
drinking on the premises, no opening of
packages, thereby doing away with the
meeting habit that is responsible for so
much drunkenness. Gambling dens and
pool rooms are abolished altogether
Mr.. GARDENS SPEECH.
The last speaker for the affirmative,
was T. S. Garden. who presented his case
somewhat IS follows
| All these statistics showing the de-
crease of drunkenness under the system
are unreliable because they come from
the very men who are most interested in
the results. There is good authority for
tie fact that while the statistics were be-
ing compiled a report reached the Gov
ernor from Columbia of an increase of
drunkenness during the first three years
of the law When the report could not
| be fixed so as to be favorable. Columbia
WIS omitted entirely in the general re-
! pert. The Governor had to write several
times to some of the localities before he
could get favorable answer. Moreover
in many towns. the constables will not
arrest man who is drunk on State
liquor. Thus there is no way of reach
ing the true results. To get the amount
of liquor consumed is impossible, for there
are hundreds of channels by which it
pears out besides the dispensaries.
| The clause relating to the sale of liquor
TO drunkards and minors is, not enforced.
Some of the restrictive measures tend to
increase drunkenness. for instance the
| rule that not less than u a pint is sold.
| Tie closing at o'clock is an incentive
for the running of blind tigers. Besides,
it prevents any community from having
prohibition if they want it, 1t is on the
best of authority that in the rural dis
tricts drunkenness has increased 10 per
cent The sales FOR the last few years
! ia We Increased at q tremendous rate,
| something like 10 0O0 gallons a year The
| system is antagonistic to all democratic
| governments and moral principles.
| Wherever practicable communities should
be allowed to try prohibition. The State,
under the dispensary system, is in the
remarkable position of supplying the
| cause for crime which it must also pun
ish. Prohibition is at least an attempt
i -
net foster it directly or indirectly.
We denounce this system as an un-
wise concentration of power in the hands
of the State. more suited for monarchy
or empire than a democratic form of
government. No state can expect to
| pc SIS a law that will be suited to every
&C unity and district in the State
Mr.. FLACK's SPEECH.
The negative side was closed by H. E.
F!ach. as follows:
Theoretically prohibition offers a solu-
tion to the liquor problem, but it has been
proven that practically it does not stand
the test 1t encourages evasion and viola
| ticn Of the law. and so increases drunk
| erness. There must be cooperation be-
| tween the people and the government in
any system that is to be success and
| this is one Of the strong points of the
| Dspensary System, which has alone
proved satisfactory among the different
| systems tried. This question must be
debated in regard to the State as whole.
| The affirmative must show the system to
| have been failure for the entire State,
ard they must also show that some other
system has been successfully tried
| throughout the State as a whole.
| The system decreases drunkenness, as
| shown by the statistics for the mayors
courts of the different towns of South
| Carolina. When this is SO. we need not
wonder at the overwhelming majority
| given by the people for the Dispensary
at the last election, Notwithstanding the
| fact that we beheld the somewhat start
| ling combination of prohibitionists high
| license men and blind tigers fighting side
| by SIDE against it. Under it saloons are
abolished, hours of selling liquor are
shorter, gambling dens are destroyed,
| the treating habit is abolished, the local
whiskey rings are torn up, root and
| branch and the political influence of the
bar-keeper DESTROYED The affirmative