The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-01-17
SUMTER. S. c.. WEDNESDAY. JANUARY H. 1900

question yet devised Eveo those who
oppose the dispeusary Law admit that
it has good features Whiskey has
been put under the bao aud whether
you prohibit it. license it. or take entire
charge Of it. the principle is the same
1t seems to me ,hs, it would be good
jude meot TO take hold Of the present
Law aod smsod and improve il. Pro.
hibition is very moe IN theory. but in
existing circumstances aud conditions
do not believe II would be practicable
Extraordinary machinery would be
necessary to enforce it. aud there would
DO 90 means With which to employ the
msobioery excep. by additional taxa
tioo, sod even then whiskey would be
freely sold snd bar rooms under the
euise OF drug stores would spriog up
aud flourish 10 every town aud hamlet
10 South CsroIioa. Suoh has been the
experience wherever prohibition has
been tried. Local option would be
even worss tbsn prohibition To have
prohibitioo 10 one county. Q license
syssem 10 90 adjoining county. and the
10 another ~ouid create 90
end Of confession aod trouble throughout
the State
No lsw hes been eusc,ed 10 this
State 10 reesot years that has been as
bitterly opposed aod % strongly sup
ported % sbs dispsussry Law. AID
yet. With the exception Of few locsli
ties. it hss been % we'll enforced 90
ooald Be expected. being revolutionary
% Il vac. No lsw eso be thoroughly
enforced that hes not behiod il sod to
support It healthy public sentiment 10
i's favor Nov that public sentimeo.
is growing 10 i.s favor. il, seems TO me
that IL would DO uoWise aud bad judg.
mont to repeal the dispeusary law aud
TO make trial OF some other system of
controlling tho liquor business
That thsre has been bad manage
meut 10 sone departments is not 40
argument against the system That
there should hsve been disagree meut
end contention smoogst those 10 cou
troll is unfor,ussts
I would recommend for your coo
sidsratioo The sbolitios Of The State aud
county boards OF control sud that the
da,iss Of those officers be devolved upoo
other officials You should elect q
State eomuissiouer Of high character
aud good business judgment. aod give
bin au&c'eos ooor sosssioo to oommsod
the servioos Of such mao Hs should
be given more su,borisy snd discretion.
and required to give . good aud su@
oisos bond ssd Do subject to removal
By che Govern'r. Az The present law
stsods. be bss very little Discretionary
power 10 The management OF The busi.
ness. sod 10 not much more than .
clerk 10 carry ous tho rules sud reeula
sions Of tho board Of control. Az 40
advisory board to The State CON mis
siooer would suggest tho com psroller
general. tho state treasurer and the
state superintendent of eduostioo, with
such powers aod duties 90 10 your Wis
dom you may think proper to confer
upoo them. ] do not deem il wise 60
put the governor or tie attorney gen
ersl upon this advisory board. You
might add 20 this board the chairman Of
the 6nsooe committee Of the senate and
the ohairmso Of the ways and means
committee of the house II would not
he oecessssy for rbis board to meet
more than four times year. aud ct each
mee'ioR competitive sealed bids could be
submit'ed and these bids opened 10 the
presence OF fbe com missioner. aud such
purchases male az would be needed to
supply the demsod The State
treasurer is the custodian Of the funds,
the comptroller general distributes the
school part Of the fund arising from the
disperssry. and the State superinteod
so' OF education is the head of the
educational department.. which ia the
beneficiary Of the fund These officers
are elected by the people, and have to
give account to them for the uauuer 10
which 'hey discharge their duties. and
are always men Of ability and cbarao
'er
IL place Of the county boards I
"ou'd suggest that the county super.
visor. tho county auditor aud the
mayor OF The oouoty sess town, If q
di'peossry DO located there, il not the
mayor or iosendsos Of some town 10
tho county 10 which there 10 . di.peu.
'ar7' constitute the oouo,y board. sud
that they serve without extra compel.
ss'ioo They. too. are elected by the
people and would have to give account
I" their stewardship to tho people. I
would also suggest that the coun,y
d'speos''s be elected BY toe psople q,
other oouptv cf6es,, a.. .l...l