The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-24
THE D1spENsA1,Y SYSTEM.

Our esteemed contemporary, the Staun-
ton Daily news, pays us the compliment
of taking double shot at the article
which appeared in these columns several
days ago on the subject of the South
Carolina dispensary. In the spirit OF fair
play we reproduce one of the articles
from the News, and as for the reply, that
is kindly made for us by another es-
teemed contemporary. the Columbia,
South Carolina, State. The State says
thar The Times has demolished fairly
well the arguments that have been au-
ya1lced in behalf of the dispensary system,
but adds that as The Times seems to be
interested in the subject, The State will
take pleasure in furnishing further in
formation.
The Columbia State is edited by fair
and courageous man, after whom we have
read for years to our entertainment and
profit, and we would as soon take his
word on a public question Of this ,:ha:ac
ter, as that OF any citizen OF the Palmetto
State. Our contemporary says:
The dispsnsary assuredly gives the
people plenty of whiskey. so Dc The
blind tigers. most of which, except those
convenient to the North Carolina line,
secure their supply from the dispensaries
and the dispensers know it The quality
OF this dispensary liquor is said to be
abominable, the same naturally being true
of the stuff sold illicitly. It is common
STUFF at high prices, and those who have
taken pains to investigate say That the
measures are short, a half pint bottle
holding less than half pint The Times
has knowledge of the fact that the traffic
has increased since the dispensarys adj.
vent and recalls Tilman's :,Nowal l!;at
it is not and was never intended 10 re y
temperance measure.
AS to the second contention, it is true
there are uo saloons. The rules OF the
dispensary forbid drinking on the prem
Uses, but the places where men congre-
gate TO drink are the nearby alley,
ways. side streets. wagon yards. the dark
recesses of court house halls and hotel
lobbies, the man who stands treat pulllnS
the bottle from his pocket. Then there
are the blind tigers where men openly
walk up to a counter and call for what
they want. There are beer prlVllese
houses where the customer sits at a table
and takes his beer after the German fash
ion, in ease and comfort. Yes, the saloons
are broken up, but there are Others
The daddy OF the dispensary has shifted
his ground of defense. Instead Of
step toward prohibition" the system Is
a scheme to make money by the State
out of a business in which the State fer
bids its citizens to engage. This third
argument for the dispensary is aimed
a, the selfish, unreasoning side of the
taxpayers, but it is not convincing. for
the profits are more apparent than real
and the expenses and shortages are im-
Inense.
The Times is familiar with the bloody
record of the constabularS and the po-
litical iniquity OF the powerful dispen-
sary. machine. On these points it needs
no information: but 1t errs In saying
4 that the prohibitionists have determined
to put out a State ticket in opposition TO
the Democratic ticket; the prohibitionists
intend TO keep within the party lines and
TO fight the machine in the primary per-
haps, but we have hopes that their adj
herents in the legislature will join with
the other opponents of the dispensary
and put an end to its disgraceeul existence
before thirty days elapse.
Finally, We can agree with "a the Viz
ginia paper when it says. We should
Sbe very sorry to see the wretched sys-
tenn introduced into this State. for We
cannot believe that any moral or po-
$litical good can come out OF 4. - Bet
az Let Il alone altogether nedE hbor.S II