The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-07-10
TROUBLE FOR The TIGERS.
There is no Telling What is Ahead
of Them.
of Them


of Them.
While no statement has been given
ont by the Mayor or the chief OF 20,
lice regarding the resolution adopted
by the State board Of dspensary con
trol and the enforcement Of the dis
Densary law in Charleston, it is said
,fhat q statement is being prepared
to be submitted to the board at the
meeting called forJuly lo:@Boeh mayor
Smyth and Chief Boyle have =oeen
summoned TO appear at that Slne a - 70
show cause why the dlspensary pronts
accruing to the city should not pe
withheld because Of the non-enforce-
ment Of the dispensary law. The May,
OF. it is said, will make clear ana
explicit statement Of conditions as
they exist here at present. There are are
many people who believe that another
bot,m1bshell may be exploded at this
hearing and the final outcome IS tllled.
with misgivings for the blind tigers.
which are alleged to thrive IN this
city. city.s.,=.s...,c.,--.1.
As already printed in the Columbia
correspondents Of The News and Cou-
ner. the State board has disclalmed
any intention OF bringing on q clasn ash
with Governor McSweeney over tne
management Of the coEstabuiary IN
Charleston, and the Governor mas oe-=
clared his willingness to cooperate
with the board in having the law obey
ed here. The forces seem to be Work-=
ING together and the finish seems dark
and gloomy for the tiger. The State
board and the Governor are not pleas
ed with the bold front put up by the
blind tigers. These willy dealers have
taken courage as. result of the grand
iiury,s work, and where they stand
little or no chance Of being punished
they have plain sailing for big pro1ts.
TIE raids which have been made have
not been disastrous financially TO tne
tigers, for the reason that only small
amounts were carted away: The deal
ers nay no license and their only ex-
Dense IS counted in the record OF goods
seized by the constables. Ihls IS a
mere bagatelle, and now more ser1ons
and rigid measures are being planned
to end unlawful traffic.
One fact which it is claimed Will
come out Of the developments OF the
next VIE weeks is said to be the
friendly feeling which exists between
the raiders and the blind tigers.
Only few days ago the keeper OF
well-regulated blind tiger was making
violent complaints against the raiders
and he promised to make 1t warm for
his enemies. According to his state
ment, his place had been raided as
often as Eve times a day. What hurt
him most was the fact that the man
IN the same block who probbly sold az
greater amount Of liquor was not raid
ed at all. This called forth much
talk, and it was matter about which
The tiger people talked freely The IN
5ured dealer said that politics was be
hind it all. The point IS argued that
the law cannot be properly executed
where too much . friendship exists.
All Of this, however, grows out OF the
nnpopularity of the dispensary system.
!. Blind tiger people are divided in the
opinion as to what will follow shoulo
the State board hold back the Charles
ton profits from the dispensary sales.
Some seem to think that 1t will ag=.
grayate the city to such an extent
that the law will have to take care OF
Itself, while the majority is OF the
opinion that the city viii begin to
make it so hot for the dealers that
they will have to go broke or quit
the field. IF the money which has
heretofore gone to the city IS ezpend-
ed in hiring constabulary tor
Charleston, life will be made a burden
to the tigers if the constabulary does
not become too g friendly.
The general opinion in the city is
that the State board has not admitted
as much, but it has not denied the
published statements to that effect.
In any event statement by the
Mayor and the chief Of police, sub
mitted in answer to the 6 rule issued
by the State board, ought to make
interesting reading. Just what the
nature Of this statement will be there
is not one who can say with authority.
It is evident that the blind tiger
element is worried. There is no tell
ing when the dealers will be hit hard
and they are treading on the thin ice,
waiting an1iously for a decision one
way or another so they can see Just
how matters stand.-News and Cou-
uer.
The Columbia Policemen Are
Hauled Over the Goals.