The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-01-16

OF each county and presentation of th
case to the people the system has bee
endorsed by decided majoritics on fou
different occasions and the principle i
incorporated in our organic law.
Under the constitution the Legisla
ture may license individuals or COZ
poratlons to sell under the rules ant
regulations governing the dispensary
or it may prohibit the sale and manu-
facture of liquors. Both of these plans
have been thoroughly and cXhaustlvcl,
argued and advocated before the peo
pie and the verdict every time has beer
decidedly in favor of the dispcnsar,
under the management Of the State
This reference is made TO emphasize
what seems to me to be the duty OF
every patriotic citizen who loves his
| State and believes in democratic doc
trinc and republican institutions, apd
that duty is 10 submit to the voice OF
! the people and go to work earnestly
and consclenilCusly to improve and
perfect a law which has received sc
many easements from those whom
it directly concerns. The courts have
held that under the police regulations
the state as right to take large of
the sale Of whiskcy. The question
when reduced TO its last analysis l., not
one Of principle but of cXpediency
What Is the best method of dealing
with this evil SO rs 20 secure the best
results ? That is the question.
The present system, as II may be
improved from time to time, IS The
best solution yet devised, aud is grow
ing in public favor much OF the pre-
iu,iicc that has existed against the law
is being removed, and many of those
who oppose the system are in favor of
the enforcement of the law. AS pub
lice sentiment grows in its favor il will
be easier to enforce it. The mayors
and intehdants of tho towns and cities
OF the State, in response to circular
which | issued during November, state
that the law is well enforced and that
the sentiment of the towns is for a
strict enforcement. The exceptions
arc the cities Of Columbia and Char
lesion and Il few counties in which the
sale OF whiskey is prohibited by law.
In fact in those counties III which no
dispcnsarics are established il would
conducc TO a better enforcement of law
and there would be less illicit sale of
whiskcy if dispensaries were estab-
lishcd. In the cities named the dis
pensary cannot be rigidly enforced so
long as public sentiment upholds viola
tors of the law and grand juries fail TO
find true bills and petit jurics to con-
vict when cases are made and the evil
dcnce furnished. AS public sentiment
grows in favor of the law in these
cities and the prejudice against it dies
away convictions for violations will be
had and it can then be more rigidly
enforced
While it is important that the law
shall not be violated by illicit sale of
whiskcy, ii is equally important that
those charged with its administration
shall conform to It's requirements. If
this were more rigidly done public SEN
mcnt would grow more rapidly in
support of the system. / doubt if
there is a dispenser in the State who
does not violate the law every day, not
with amy criminal intent. The law re-
quires that, (" Before selling or deliv-
erlng any Intoxicating liquors to any
person request must be presented to
the county dispenser, printed or writ
ten IN ink, dated Of the true date,
stating that he or she is Of age, and
the residence Of the signcr, for whom
or whose use it is required, the quanti-
ty and kind required, and his or her
true name; and the request shall be
signed by the applicant in his own
true name and signature, attcstcd by
the county dispenser or his clerk, who
receives and files the requests. But
the requests shall be refused, if the
county dispenser filing 1t personally
knows the person applying is MINOR,
that he is intoxicated, Or that he is in
the habit of using intoxicating liquors
to an excess or if the applicant is not
so personally known to said county
dispenser, before filing said order or
delivering said liquor, he shall require
the statement of reliable and trust
worthy person Of good character aud
habits, known personally to him, that
the applicant is not minor, and is
not in the habit of using Intoxicating
liquors to excess" The county dis
penscr takes an obligation to the effect
that he will and another afterwards
that he does comply strictly with this
provision and all of the other provis.
ions of the law.
III has become customary for county
dispensers to sell to any one who ap-
plies to purchase without being idcnti.
fled or without signing the application
" in his own true name and signaturcn
and without stating " for whom or
whose use 1t is required" Ample pro-
vision is made for the course to be
pursued for violations in the admins
tration of The law. The county dis
pcnsers arc responsible to the county
boards of control and they arc appoint
cd by the State board of directors on
the recommendation and with the ad-
vice and consent of the Senator and
Representatives from each county.
That brings the case right up to the
door of the members of the General
Assembly.
This is business matter and rs
careful and as prudent business judg.
mcnt should be exercised in the sclcc.
ton of those who are charged with the
administration OF the law as q prudent
business man would exercise in the
selection Of those whom he would
place IN charge of hts private business.
Politics and partisanship should have
no part in the selection.
| again commend to you the advis
| ability OF abolishing the county boards
of control and of devoiving their dutic!
upon the mayors or intendants OF ,ht