The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-04-25
SENATOR TILLMAN
IN BUFFALO.
HIS Talk OFT the Dispensary Was
Heard With Interest and Curios-
Special to the Move end Courier,

Special to the Move end Courier.
BUFFALO, N. Y, April l2--Rc
Gently Senator Ben Tillman, Of South
Carolina, delivered an address on the
dispcnsary law of hls State before the
Independent Club Of Buffalo. The
occasion was one Of rare briliancc. as
the club has III its membership re-
prcscntativcs from the cultivated busl-
ness ard professional classes Of the city.
The great dining room. IN Ellicolt
square, was filled with handsomely
dressed guests. With wine glasses on
their tables and cigars in Their mouths
the festive company were ready for
Mr.. Tillman.
MIR. Tillman gave All historical
sketch OF the law. lie described the
situation of politics in South Carolina
when the law was enacted, stuting that
the question of liquor or no lluuor had
been voted upon by the people, with a
considerable showing in favor of the
latter. lie went on to say that when
the Legislature of the State met 1t
was not possible for the lawmakers to
ignore the issue. Something must be
done. He said that he got together
tho laws Of States like Maine and Iowa
and kansah, and carefully looked over
the matter of prohibition. After Civ.
ing tho subject much careful thought,
no was thoroughly convinced that pro-
hlDltlon would not work in South Caro-
lina-thc people were not ready for it.
With the dlspcnsnry law in Sweden
before him he sketchcd bare skeleton
OF the dispcEsarY law, which proved to
be the thing that struck the Lcgisla-
ture with favor. 1t was, indeed, in
torcsting to hear Mr.. Tillman eet this
law forth as thing of his own crea-
ton while Governor of the State, as
Wo commonly associate the execution
Of the laws with the Governor, rather
than their making. Still this was not
done as an a'''ocrat might have done
it.
Mr.. Tillman had nothing but good
words for the law. Ito results are
fully justifying Its passage. Drunken
ness has been reduced in South Caro-
lima from 40 to so per cent. The open
saloon is not to be seen. The State
controls It's liquor stores, pays me,
salaries for taking care of them, thus
removing tho temptation of such mcr
to defraud the State. Tho business j.
put upon an entirely new basis il
South Carolina. Treating and nigh
drinking have about disappeared, al
We dispcnsary stores arc not the seen,
Of .rinklng, closing at sunset.
III, did not regard the law as rcmov
ing a other drinking places from the
State. There are good many secret
places whcro liquor is sold in South
Carolina.
Mr.. Tillman went on to say that he
, attributed much Of tho success Of the
| dispensary law to the fact that South
} Carolina has it's population malnly y IN
+ rural sections rather than in large
+ cities. 1t is the great city that Is hard
, to handle in the liquor business.
! 1t was claimed that prohibition would
. have failed in South Carolina just as
in some other parts of the country.
l Men will have liquor, he stated, and if
they cannot get 1t lawfully they will
6 get it some other way.
t Mr.. Tllman claims that so long a'
0 men have appetites they will seek tt
= crafty them. Men are not angels. )
r II the dispensary law holds on in South
. Carolina now generation PRACTICAL,
, free from vitiated appetite may maxi
t better law; but Till that times come
t tho dispensary law is as good as tn