The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-07-10
Charleston Must Make Choice,
The State.

InreQuesting the mayor ana cnlel oI pOlceoi
Char lesion to appear before them and show
cause, If any they have, why the dfspensary
profits accruing to said city should not De
Withheld under section o. the dispensary
law, to be used for the oetter endorsement oi
troll has taken action the eXpediency OF
which will hardly he criticized even by tbose
who are most opposed TO the dispensary sys-
tenn. ,
Charleston as they have done in past years
and the present one. II Is the one commun-
ity In the State which is ruled absolutely In
lis politics by illegal liquor dealers. We say
absolutely" because every position taken by
Charleston in recent years with reference TO
State politics has been in accord with the In
terests of its "blind tiger" politicians. They
cal principles and support the dispensary
candidates in return for the abandonment by
those candidates OF the dtspensary system In
Charleston to the unrestricted competition OF
It's rivals, the blind tigers. Hundreds OF ille-
gal liquor shops are established In Charles.
ton and run wide open." The measures
taken TO close them or restrict their traf1c
are farcical. Grand jurles will not return
juries convict them II the cases should be
brought to trial. Charleston is simply Steep
ed In contraband LIQUOR and the public con.
science has been drngged WIN II.
II was said at the time by the gov
ernor's partisaus that this charge was unjust.
but the event has proved that 1t was essen.
TALLY true. Under Gov. McSweeney g second
administration Charleston's blind tigers have
been permitted to make without interference
their own rules for the conduct OF the liquor
business in that city. II the governor has
lifted his finger In seriousness to enforce. the
dispensary law in Charleston that fact has
not been brought TO the attention OF the pub.
As everybody knows, this newspaper op.
poses the dispepsary system, and IT does mol
expect ever TO be reconciled TO it. Neverthe'
less, 1t is the law, a general law, and excep.
tions should not be made to 1t. 1t is
scandalous in the extreme that the condi
the knowledge OF every reading man in the
State should be permitted TO continue In
Charleston. Columbia and other cities have
s1s = there gss vi en
agreement TO nullify the law and nowhere
| but In Charleston is this condition winked q,
by the governor, who has the appointment
OF the oonstabulary paid to suppress the II
exceptional and demands exceptional treat
ment.
An overwhelming majority Of Charleston'i
votes were cast for the continuance OF the dis
pensary regime in South Carolina, for the
election OF the dispensary's candidate as gov
ernor. 1t is proper, therefore, that Charles
| ton should be made TO submit TO the regime
1t aided SO materially in establishing. II the
dispensary law system Is good one TO be en-
| forced In the rest OF the State 1t should be 8
good one 10 enforce Ia Charleston, especially
| as the candidate Charleston supported re
pudiated the idea OF local option OF or dis
tions Of different communities with respect
to the liquor traffic. Moreover, the mora
effect upon the whole State OF this flagran,
disregard OF statute is deleterious. We can
not afford 10 have it understood that the op
Grafton Of law may be suspended II any
moral notion which must not be encouraged
We are constrained to admit that Columbis
has, against our wishes, accepted the dispen
sary law because 1t pays the city and county
large profits. Already Columbia is receiving
twice as 10 uch rev enue from the dlspensary
prospect is that within the next year IT Will
| be receiving more than three u mes its license
maximum. But in this city the illegal sale
does not hsunt itself upon the public; the
tmen proved to be violators OF the law are
convicted by our juries. II that were tht
case In Charleston also we would say nothing
to exemptions which Columbia and othel
cities do not possess, and If Charleston, fol
the sake OF its blind tigers, sets itsel
to nullify the dispensary law locally after
tration, then we think that The board OF con
troll ia right In making the issue directly
with the authorities of Charleston.
| II this action shall result in a change o
Charleston's policy 1t will be for the finaneia
advantage Of that city. The blind tigers pay
TO revenue into the Charleston treasury
while the dtspensarleS, making the buslDesi
| of those In Columbia the basis OF estimate
might we'll produce an income for the muni
cipallty Of 100000 year. Some may say
that what we are suggesting would popular
| ize the dispensary system in Charleston, bu
| TO these we reply that so far as votes 60 the
| dispensary system has already been assured
of Its popularity in Charleston. 1t happens
| to be popular there because OF an understand
| ing that II may be violated with impunity
for the advantage Of that city's blind tigers
The vote shows that even Sl00, 600 dis
pensary revenue would hardly increase Char
leston's support Of the system at the ballo
box.
If the city Of Charleston shall continue tc
cherish the blind tigers knowing that they
are eating up its possible revenues, then there
| is nothing more to be said-the income now
derived from the dispensary will be cut of
as they ought to be. On the other hand, i
the city administration shall be forced tc
divorce itself from the illegal liquor dealers
Its treasury will profit greatly and no princi
| pie will be sacrihced-for nobody will con-
| lend that there is any principle involved ir
the issue between dispensaries and blind
tigers In Charleston. The one thing certain
| is that, Gov. McSweeney having failed to en-
force, or even half enforce, the dispensary
law in Charleston, the board of control Il
| fully justified In taking up the matter and
making the Charleston administration choose
| its final ground.