Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-02-05
Dispensary Agitation.

From the statement IN announcer coi-
umn, it will be seen that another de-
plorable dispensary agitation has been
commenced in Yorkville, and that the
people are again to be called upon TO
say whether or not they are willing to
legitimatize the sale Of whisky within
the corporate limits.
It can hardly be said that this agita-
ton is a new thing. 1t dates back more
than 25 years, and especially to 1889,
when the legal sale Of intoxicating IL
quors was prohibited by vote OF the
people and special act Of the general
assembly. The same cement that ia
vored the unrestricted sale Of whisky
then has favored it ever since, and the
present movement Is but another effort
along the same old lines.
Among the arguments that are being
used by those in favor Of the establish
ment of the dispensary are the follow
ing:
l. The blind tigers" are selling as
much whisky as would be sold in a dis
pensary and the town Is being depriv-
ed of revenue.
2. The blind tiger whisky kills quick
er than dispensary whisky, and as peo-
pie will drink they should have good
whisky.
8. 1t is impossible to prevent the H.
legal sale Of whisky, and, therefore, 1t
Is best to permit the legal sale.
4. All our whisky money Is going to
North Carolina and we should keep 1t
at home.
S. The town Is drying up in busi-
ness way, and the establishment Of a
dispensary would serve to bring much
business here that does not otherwise
come. If we had a dispensary, we could
get a great deal more trade than we
are now getting from the vicinity Of
Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Glover, Hickory
Grove, Sharon, McConnellsville, etc.
Knowing that they would have no diff
ficulty in getting some good whisky
during their stay in town-something
they could not be certain Of at the other
places-many people who do not now
come to Yorkville to do their trading
would come here if the town had dis
pensary.
There are other arguments too nu-
merous to mention; but for present
purposes these are sufficient, especial
ly since they cover all of the strongest
points that have been suggested.
THE ENQUIRER has given great deal
of consideration to this whisky ques-
ton during the past 40 or so years, and
it has convictions as to every aspect In
the case. 1t has seen the indiscrimi-
nate legal sale of whisky under the bar
room system. 1t Is familiar with the
old drug store system, and it under
stands pretty we'll the blind tiger"
system as compared with others. 1t
recognizes that the liquor problem Is a
perplexing one from any point Of view;
but believes that of all the methods
that have yet been tried prohibition is
to the best interest Of the town and
community from both moral and busi-
ness standpoints.
1t is true that so long as there are
those who will drink whisky, and who
have the money with which to pay for
it, there will be found those who will
sell it in violation Of the law. 1t is true
that there Is a great deal of whisky be-
ing sold in violation Of the law
at the present time; but it is not true
that the blind tigers are selling as
much whisky as a dispensary would
sell, nor neither is it true that they are
selling any less whisky now than they
would eventually sell if a dispensary
should be esta ablished.
Possibly it is a fact that blind IT,
ger whisky will kill little more rap
idly than dispensary whisky; but dis
pensary whisky will kill none the less
surely There are about the dispen-
sary many more inducements to new
beginners than about the blind tigers,
and the dispensary is about as sure of
the eventual ruin of IFS victims as it is