The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1902-05-22
Too Much Politics in 1t.
Melrose, May 10th, 1870.


Editor PALATKA NEWS:
see that space has been given to
other subscribers, and noticing that
you reserve portion for yourself for
the discussion of topics that we are
all interested in, and especially for
The discussion Of that most infamous
of all evils, the dispensary liquor
system, ] will ask both you and your
readers to pardon me for offering my
views on this rot of all rotS.' In
the first place | would reply to She
Daddy" of the measure.
Mr.. Wall assumes the position that
a people who do not and will not
see things as he does, are both hypC-
critics and fools. What he has al
ready written is positive proof of this.
Now, as | understand it, the object
Of life among God-fearing peoples is
Aot, what will yield the greatest
financial returns, but, what will
oring the result under the guidance
Of morality. This the dispensary
cannot do. We do not have to refer
South Carolina, that grand old
state, first in war, first in peace.and
first in the hearts of the people," but
which is now plunged deeper into
immortality than all other states in
Jhe union combined, and the founda-
ion of all which is her dispensary
-yst I'm. There is no let up in crime.
1t makes no difference from what
source you obtain the liquor, the
deviltry will be in it. That liquor is
curse, no man will deny. The
same objections would prevail under
the dispensary system, that do now.
If it is disreputable for an individual
to dispense liquor to men and under
its influence they take one another's
lives, would not the same rule apply
under the dispensary? Suppose the
dispensary should carry and the dis
pensary dealer sold jug OF his liquor
to his customers and they were to
get drunk and kill each other, would
that be crime? Yes, crime legitima-
tizld
1t was with no view to lessen crime
or put few more dollars in the
treasury that the dispensary was
started in motion. Everybody can t
81 to the U. 5. senate, or to congress,
or be governor or Il member OF his
cabinet, or railroad commissioner.
The offices can't, go round. More
p tople willing to serve the dear peo-
Pile than there are places in which to
put them. If the dispensary bill had
been framed so that the highest Of
flee in it would have paid but 5000
per, annum, which is more than
double the amount which the aver
age man receives for his services,
ana no possible way to get any re-
bate on purchases from the whole
sale liquor dealers, the whole matter
would fall as fiat as the prayers of
the 'distinguished' gentleman who
introduced it. The almighty dollar
is the object in view. | know there
are some conscientious dispensary
people, but they have made the mis-
take of their lives.
Now let us see how this dispensary
would act in our already rotten poll
tics. There would be from 300 to 300
offices to fill. Who would get them?
Has it not been the custom from
time immemorial that Ito the victors
belongs the spoils." Yes, and if the
politics of Florida were so arranged
that this regiment of hungry office
seekers We're to be placed out of
our sparcely populated state, don't |
you think something wrong would go
Dn? Would not this constabulary |
force shed blood that wouldn't be
shed under the present system, and |
ihe same amount of crime, Tor more) |
90 on just the same?
Let me quote from South Caroli-
IA gentleman, DIR. Napier, anephew
= nj nf DtFf
Hall. This gentleman writes:
From financial standpoint | be-
ieve the dispensary is little the
best, but from "a moral standpoint it
S SIM IL ridiculous. l did all /
,ould 10 bring it about, but now |
would do anything i'll my power to
lbolish it. "5Ifitis noley the dispen-
AIRY people want to get into our
reasury why don't some of them
advocate a uniform system of. tax
BOOKS? Both Texas ard Tennessee
lave adopted that system, and now
n the state of Tennesse it places
'ver three hundr@e thousand dollars
II her treasury per year, or saving
# that amount TO ec people. 1t is
Tot advocated here, b cause i!s adop-
ion would not carry with it the APP
'ointed of more people to office.
The present liquor law pays the
tate. counties, and municipalities,
23S,C00 per year IL people don't
Fant tigers they can Kick them
ut. But by all means. if there is to
e a change, LET us by all means
ave something that will dispense
nth as much politics as possible.
Wishing the News, her readers and
he ants success. l am most truly
-. VAxr.- A. kvrDH.