Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1902-07-09
DISPENsARY QUALIFIsDlY ENDORSED
BY The Rev. Mr.. Wright, Pastor of the
Fort Mill Methodist Church.

~
Methodist church Sunday evening
the pastor, Rev. w. A. Wright.
referred to the establishment of n
dispensary in Fort Mill matter
which is being agitated by mum
Der of persons who are of opinion
that the legalized sale of whiskev
IN the town would be preferable to
the conditions which now exist.
Mr.. Wright was quoted to the re-
porter as being unqualifedly in
favor of dispensary. The follow
ing interview best presents his
view of the matter, however:
"You ask me for my attitude on
the dispensary question. / am
very decided; [ have always stood
on the side of Christianity and
morality; on the side of the women
and children, and that means
against the sale of whiskey in any
shape or form. Every time the
question has been brought before
the people, | have gladly cast my
ballot against it. But the great dis
regard for the law, and the wav
whiskey agents have been beating
around taking orders for a dollars
worth or less, and the tremendous
amount of the vile stuff landed at
our express Office and hauled
through the country for local con
sumption, has caused me TO view the
matter from Il somewhat different
standpoint to that of many people.
Worse than all this, am informed
that most of the stuff smugeled
into the community is vile de
coction composed of ether and
other deadly drugs known to rcn-
der the consumer n nervous wreck.
ending in the worst form of insan-
ity. Witness the report of DR..
Babcock, superintendent of the
insane asylum at Columbia, in
which he directs attention TO the
increase of this form of insanity
among the negroes and poorer
class OF whites; the lax vigilance
of our officers and the cold indif-
ference of the more intelligent
class. All this makes the future
look dark and the situation more
alarming. For these and other
reasons patent to any observant
eye, | am ready to catch at straw,
and shall therefore do nothing i'm
opposition to dispensary being
established in our midst (as | in
dicated in my sermon Sunday
EVENING", if it will in any way
bring relief.
"The revenue on whiskey is 81 80
per gallon, besides local license,
house rent, clerk hire, etc. How
then, In the name of common
sense, can the dealers sell it for
Sl.5O per gallon? 1t is explained
In the fact that % cents worth of
certain chemicals will make five
gallons of knock 'em out" stuff
The government must know of the
fraud, and it should be prohibited
under the scverest punishment.
1t is nothing short of wholesale
murder of the weak and ignorant.
If for no higher reason, society
demands their protection. / am
bitterly opposed to the dispensary
for many strong reasons, but if
whiskey is to flow around us like a
river, let it flow in Legitimate
channel. The degrading influence
of the dispensary upon the morals
of our young people could hardly
be any worse than to have the
railroad station stocked with it.
and to have negroes slipping it in
under cover of night, in TASKS,
jugs and kegs. Away with it; let
us rise in our just Indignation and
Danish it from the town." ~
The annual session Of the State