The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-29
FRANKLIN
DISPENSARY
How it Has Changed Condi-
lions in Little Town.
is A GREAT IMPROVEMENT
Drunkenness Has Decreased Until
There is Scarcely Any of it Seen
and Streets Are Always Or
derby Schools Benefited.
Especial to The Times-Dispatcho

Especial TO The Times DjSpatcn.)
FRANKLIN, SOUTHAMPTON Co,
VA, May 2s.--The people of the town OF
urranklin are much inclined to accord to
Ben Tillman n higher place In the cate
cory of contemporary statesmen than Is
usually given him, for they think he fur
nshed them the solution Of the liquor
question, and one who has tried 20 solve
that vexed problem will readily see that
s the minds of those who have tackled
II there Is bound to be admiration Tor
the man who has solved 1t
So far as known, Franklin was the
I first town In the United Sattes outside OF
South Carolina and North Carolina, to
adopt the Tilman dspensary plan for
the sale OF liquors. In other words. tho
town went into the liquor business for
Itself three years ago. and has been sell
Ing whiskey and other beverages that
cheer and inebriate ever since. And at a
good profit to itself and for the better
ment Of the community, IL the testimony
of the leading men OF the town Is to DO
accepted.
The sale of liquor In Franklin under
the dispensary system Is not anywhere
nearly prohibited. The sales for the last
fiscal year amounted to S2l59i.17 THIS
was an increase OF 1900 over the proceed
ing year. There are less than two thous-
and people In the town, 30 1t will be seen
that the whiskey drunk, per capita, Is
not such low average after all. But IN
tho year preceding the establishment OF
the dIspensary the whiskey sold In the six
saloons of the town amounted to about
$4,000. Franklin was known to have as
many hard drinkers in 1t ns any other
town of It's size In the State. and the
amount OF criminal expenses OF the town
In year was heavy. In addition to that,
i the disorder on the streets was often very
great, and there were times. according
to the stories OF citizens, when drunken
negroes made it unsafe for woman to
appear on the streets without an escort.
NOTICEABLE IMPROVEMENT.
There has been most notable improve
ment since the dispensary WAS put into
operation. It Is hard to believe as one
walks along the quiet. thoroughly orderly
streets OF the little town to-day that
three years ago 1t had tough reputation
among It's neighbors. and that the crimi-
nal expenses OF the town were at all
greater than the average among places OF
the same size. Yet many OF the best men
Of the town tell me that all this is true.
and they express themselves MS being
firmly OF the opinion that the solution OF
the problems involved in legalizing the
traffic in liquor lies In the dlspensary. 1t
is true that there are people In Franklin
who are not enthusiastic In their ndmi-
ration of the system, but there is no
doubt that II the question OF the abol1-
vote OF tho people tomorrow. a great
ma jorIty would be found with those who
approve or the dispensary method OF
handling the traffic in strong drink.
The administration Of the system must
be regarded as largely responsible for Its
success In Franklin. The board which
has charge OF the municipal saloon IS
composed OF Messrs. r. 8. Fcgan. chair
man: c. c.. Vaughan and j. c. PARKER,
three men of the highest reputation Tor
+ probity and men who are leaders In the
professional and business life OF the town.
These men, without being welded to the
dIspensary system. determined from the
outset TO endeavor to minimize the evils
of tho sale Of liquor In the town II IT
we're possible to accomplish such by tho
honest administration OF the law. 1t has
been enforced to the letter. The regula-
tions regarding the sale OF intoxicants
by the town nre as strict, or even strict
err than those with which the municipal
Nv surrounded tho saoon-kceper in the
days before 1t took his business away
go SUNRISE AND SUNSET.
At sunrise every morning the dtspen-
sary is opened for business. and at sun
get the doors are closed, and this no
matter how many customers are waiting
to be served.
The regulations do not allow drop OF
whiskey to be drunk on the premises.
where sold. and the provision is also
enforced with the utmost strictness,
though the vacant lot IN which many OF
the negroes gather to drink together Of
ter purchasing their bottles at the dis.
pensary is very close to the rear wall OF
the establishment.
Every drop sold Is sold in sealed
package. and no man is sold more than
four gallons In the course Of any one
day.
The liquor IS not sold to minors, idiots,
or those persons who arc known to be
confirmed drunkards. l was assured by
members Of the Board OF Commissioners,
which control the dlspensary. that
there Is not the slightest intentional vio-
oatlon of this regulation by the dspen-
snry manager, but OF course. it may be
evnded, and Is.
The dispensary is a source of profit
to the town. The public schools of Frank
lin are the pride of her every citizen,