Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-12-13


in the neighboring county Of Cherokee.
It becomes just so much harder to get
the people Of this county to vote out
the dispensary. This shows the weak
ness of the Brice bill. If Greenville
county should vote out the dispensary,
Spartanburg's profits would be still
further increased and the same effect
would be seen II Union and Laurens
should vote out the dispensary. Ev-
cry county that votes 1t out makes the
dispensary just so much stronger IN
the remaining counties.
Those who are against the dispensa-
ry should be in favor OF its complete
abolishment. The way to cut down a
Of the ground, not to begin trimming
the top branches. .-'...
On the general proposition looking
to the abolition of the state dispen-
sary, THE ENQUIRER finds no ground
for difference with the Journal. We
want to see the state dispensary wiped
out, root and branch, and it is fair
to say that Senator Brice Is very anx-
ious for the same thing. The senator
has said so not only on the York
county stump and in newspaper inter-
views; but has so declared himself on
the floor Of the senate.
But the Journal must not forget that
the dispensary is too firmly establish
ed to admit of it's annihilation by a
mere move Of the hand. There has
grown up within the central manage
ment powerful ring that Is almost as
strong as the legislature itself. That
our contemporary is not insensible OF
this fact, 1t gave an intimation when 1t
spoke Of the control Of banks, news
papers, etc. This ring is not going to
give up without a struggle, and
whether it can be made to give up at
all is yet to be developed.
Whatever may be said as to the
adequacy Of the Brice bill in even
tually accomplishing the result de-
sired, 1t must be confessed that this
measure Is responsible for the first
real alarm that has ever been sounded
in the dispensary camp.
Whether the Journal realizes It's
full significance or not, we beg to as
sure it that the dispensary ring, the
people who are making immense for
tunes out Of the dispensary, directly
and indirectly, feel the menace that II
is pointing their way. The voters OF
the state have never had an oppor-
tunity to express themselves; but the
outlook is that the Brice bin Will
eventually afford that opportunity.
The Journals argument that the
abolition Of the dispensary in some OF
the counties will make It stronger In
others, Is good as to theory; but Is
inapplicable as to facts. Our contem-
porary no doubt thinks that the pro-
fits of the Spartanburg dispensary
have been materially increased by rea-
son Of the abolition Of the Cherokee
dispensaries; but we dare say that 1t
is mistaken. OF course, it is not as
sumed that the consumption Of liquor
ceased in the abolition Of the county
dispensaries; but that did not direct
the trade to Spartanburg. Cherokee
people who are, unwilling to do with
out liquor have very probably trans
ferred their patronage to houses out
side the state. People are not going
to pay six dollars in Spartanburg for a
gallon Of liquor that they can buy In
Atlanta for four dollars. Rock Hill,
in this county, consumes as much IL
quor In proportion to the size Of the
town as Yorkville does; but buys very
little Of it at the dispensary. The
Yorkville dispensary-county dispen-
sary 1t is called-does not sell one
third Of the liquor that is consumed In
York county, and If the Yorkville dis
pensary were abolished, the Chester
dispensary would hardly ever know
the difference.
Our contemporary understands the
proper method Of telling a tree. Lop-
ping off a few branches will do no
harm. On the contrary such treat
ment will only contribute to more
vigorous growth; but If we cut the
tap roots we will soon have a dead
tree. The county dispensaries are the
tap roots Of the big central establish
ment in Columbia.