The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-04-08
WERE REFUSED.
Charleston Dispensers Ordered Not to
Sell to Prescribed Persons.
THE STATE BOARDS ORDERS.
Dispensary Law Must Be Enforced
or Dispensers Will Suffer.
Drupkards and Minors
Can't Get"Booze."

Trouble is brewing among the pat
rons of the dispensary as result of
the receipt of circular letter from
the State board of control directing
the dispensers to comply strictly with
the provisions Of the law, relating to
the sale of liquors to minors and
drunkards and to other sections.
The circulars were received here
"Wednesday and put into operation
We,'nesday morning, with the result
that hundreds Of applicants Tor official
grOg were turned down by the dis
pensers and clerks who were unwilling
to take the chances Of continuing the
promiscuOus violation Of the law in
selling liquor to prescribed persons
and otherwise ignoring the provisions
of the act which were incorporate for
the purpose of making the law
moral measure. The conduct Of the
diSpcnSarieS has been a scandal In
Charleston In the respect Of the
neglect Of certain provisions Of
the law by the dispensary manage
mcnt which was bent on max
ing large sales. The circular of the
State board aims to stop this violation
of the law by the dispensers, and to
require the officials of the system to
live up to the requirements just as
the outside public must obey the law.
The example OF the officials ybeyiny
the law Is to be set before the public
that the usually most effective argu-
lnent against the dispensary may be
removed. Many people, who are pre-
JUDGED against the law, ease their
conscience In the jury box by declar-
ing that the blind tigers should not be
punished for violating the law since
the dispensers themselves are con-
stantly breaking the law. a complete
compliance Of the law by the otlicials
will have most wholesome effect on
public sentiment not to speak Of the
public moral benefit which can be done
by the dispensers themselves in follow
ing closely the provisions Of the law.
The matter OF complying with the
spirit and letter Of the law is not to
be left entirely with the conscience of
the dispensers, for, it is understood
that from time to time, little bit of
detective work will be done by the
Columbia authorities to ascertain IL
the law is being observed. Parties
who give fictitious names in making
name in making application for liquor,
negroes who do not sign their names
or make their mark, drunkardS and
minors will,call at the counters Of the
dispensers and II they secure their
liquors as they have done in the past,
there will be trouble for dispensers.
The penalty is dismissal from office,
and also prosecution in the State
courts by the circuit solicitor, who
will also institute civil proceedings
against the dispensers bonds, the
principal and sureties being also re-
sponSible under the act.
The violation Of the law Is conse-
quently not to be a trivial ofrense,
and it is not likely that the dispensers
will be so indiscreet as to sell liquor
10 parties who are on the prescribed
list or who are not even known to the
dispensers personally, unless these
applicants provide themselves with a
certificate for the purchase of the
liquor, signed by some responsible
party, who is known to the dispenser.
Ihe dispenser turned down many
applicon's "Wednesday morning and
they got tired of making the cxplana-
tl0n OF their reason, Sd much So that
later in the day. they simply refused
to sell or give any satisfaction to par
ties, under age or known To use liuuor
TO excess, leaving the applicants to
find out for themselves as best they
could why the existing order of things
had been changed.
The dispensers are looking forward
to the return of the former free and
unrestraincd sale. They seem to
think that the new regulations have
been introduced only for effect, and
will soon be forgotten. The new
order will give public satisfaction and
1t is hoped that there will be no let
in the enforcement Of the law, as long
as 1T Is the law Of the State The
Post.