Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-03-15
RECENT LIQUOR LEGISLATION.
The Brice Bill as Seen by Denomina
tionaI Editor.

The failure of the legislature to pass
a local option law that would have
been a positive relief to the people will
in the end, perhaps, prove to be
blessing. 1t will help to stir up the
friends of temperance, unite them, and
incite them to real earnest efforts in
behalf of an improved condition. The
Brice bill as originally presented to the
legislature was a good measure, but as
it was finally passed it is little short OF
an iniquity. The amendments tackled
on to it practically make local option
an impossibility. Those amendments
impose a special tax and cut off large
part of the appropriation from the dis
pensary funds for school purposes in
case a county shall vote out the dis
pensary, or dispensaries, in said coun-
ty. Those amendments were not in the
interest Of temperance and morality,
but the reverse. They were proposed
and pushed through by the friends, and
in some instances employees Of the
dispensary system. This legislation
was not so shaped as to encourage the
people to vote out dispensaries, but
rather to prevent that and fix the dis
pensaries on those communities where
they have been established. A town
may vote for dispensary and have one
established; but it will take the vote
of an entire county, with the penalties
attached. to vote out a dispensary. If
the friends Of the dispensary in the
legislature wished to be perfectly fair,
why did they not provide exactly the
same machinery for getting rid Of dis
pensaries as is now provided, and has
been all the time provided, for their es-
tablishment? The answer is. because
they do not wish any dispensaries
closed; they wish to increase their
number to build up the business, to
increase the revenue. For these rea-
sons, perhaps. and others, the friends
Of this enormous liquor business, this
gigantic trust. this all-powerful politi-
cal machine, do not wish to encourage
and aid the people in their efforts to
rid themselves of these corrupting
places.
It is not probable that any county
will undertake to vote out dispensaries
under the new law. Perhaps it will
not be wise. People are not willing to
vote upon themselves increased tax
alton, and there are many who do not
wish to vote for the loss Of the reve-
nue. for school purposes, and between
the advocates Of the dispensary and
those influenced by the above financial
reasons, it is not probable that in any
county, under the new law, the major
ity of votes would be cast in favor of
closing the dispensaries. Those men,
bers of the legislature who are respon-
sible for the amendments to the Brice
bill would be glad to see a few coun-
ties try to vote out the dispensaries un-
der the new law. They expect defeat,
and they would then take the position
that the majority of the voters wish
the dispensaries to remain. The
friends of temperance will do we'll not
to undertake any elections at present.
The advocates of temperance, law
and order, need not be idle, however.
We can agitate, and create sentiment
in favor of civil liberty, the rights Of
freemen, local option, and awaken the
public conscience to the injustice of the
new law as amended. and the tremen-
dous, overpowering influence Of the
present liquor business in the politics
Of South Carolina. We can vote for
men who are in favor of the Brice bill
as originally offered. and whenever
possible elect such to the Legislature.
It is not too soon to begin this agita-
ton. Men are already announcing
themselves for the legislature. Let
them come out and tell the voters how
thew stand on this question, if they are
in favor of a clean-cut local option
law, and if they will vote for such in
case they are elected to the legislature.
This is fair, it is right, it seems to be
about the only way open to those who
are In favor of protecting those COM
munities now crying for relief. 1t is
time for the sober. liberty loving peo-
pie to move for a revolution.-Baptist
Courier.
A Wonderful Escape.
hi ir1t