The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-11-11

! wasin charge i had four grades OF
whiskey. 1X, 2X, 3N and Ak, They had
the Palmetto tree on IT, These 81 ody,
goody people, many Of them dvocates
OF license, have gone on first and stat
ed it was a disgrace to have the States
emblem on the bottle. There was no
chance for the local dispenser to make
money, as the bottles were all alike.
but they charge now that the agents
OF these several firms go around to the
local dlspensaries and say, every time
you sell case OF our goods we will give
you fifty cents. so they charge that
local dispensers are being bought by
statesmen. II they used the four States
brands, you could see once more that
all Whiskey would be as much alike as
black dried peas and that would pre-
vent any local dispenser from being
corrupted. You go into dispensary,
you will find fifty brands Of whiskey.
Some the dispensers will push if he is
getting commission. We can stop it,
l have pointed out how it should be
done. We can stop any rebates or COM
missions to any State board of control
who will make an annual contract to
order it out as they need it and hav.
ing nothing mere than the four KS.
II the board cannot send out any indi-
vidual brand and all whiSkeys are sold
as an y, 1t would be in possible for The
local dispenser to push certain
brand.
The money coming from the dispen
sary 1 think it is just as clean as any
money l differ with some people, still
have my opinion. l believe the State
dispenSary can be put under such cou
troll as will inspire confidence In the
honesty of it's administration. We have
the right to govern ourselves and we
will give ourselves just as good gov
ernment as we have sense enough to
do. You are highest Of all political
power in South Carolina, and If you
don't chose good, clean men you are
responsible and the blame is on you
Now l want TO apologize for having
tiespassed SO long, but it is great
subject; it IS one which cannot be dis
cussed lightly or tl,ppantly, but fair
and square, clean and truthful, aud If
[ have given you any light am glad
Of it.
MIR. OTIS: "What about the beer
dispensare:?"
Senator Tillman: 81 have never
seen any law for a beer dispensary.
never had any beer dispcnslry when l
controlled it. l do MT see any law
for running beer dispensaricS as they
do. Any other questions? l may
have left out something
Mr. Otis: IF you reduce the price
of liquor one-half would that not re-
duce the pr fit 2"
Senator Tillman: 81 told you /
did not advocate the dispcnsary Sys
t'm for the money in it and | knna
IL the State took the monopoly, ou.
of 1t the State would make money and
make Its pit ople more sober. That is
why L advocated it, but here l have
got to let this minister Che Rev. e.
c. Hickson. Baptist ministeD talk.
will say, if you sell liquor at cost il
will be t~o quarts instead of one for
Il dollar, anu taat much more drink
ink and drunkenness
The u e OF request hooks which
have been allowed TO fall into disuse
by the State hoird are very impor-
ant part OF the dispensary machin-
cry. They serve as check to pre-
vel t the dispenser from selling liQvor
30 persons who canrot lawfully buy it.,
haoitual drunkard niuors, etc, and
they also prevent the sale OF refled
bottles. Every package shipped to a
local dispsnsary must be accounted
for to the inspectors, and ii sales have
been made to any person without hi, !,
having signed the request, the de-
SpcnScr is liable under The law TO dis.
miSsal. It is astonishing that the
grand jurics in the various counties
nave taken no note of this palpabe
dis lbadieuce OF the law. And it is
equally astonishing that the State
board has allowed it. They have ua-
screwed the thing from one end TO ,hc
ther and mighty near turned it Loose:
in scma counties they have request
books and in others they have not.
l thank you, fellow citizens, for
your conrtcsies. II | have done you
any good am glad. If have done
you any harm, l am sorry"
The Rev. f. @. Hckson: 81 hope
you ell will not go"
Senator Tulman: ST gave 1t to
him and let him give it TO me-"
Rev. Mr.. HicBson 81 do not know
Of any set OF honest men who are will.
ing to handle liquor. | don't believe
these men can he found, as he said.
You take things as they are and NOT
rs you wish. ] have foun1, as a matter
OF fact, that the very b. st people in
South Caroliua are ro5 willing to en-.
gage in the whiskey buSinc s." Mr..
dickson referred to the board buying
S3 O00, 900 worth OF whiskcy.
Senator Tillman: III the people
want 10 buy SO 600 600 worth of wh!s
key, how are you going to keep them
from buying it?"
Mr.. lIickson suggested that honest
mon were hard to iud who would mix
up with the dispensary.
Senator rillman: SIS not that as
serting a great deal of authority ana
morality Tor yau to say that outsiGe
Of your ranks Of prohibitonists there
is no man who Is honest enouyht 10 |
hold the job of commissioner
The Rev. Mr. Hickson for half an
hour replied to the arguments OF
Senator I'illman, and then the meet
ing adjourned.
Killed by Italians.
One American, named Dean, OF |
Massachusetts,, armed with q seven
shooter, fought q bloody battle on
Friday against 4 score OF freuzied |