The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-08-29

mo the d!SpenSary system IN vogue
in that state, and il so, in what capaci-
ty and when.
Answer. In May, 1899, I visited
South Carolina Tor the purpose OF
studying and investigating the work
ings OF the dispensary law. l went in
the capacity OF staff correspondent
OF the New Voice, then published by
the Funk & Wagnalls company, OF
New York City. In February and
March OF this year | also visited
South Carolina for the same purpose.
On this trip I went in the capacity
OF staff correspondent OF the New
Voice, now and at that time published
by the New Voice company, of Chi
cago, Illinois.
5. Question. If you answer Yes
to the foregoing question, state in
particular the character, nature, scope,
and extent OF the examination so made
by you, giving the place Or places
visited by you in said state and the
character OF your investigation at
such places.
Answer. I visited Charleston and
Columbia on both trips. My investi-
cations consisted in thorough ex-
ANNA ion of the reports Of the dis
pensary, of the liquor legislation of
the state, OF examinations of the
books of the collector Of internal
revenue for the district of South Caro-
lima, a personal examination of the
premises of each local dispensary in
said cities, in interviews with leading
| business men and newspaper men, as
we'll as of the state and municipal off,
cials. I also personally visited and
examined more than $50 so-called
"blind tigers"-places where intoxi-
eating liquors were on sale by the
drink-most Of the proprietors Of
which had paid an internal-revenue
tax as retail liquor dealers. I made
maps of some Of the localities, show
! ing large numbers Of these "blind
tigers" in the immediate vicinity of
local dispensaries-in some cases in
the same buildings.
E. Question. AS a result Of your
examination, what can you say with
reference to the effect of the dispen-
sary system upon the increase or de-
crease in the consumption Of spir-
ituons, vinous and malt liquors with
in the confines of the state of South
! Carolina? Answer fully.
Answer. The dispensary has re-
suited in large increase in consump-
ton Of liquors. This is especially
true OF the past three years. Prior
TO 1899 there is some uncertainty in
this statement, for the reason that the
sales OF the blind tigers' were then
an unknown quantity. Also, owing
to litigation in Federal courts, the dis
pensary did not have real monopoly
of the traffic. It's monopoly as in
name only.
"Blind tigers were numerous in
most parts Of the state, where liquors
were sold openly or secretly by the
drink. This liquor was largely So
called ':moonshine whiskey," and
was chiefly made in the Northwestern
counties. "Moonshine whiskey" is
that made in illicit stills, mostly small
affairs, and which pay no revenue tax
on their product.
In 1898 the dispensary adopted the
policy Of fighting the blind tiger"
competition BY putting on the market
what they called "eighty proof whis-
key an article composed OF 50 per
cent whiskey and go per cent wafer.
In 1898, shortly after this scheme
was inaugurated, | visited the State
dispensary at Columbia and Inspected
the room set apart fo- watering the
whiskey A distilling plant was put
iI and distilled water was used for
this purpose II this way brand of
whiskey was put on the market ar
Ct aper rate than the blind tigers"
CO.. supply it. The local dispen-