The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-09-13
Editor The Manning Times:

In1S9S the -barroom keepers
and a large following of the
Prohibitionist. chafing under
the popularity Of the dispensary,
Joined forces in a mighty politi
cal effort, for the overthrow Of
the dispensary in the election of
that year.
The result of that election was
a defeat of the Prohibitionists
and their allies by a majority of
between three and FIVE thousand
votes.
In 1900 the Prohibitionists and
their supporters was again de-
feated. This time by a majority
of more than $4,000. This last
defeat completely disneartened
and demoralized the opponents
Of the dispensary so much so
that they made no further effort
to openly measure political arms
with the friends and supporters
of the dispensary.
With all these decisive politi-
cal defeats against them, the
enemies Of the dispensary have
kept up a desultory FIRE on the
dispensary by making accusation
against the persons elected and
appointed to manage the dispen-
sary affairs under the dispensary
law. The enemies of the dis
pensary charge the Board of
Directors of the dispensary at
Columbia of being grafters and
dishonest and men who are run
ming the affairs of the dispensary
to their own advantage and
gain, and still yet, there is not
one of these accusers who has
expressed any willingness or de-
sire to enter any court house in
South Carolina and testify
against anyone or all of the ac-
cused.
The gentlemen composing the
board Of directors of the dispen-
sary at Columbia were presented
to the legislature at it's last ses-
sion as gentlemen, as honest
men and as men of integrity, and
by an honorable legislature elect
ed to the positions they are now
filing.
To quiet the clammorings of
the Office seeking Prohibitionists
disgruntled Dispeusarites and
enemies Of the dispensary gen
orally the legislature at its last
session appointed a committee of
investigation to meet at some
time during the present year to
investigate the dispensary af-
fairs of the State so as to ascer-
tain if there is any truth in the
accusations that has been made
from time to time against the
managers of the dlspensary gen
orally. This committee has
already commenced it's labors by
investigating the Spartanburg
county dispensary affairs. The
committee commenced it's tri-
bunal, summoned informers and
after a very tiresome and pains
taking hearing adjourned to
Columbia to continue the inves-
tigation until the Spartanburg
county dispensary again has
been disposed of. So far the
only witnesses that have testified
a this case and at the hearing is
disgruntled dispensarites on one
side and dispensary incumbents
on the other. The investiga-
tions of the committee in the
Spartanburg affair so far has
revealed nothing that is conclu-
sive and satisfactory to the pub
lie, but to the contrary, the
whole matter has been simmered
down to a question of veracity
and veracity only.
There seems that the only
complaint against county dis
pensers, and some only, is that
some of them has omitted to en-
ter the name of the purchaser,
the amount and the kind of Ii
quor bought, on a book as the
dispensary law requires. We
believe that no county dispenser
has omitted to comply with this
requirement of the dispensary
law, Intentionally to violate the
law. All impartial and fair
minded and reasonable persons
never hold anyone accountable
for the commission Of a deed
but for the intention when COM
mitting the deed. Violating any
law unintentionally is no viola
ton of law at all and no one but
a fool would SO consider the
case.
If the Investigations reveal
the guilt Of the dispensary Off
cials, put them out. put better
men in and let the solution re-
main.
We will now introduce the
Brice Local Option legislation as
we remember it to the public
and our views on the same and