The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1905-08-16
MCLAURlN ATTACKS DISPENSARY SYSTEM
Former Senator Charges Corruption is In
herent in the System Fron Top to
Bottom.

thai they 1eei that the experiment
has been failure. that it has been
productive Of bloodshed, murder,
drunkards, crime, and all Of the other
evils growing out of the State as hsad
barkecper, and putting the bottle to
the mouths Of it's citizens. Being
thus convinced they have determined
in many counties to rise up in their
might and vote out the dispcnsary.
This is a legal right, and yet they are
told they have no such right. Away
with such clap trap. / am in favor
of leaving the question to the people
of the county, as they have right to
pass upon it, and feel that they will
not be deferred by the cajolery or
threats Of any man from asserting this
right.
believe the only practical way for
the people Of the State to rid them
selves Of Il dispensary is to vote it
out by counties. If this course is not
pursued, and the question is remitted
to the general assembly the RESPONSE
bility of repeating the law is cast upon
the legislature, and we will see repe-
tition Of the legislative subterfuges Of
1892. The fact that the advocates of
the dispensary are endeavoriug to
have the election in Pickens County
declared illegal, shows how Ear they
dare go in defeating the popular will.
Those cleaving to the dispensary feel
just as | do, that the only way to kill
the dispensary is to vote it out by
counties, and they arc determined to
prevent this if possible. So that you
see that all Of the talk about the dis
pensary system being such good one,
and that it's only faults are in its ad-
ministration, is simply an apology for
fastening this immoral institution
upon the people. Is it the cry of
those who desire to hold on to poll
tical machine to return them to Office.
1t is the selfish advocacy of an insti-
tuition which has brought the emolu-
ments of Office to them. It is not the
part of true patriotism which would
rid the State speedily of this hydra
headed monster.
Fello" citizens, l am opposed to the
dispensary system.
First. Because it is hugo monop-
oily on the part Of the State, and pre-
sents the spectacle Of q State in COM
petition with its citizens in business
not governmental. If the State has a
right to engage in the whiskey busi-
ness, why not in any line of merohan.
disc? Can any distinction be made?
Last winter measure was brought
before our general assembly to put the
State in the fertilizer business. This
was mere travesty upon our dispen-
sary system. The measure did not
pass, and this was a taoit admission
that the State had no right to engage
in the rum business. Recently the
supreme court ofKansas held an act un-
constitutional which provided for the
State engaging in the oil business in
order to give competition to the Stan
dard oil company. And the doctrine
of that court is in accord with the
common law, the letter and spirit of
the federal and State constitution, as
we'll as the genius of our democratic
institutions. 1t is true that the
United States supreme court has held
that the dispensary law is constitu.
tional, but it was by divided court,
majority Of one in favor of the deois.
ion. While would nes charge our
highest court with anything wrong,
yet it's decision on the income tax
and other questions furnish grounds
for suspicion as to it's always strict
adherence to constitutional law and
justice. The very idea Of State
monopolizing any business to the
positive disadvantage Of its citizens is
repellant to common sense and judg.
ment. Ito functions Of government
must be entrusted to agents, and it is
tho sad experience of the past that
public officers are not 80 faithful, 80
diligent and so economical as indivi-
duals. Take for illustration the dis
pensary law. The State has over o
100000 invested. What profits
are realized from this mammoth mo-
nopoly7 Not over 5000, 900, if so
much. Any aggregation Of indivi-
duals having monopoly of the whis.
key business in this State with the
capital would double the profits made
by the State. I have been. informed
that wealthy gentleman of Charles.
ton, who has been merchant for
years, offered to give the State $780,