The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1905-08-23
Tilnan and TaIbert Discuss the Dispen.
sary.

Ncuueshay dItclHooH. dH ACCOUNT ~
which is found on the first page of this
issue. Senator Tillman and ex Con
grcssman w. j. Talbcrt discussed the
whiskcy problem on an invitation pre-
viOusly extended to them by DrOmi-
nent citizens. The immense crowd
had been waiting eagerly to hear these
speakers, and, Though it WAS late
when they began, the people all re-
manned and heard their speeches with
the closest attention.
Col. Ialbert was first introduced and
spoke upon the subject of prohibition.
lie discussed it rs moral issue rs
we'll rs political one. He was q pro-
hibitiOnist and has been for years.
The good features of the dispensary,
he Eaid, bad not been carried out. The
dlspcnsary law is not enforced and
there could not be more blind tigers
under prohibition than there are now
under the dlspensary law. The dis
pensary makes every man and woman
party. to- the sale of liquor and parti
ccps crlmlnis in every crime committed
in the State. He said he was in the
fight against the devil, and that it was
right for the question to come up as a
moral one and be discussed in the
churches. Col. Talbert spoke for
about an hour, intcrspcrsing his argu-
ments TOR prohibition with number
OF ancCuOteS,
Col. Talbert did not come to Ander-
son to speak on the invitation of those
who are fighting tho dispensary in this
county, and the central prohibition
committee made this fact plain in
card, published the day before the
speaking.
Senator Tilman followed Col. Tai
bert. He had previously announced
that he would outline his plan for Sc
curing a proper enforcement of the
law and providing for remedy to re-
move the graft from the systcn. For
this reason, in addition to the general
men OF all shades Of opinion were
eager to hear him. lie said that the
dIspensary issue was a moral, political
and financial question The movement
against the dispensary. he declared,
wac composed Of honest prohibition
lists, high license men and the blind
tiger element. He would be q prohi-
bitionist if it were practicable. 1t is
the highest ideal, but he dealt with
the effect OF prohibition laws in other
States, quoting statistics to sustain
his contention. and said that prohibit
tlon is failure. He is opposed to
nigh license always and would take
the stump against it. He discussed
the revenue feature and read letter
from Treasurer Payne giving tho
amount Of revenue the county derived
from the dispensnry:, He read also n
III regard to the criminal statistics of
the county, his position being that
crime had decreased since the dispen-
sary law went into effect. He referred
briefly to the revelations of graft in
Spartanburg, and remarked that "it
was wonder they didn't steal the
whole business"
Senator TiIlman then read the writ
ten portion OF his speech, which set
forth his plans for changing and i'm
proving the law SO as to provide a
remedy for it's present evils. His plan
| ls To put the administration OF the law
In the hands Of men elected by the
people. The board of control should
be composed of the governor, the at
torney general and the comptroller
general. He made q number of sug-
from being subjected to temptation OF
laying themselves open to charges OF
corruption. After due advertisement
the years supply should be bought
from the lowest bidder, accompanied
by bond of 100000 for tho faithful
performance of the contract. Let the
! chief Justice Of the supreme court, the
State treasurer and the speaker of the
House OF Representatives open the
bids during the session of the legisla.
ture. and award the contract tc
furnish the entire years. supply
to the lowest bidder. The name and
| brand should be blown into the glass
80 that there could be no change OF
| labels. No case goods should be kept
IN stoch nnd tho purchase OF these
should be confined to special orders
y0f< Sr,ls
pensarles should be abolished as now
| run and beer should be kept by dis.
! pensers and not drunk on the prem.
ises.
For the government of local dispen.
| saries Senator 1illman wanted the law
| changed so as to place the control and
supervision of them in the hands Of the
county supervisor elected by the peo.
pie, the mayor of the town in which
| son to be appointed by the State board
| of control. The local dispensers
| should be elected by the people. The
governor should have the power to re.
move for cause and he should exercise
it vigorously. He said he wanted ia
make it impossible for any one con.
nected with the dispensary from the
top to the bottom TO steal any of the
public money.
=
some idea Of the nature of the discus.
| aion. Senator Tillnan's argument fol-
the dispe nsary was along the lines he
has folh wed in all his speeches, the
only new matter being his suggestions
in regard to changes in the law from
what it is at present. He is against
prohi bition because he considers it i'm
practicable, and he is especially antag-
Onistic to the high license system. He
claims that the fight to overthrow the
dispensary is inspired by the advocates
of high Ii ense who hope in time to &C.
cure the enactment of their plan of
controlling the liquor traffic into the
laws of the State. N.'
The speeches were conservative in
tone. and they we're listened to quiet
y by the large crowd. Now end then
Senator Tillman's rugged speech and
spark of the old-time fire would kim
die little enthusiasm. But little that
was new came out in the d ecussion of
the dispensary question. a most vital
nnoafinn If Of onA tho