Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-08-08
Tuesday, August 8, 1905.

Wnen L asked tne leBisldluie ~
give towns the same right to vote IL
quor out that they had to vote 1t In,
l was told that this would never do for
the towns would appeal to the negro
vote. That, Of course, was only a
demagogic subterfuge. Why. 1t Is
matter of record that over In Laurens
when the dispensary people found 1t
impossible to get the signatures or
two-thirds Of the qualified voters ne
cessary to order an election they ac-
tually cut up lot, divided 1t among
ten negroes, making them freeholders
so they could sign the petition
Il was not the negroes that the legis-
lature was afraid of but the white peo-
pie. and when pressed them they
finally agreed to allow whole county
to vote on the question provided that
at the same time the voters agreed to
submit to a tax Of mill, levied os-
tensibly for the purpose OF enforcing
the law; but in reality intended to dis
courage the removal Of dispensaries.
The legislature thought that not
only would you be Influenced by this
tax; but that you would certainly fol-
low the desire of the senior senator.
But don't you see that the system leads
only 10 ruin and will you follow the
senior senator to Hades?
Yorkville voted for the dispensary
and had 1t established within her lin
It's. She realizes now that she has
made a fearful mistake. II she were
allowed to do 80 she would gladly cor
rect that mistake herself; but the leg
isla:ure has not been willing to put IL
In her power to correct that mistake
without your help and she appeals to
you to help her. Will you do It? I
am sure you will and / believe you
will do II by such a vote that no man
| will ever dare try to bring the question
up again.
Referring to the proposed election
and the conditions incident to the
calling Of the same, Senator Brice ex-
planned that the law provided for the
calling Of an election on the petition
OF one-fourth OF the qualified voters
of a county. On the registration
books Of York county there are $500
names. These include all who have
died or moved away since 1895. The
qualified voters mean those who are
actually qualified to vote. However.
the petitions have been signed by
more than 1900 voters, and these are
more than one-fourth Of the total
number on the books The important
question is that every man who de-
sires to vote against the dispensary be
registered.
The election will be held In accord
ance with the state laws. The super
visor will consider the petition as
turned over to him and II he finds
that It has been signed by the neces-
sary one-fourth of the qualified vo-
ters, he will notify the commissioners
of state elections, Messrs. r. NJ. Wal
lace, p. NJ. Burris and w. B. Wilson.
Jr., and these gentlemen will call the
election. appoint managers, provide
tickets, etc. No voter can cast bal
lot unless he is properly registered. at
least thirty days before the date OF
the election.
In conclusion Senator Brice> also
had something to say Of the quality OF
liquor that Is being furnished by the
state. The law provides that the
whisky should be chemically pure;.
but as matter Of fact 1t Is only pure
chemicals, and very well calculated to
kill. IF you will drink whisky" he
advised, you are fool to buy this
whisky from the dispensary."
At the conclusion of Senator Brice's
remarks, Rev. W. C. Ewart was called
for and responded briefly, but forcibly.
He said he had never taken any part
In politics and did not expect to; but
on this and all other moral questions
he was glad to have the privilege OF
making his position known. Yorkville
is In sore distress and Is calling upon
her fellow citizens Of the county for
| relief. 1t is true that the county as q
whole is not responsible for the dis
pensary. People outside Of Yorkville
had nothing to do with putting 1t
here: but they would be responsible IL
they should let II remain. A man Is
drowning In the sea. You had nothing
to do with his plight. You can save
him by stretching forth your hand
and you do not do II. Are you not
murderer? And what right thinking
man would want this blood money?
It is not blood money? Follow up the
sessions record in this court house and
see how many crimes here considered
are directly traceable to dispensary IL
auor Isn't that blood money? Con-
slider the people who drink away the
food and clothing of their families.
Do you want the profits from their
crime. Yes, Yorkville appeals to the
county for relief from the greatest
curse that has ever distressed a civil
lied community and ! have all conf
dence that when the ballots that are
deposited on this question have been
counted, It will be found that a ma
jority OF the voters have declared for
the honor Of South Carolina and York
county and the glory Of God.
Rev. ]. X. Hall Of Bethesda, said that
fully 80 per cent Of the people to whom
petitions had been presented In his
part Of Bethesda township had signed
them gladly and he was quite sure
that the vote In favor Of driving the
dispensary out of York county would
be overwhelming.
Rev. w. B. Arrowood said that so
far as his information extended the
petitions had been signed by every man
In Bethel who had been afforded the op-
portunity, and when the election comes
he thinks that Bethel will rise as one
man against the dispensary.
Chairman Boyce called for an ex-
preston from Bullock's Creek, stat
ing that representatives Of that town.
ship might simply rise in lieu Of
speeches II they so desired. A half a
dozen citizens rose.
Seven or eight citizens stood up for
Broad River township.
Captain F. H. Barber said: $50 far
-. Doo,, IJuI is ooncarnad che hoe