The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-09-06
ANsEL AND THE DIsPENsARY.

I have received many inquiries as to
my views Of the liquor question in
South Carolina, and the best way OF
dealing with that all-absorbing ques-
ton. dispensary or no dispensary, and
I take this means of stating my posi-
tion
In the first place. I am opposed to
the system Of a State dispensary.
once thought it was the bet solution
Of the liquor question, because
thought it would minimize and de-
crease the sale of liquors in this
State, but when we consider that more
than three million dollars worth Of
whiskey has been sold by the vari-
Gus dispensaries Of the State the past
year, my hopes have been disap-
pointed, and it appears to me that
some other method should be
adopted.
In the second place, I am in favor
of local county option, as between
prohibition and county dispensaries;
that is, am in favor Of any county in
the State voting upon the question as
to whether they wish prohibition for
that county, or whether they wish
county dispensaries. If a, majority OF
the qualified voters of the county de-
sire prohibition for that particular
county, then I am one who believes
that they should have it, and further
believe that the good people Of such
county will see to it that the prohibi-
ton law is enforced.
If the vote of any county should be
in favor Of the sale Of liquor in that
particular county, then favor a law
providing for a county dispensary,
with a board of control of three mem
bers. to be appointed by the governor
Of the State, which county board
shall have control Of the purchase Of
LIQUORS for the county dispensaries,
the appointment of dispensers, fixing
their salaries, etc.; all sales to be
made under the rules and regulations
of the present dispensary law, with
such other and further restrictions as
may be thought wise by the legisla-
ture.
I am opposed to beer dispensaries,
as I thinkethat beer when sold at all
should be sold in the regular county
dispensaries.
I favor stringent law against the
unlawful sale of liquor. Ny expert
ence of twelve years as one Of the
solicitors Of this State has convinced
me that, whatever system may be
adopted, that unlawful sales will be
made by some. 1t is, therefore, nee
essary that stringent laws should be
passed to punish the .'blind tiger
those who sell unlawfully.
Make it the duty Of all sheriffs,
deputy sheriffs, magistrates, consta-
bles. policemen and town marshals to
see that the law against the unlawful
sale of liquor is rigidly enforced III
their counties, cities and towns, and it
might be well to give them half of the
fines that are collected from those
convicted through the agency Of such
officers of the offense of unlawful
sales. transportation or making OF
whiskey.
The county boards Of control should
be required to make report to the
presiding judge at each term OF the
court of general sessions for their
respective counties, showing the pur-
chases made, the amount of sales by
the county dispensaries, and of all
their acts as such county board of
control. and should be liable criminal
w for any violation Of the law, rules
and regulations Of the dispensary.
am opposed to the high license
system. it is too near the old bar room
system, and would not decrease the
sales of liquor, whatever the restric-
tions might be, but would increase
them. The man who pays the high
license would want to make all the
profit he could, and hence, the more
sales the more profits.
Personally I would like to see no
liouor sold in this State as a beverage,
but it is a condition which confronts
us and the question is how best to
deal with that condition. There is
no law that can be passed that will
keep some people from drinking
liquor, still I believe it to be the duty
Of the State to pass such laws as will
minimize the use of liquor as much as