The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-06-16

to have the state dispensary investi-
gated when one of the party remark
ed that they should have a committee
like the one that investigated the
state penitentiary few years ago.
About that time q member of the
penitentiary committee came up and
he was told the subject of Our discus
sion. when he replied it would be i'm
possible to do it, that it was so rotten
that committee could rot get near
enough to investigate it, and remark
ed further, that the people of his
county thought they had one Of the
best dispensers in the state, that he
seemed to attend to his business
closely and had the reputation of be-
ing an honest man, but that he went
home from the dispensary one even
ing after closing and took sick sud-
denly and died and when they went
down to open up the place and ex-
anime his books and papers, they
found on file in his office letters from
the manufacturers of certain brands
of liquors that had been sold the state
dispensary, enclosing him money for
pushing the sales Of certain brands
and letters from others offering to
pay him if he would push their brands
and that it seemed that the tempta-
ton was too strong for any man to
stand. Senator Blease asked if he
could get these letters for the use of
his committee when appointed and
he told him he saw no reason why
they could not be used as they were
there on file. This gives you some
idea why the people are tiriug of the
dispensary. The principal reason
given by Senator Blease in asking
that the dispensary in this county
be continued is the profit feature. If
it be true that the people of this county
cannot pay the expenses of the coun-
ty and for keeping up the schools
without being engaged in business Of
some kind let us go out of the liquor
business and take up some other line
that will not ruin every man who
touches it Or those who patronize it.
The question is asked after the dis
pensary, what? AS l understand it,
if the dispensary is voted out in this
county we will be placed in the same
position as Greenwood, Marlboro, and
Chreokee counties. Greenwood and
Marlboro have never had a dis
pensary and I don't think Marlboro
has ever asked to be allowed to vote
on the question since the dispensary
law was passed. An effort was made
in the general assembly to have Marl
boro included with tn counties that
the board could open dispensaries and
the Hon. w. D. Evans who was SEN
ator Of the county at the time, told
me that he told those who were try
ing to include Marlboro, that he
would stand and discuss the question
in the senate until the time fixed for
the adjournment of the general as
sembly to prevent it being done; that
the people of his county were salts
fed with prohibition and did not want
the dispensary. If the people of
Newberry will take the trouble to en-
quire, they will find that the tax levies
for Marlboro, Greenwood and Chero-
kee counties are no higher than they
are now in Newberry with a dispen-
sary and that their schools are in as
healthy a condition as ours; that the
governor has not levied any extra
tax for the enforcement Of the law
and that he will not do it in any
county that votes out the dispensary
if the people of the county enforces
the law. So it resolves itself after
all to the question is it right for the
people of Newberry to continue the
dispensary, which is doing so much
to ruin the young men and homes OF
Our people or not, and for myself,
realizing the responsibility which de-
wolves upon me, as citizen of rhis
city and county, I answer, no, not if
nv vote will prevent 1t.