The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-08-09
Over the Dispensary Problem in
the n'.lpit of Church
AT A UNION MEETING.
Merits and Demerits of the Question Dis
cusseG in the Historic Red Hill
Baptist Church. One Speaker
Predicts that Prohibition
Means Rsrrooms.
Means Barrooms.

W. Jasper Talbert and F'or.uer Solici'
tor J. W. Tnurlnond locked horns IL
dispensary discussion Saturday at a
Baptist Union Meeting at the bis.
torical Red Hill Baptist Church neal
Parksville in Edgefeld County.
The assembly was large and the
speakers stood in the pulpit. At the
close Of an address by DR.. Bell MI.
Thurmoad advanced ard delivered g
very earnest speech, advocating the
dispensary. BE declared that If II
was nightly conducted it is the best
solution OF the liquor evil and that
there would be open bsrrooms in South
Carolina within two years II the pro
hibitionists should win their fight.
In his speech Col. Talberr declared
that the welfare Of the nation de
penGs more upon the character Of its
citizens than the strength OF its army
and navy; that total abstinence is the
only logical and safe practice for 6
religious man. Some men remain
moderate drinkers without ruin, but
their example is deleterious to Others
who are not strong enough TO keeI
from excess.
There is no improperly in speak
ing of the d!spensary in the church
I believe in fighting the devil any
where. I shall attack the dispensary
anywhere and everywhere. I au
against it in any form. II mar
thinks be can reform an ancient egg
let him reform the dispensary.
never saw a rotten egg made fresh.
To say prohibition does not pro
hibit is silly. The law against steal
ing, murder, arson and rape do moi
prohibit, but they restrain. So vii
prohibition restrain. I do not thinl
there can be more blind tigers under
prohibition than under the dispen
sary as now conducted"
1.-The prohibition movement is not
a failure; tc it is due the credit fol
the present activity. I love every
inch OF my State and I am honest ii
my readiness to fight whiskey. When
ever the church membership Of thi
country quit drinking liquor, deter
mine to wash their hands OF com
plaisance with those who deal in i
Tor selfish gain and go to work agains
whiskey, we will have the prohibition
which we need in South Carolina"
Hon. J. W. Thurmond came to th'
platform and made an address. 81
said that be recognized the great evi
in whiskey, but that men might hon
estly differ as to the best means OF re
ducing the evil. Does the presen
mode Of selling liquor produce more
evil than other ways? Some evil
must be prohibited outright; other
are best prohibited by controlling
them. This Is the case with Whis
key.
Prohibition in Edgefsld county
formerly was a complete failure. Oa'
Of the worst things State can do i
to put lsw upon the statute booK
which cannot be enforced; and th'
prohibition OF liquor cannot be en-
forced. You teach people perjury b!
bringing them up before grand ]urieE
under circumstances which expert
ence has shown will make them lie.
It you will take your present Law
and enforce it, it will be a good solu
tion of the question. II you vote pro
hibition you will not have it but {
year or two. The leaders Of this anti
dispensary movement In Columbia are
working toward high license and pro
hibition is but step on their way tt
that end.
Today this county gets from the
dispensa,y about s6, 1000 for education
The county also gets SO, 800 for road.
and the towns SO, 800. The speaker
advocated educating the rising gen
Grafton on money secured from whis.
key taxation. He said to kill the dis
pensary is to take one third from the
schools Of the ccInty, and practically
pull dcwn tie school houses.
Mr.. Thurmund went On to show the
union meeting attendants how it
would touch their pocketbooks, if
they voted out whiskey. His views
are unique in deliVerances before
South Carolina religious assemblies.
But in Mr.. Tnurmund's address there
was tee ring OF conviction.
Col. Talbert asked the speaker il it
was possible for the legislature to vote
open barroorns, and he unQualifedly
affirmed that it could do so.
Col. Talbert-'Do you believe that
it will do it:'''
Mr.. Thurmund-"I believe they
will do it within two years time"
Col. Talbert-"Then, God have
mercy upon their souls. "
A Rich Farmer.