The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-07-04
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minute and binding manner just what
kinds Of liquor shall be bought and
how it shall be bought without leav-
ing it to the discretion of any board.
Every detail should be worked out
and then the law would execute it.
self as far as that feature is concern
cd The board would then only need
to supervise the conduct Of state and
county dispensers, the same as the
Asylum and Penitentiary are run.
Now as regards the proposed elec-
tion to vote out the dispensary. IT
the dispensary is to be voted out it
should and must be voted out of the
state, not out by individual counties.
OF course recognize the deep seated
ove OF Our people for local self gov
ern1nent and | would not compel any
county to retain the dispensary or
have one established therein if ma
;>rity of tine citizens want prohibi-
ion with it's acknowledged failure to
prohibit. But Judging simply by the
facts in the numerous elections that
have been held on the subject | be-
nat large majority of the peo-
the state are as strong believ-
ers in the dispensary system as / am
and that they are only casting about
now for method of relieving them
selves Of the corrupt machine which
is said to be in charge in Columbia.
Many states in the union have had
corruption in their state governments
and their state treasurers have de-
faulted-have sometimes stolen hum
dreds OF thousands of dollars-but no
man has ever thought of abolishing
the machinery of taxation because OF
this. We have got to deal with liquor
in some form and provide for its legi-
innate sale or we know it will find IL
legitimate sale. Shall we have high
license? | say no. That gives the
monopoly to the wealthy man as
against the poor man, and we know
from experience with bar rooms that
it will be impossible to give any man
the right to fill his store with liquor
to sell and then have him comply with
the constitutional requirements and
not sell it at night and not have it
drunk on the premises. If the dis
pensary is abolished | will stump the
state for prohibition rather than see
high license. | have said this and it
is the reason probably that the story
is going the rounds about my stump
ing for prohibition. But before we
have prohibition or high license eth
er | expect if my health continues
good to give very earnest discussion
to the subject Of how to reform the
dispensary instead of destroying it
and to showing the true inwardness
of the present movement.
Let us suppose that the present
campaign against the dispensary by
county elections shall progress vic
toriously as it has thus far and that
the majority of the counties-in the
state vote it out. Will the question
be settled? By no means. The alliance
of prohibitionists, high license people
and blind tigers which is now Waglng
successful war vii! have to continue
the war between themselves after the
dispensary is defunct. rSenslble men
will notl end their aid to any crusade
which only gives us Confusion worse
confounded" and produces chaotic
condition with no compensation.
Under the decisions OF the United
States Supreme Court prohibition and
no other state regulation can prevent
liquor being shipped in by express fo1
personal use OF individuals, and the
Jug traffic from Wilmington. Char
lotte. .Asheville, Atlanta. Augusta anc
Savannah will be immense under pro-
hbition. and the money which now
goes into the dispensary tor the usf
of the towns and counties OF the state
and the school fund will be sent ou
OF the state to enrich the dealers ant