The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1905-08-30
SENATOR MANNING'S VIEWS.
Fayors Amending the Dispensary Lave.
May be Done by Next Legislature.

i'SHI year., HAS gwen Ine press OF the
State, the following letter:
A number of articles have appeared
in the newspapers calling on those who
are spoken of as probable candidates
for governor in the Democratic primary
next year to express themselves on
the question which is now agitating
the public mind, namely, the liquor
question.
AS n of those referred to, | desire
to say that | have no hesitation in stat
ing my position on this subject. In do
ing so L have no desire to precipitate
the campaign at this time for, although
| have been frequently mentioned as a
candidate for governor, | have not, up
to his time, positively decided to be q
candidate and in now stating my posi-
tod on the liquor question | donot COM
NIT myself to enter the race. [ do so
now merely to prevent the idea being
formed in the public mind that | am
awaiting to see which way the tide
turns before stating my attitude there
to-.
In my opinion, a grave condition con-
fronts our people, and it's practical and
wise solution should be of paramount
Importance to the political aspirations
of any man or set of men.
Irrespective of any candidacy, | feel
that it is the duty of every citizen who
realizes the responsibilities of citizen
ship to do his part in bringing about
the wisest and best solution of the IL
quor question, to put aside prejudice, to
put aside politics and every considera-
ton save the earnest desire to bring
about that condition which will promote
temperance and straightforward, hon
est conduct and morality, and will min
imize the evils of liquor.
1t is inevitable that differences of
opinion will exist as to the way TO ac-
complish this desirable end ever among.
those who are earnestly and honestly
striving after the same object. / re
spect the position of the prohibitionist
who believes that prohibition can be
effective in South Carolina. | admit
that there has been agrowing tendency
to curtail drink, and the time may
come when the one of our people will
be educated up to such Il degree of
self-discipline, self-restraint and re-
spect for law that a prohibitory law
against the use OF sale of liquor may be
observed, but in my Judgment hat time
has not yet come in South Carolina.
But the time has come when the
people of this State will no longer sub
NIT to a continuance of the mal-admin-
istration of the ~dispensary law-this
condition has become intolerable. The
~dispensary must be purged, and every
act of administration contrary to its
purpose of restricting the sale of liquor
must be corrected, the officer or en-
ployee responsible therefor punished and
every act of wrong doing wiped cut.
The issue in South Carolina is dis
pensary OF prohibition; this does not
mean that the issue must be ''dispen-
sary-as-it-is" or "prohibition," but
~"dispensary amended and honestly adj
ministered" or prohibition"
A bill will be introduced at the com
ing session of the legislature, which
will, if adopted, so change the dispen-
sary law that it will be distinctly a law
to restrict and curtail the use of liquor
will make the prohibitive features
prominent and imperative, permit the
sale of liquor only under conditions that
will reduce the evils to the minimum,
and subordinate the profit feature of
the law. This bill will also make the
salaries of dispensers and employees alb
solutely independent of the amount of
sales, will throw every possible safe
guard around the purchase of Liquor to
prevent bribery and will endeavor to
correct such defects and eliminate such
abuses as the work of the investigating
committee may reveal, and make such
other changes as may be deemed best.
l believe that such a law can and
will be a great step toward reducing
the evils of liquor; that it can be made
effective and that it will not Interfere
with other functions of government.
With such a law the issue would
be ''dispensary law so amended or
prohibition. On this issue, | would
stand for the dispensary law so amend
ed; but do not stand for the dispen-
sary law as it is.
RICHARD |. MANNING,
Cpp,io, & N