Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-09-08

the inherent corruption Of this system
the distinguished champion or the
state IiQuor business makes when ne
proposes that the bids for liquor sales
be opened by the governor, CHIEF JUS
tice and speaker Of the house, each
watching the other to keep them from
stealing. He actually proposes 10 as
semble the highest dignitaries OF
South Carolina to do the dirty, mean,
contemplate, damnable office or a par
keeper. [Cheers for Brice, and counter
cheers for Tillman.l It would make
South Carolina the laughing stock OF
the world. / wonder that he did not
also propose to- provide that these
functions be opened with prayer by
Bishop Potter lLaughterE
I'll admit now that they were honest
when they instituted this law; but those
sunup and sundown and no drinking
on the premises features who were
they intended to catch? 1t was not the
old topers. 1t was understood tnat tney
would get their liquor: all right. II
must therefore have been sop to those
who were fighting liquor. Why even
the very ministers Of the gospei were
deceived and for time 1t looked as
n the Angel Gabriel and the devil had
come to an agreement as TO tner pest
solution of the liquor question.
We are asked. II we don't have the
dispensaries what are we going 70
have. They say blind tigers In prohi-
bition counties and bar-rooms In IL
quor counties. I want to say that un-
less there Is sufficient public sentiment
behind prohibition IL will do some
harm; but still I claim that the only
way to settle the matter Is to leave the
people to settle 1t for themselves. The
only thing there Is In my law Is the
right Of local government. am
opposed on principle to forcing proni-
bition on Charleston, Richland and oth-
er counties that want liquor, ana l am
opposed to having these counties iorce
LIQUOR on York II we prefer prohibi-
ton. :,
Prohibition merely means that IL
ouor can be sold only under the ban OF
the law. It does not mean that no IL
auor will be sold. That depends upon
public sentiment. But the people OF
the state are not parties to the sale OF
liquor in violation Of the law. But 80
long as the dispensary people are not
even pretending to try to curtaii the
sale Of liquor they have no right 10
complain of the attitude OF the prohi-
bitionists.
So far as blind tigers are concerned,
Senator Brice asserted, there are more
now than there have ever been In the
history Of the state. The United States
revenue records show that there are
more than 400 liquor tax receipts heid
in the state-an average or ten 10 the
county, and this does not include even
a large per cent of the total number
of illicit dealers. All this In spite OF
the fact that the maintenance OF the
state constabulary cost $4,000 last
year.
| want to pause here. digressed the
senator to recall that at the recent
hearing Of the dispensary investigating
committee In Spartaaburg a former
member OF the state board of control,
away back ten years ago, testified that
liouor had been sold from the state
dispensary to blind tigers and he did
not know what had become OF the
money. There was more In what this
man did not say than In what he did
say. and there Is reason to believe that
many Of the rascals are so uneasy that
they tremble IN their boots every time
they go to church and hear the preach
er give out that good old hymn. the
half has not been told"
81 will never as your senator vote TO
purify this law" Mr.. Brice declared.
''Its publication Is impossible, and
will only vote to kill It,"
In conclusion Senator Brice called
attention to the fact that Cherokee had
voted out the dispensary before the de-
velopment Of the recent exposures, ano
| then enumerating Pickens, Newberry
and Union, he declared that the move
ment had gotten the headway OF a big
| locomotive on a down grade and the
little bull calves must either get oul
of the way or be run over.
He then read some extracts from
an anti -dispensary pamphlet by Rev
Mr.. Kirton. a Methodist minister, Tor
merly Of this state. but now or the
North Carolina conference, and ad.
yised those who were Interested, ID
buy copies of the book.
Somebody suggested to Mr.. Brice
that they. would rather hear him talk
than read, and he asked him how
much more time he had.
you'd better put in your whole
wad while you have a chance, said
Senator Tillman, "for you will need
that twenty minutes you have In re-
ply" [Laughter.l
"All the points you can make about
your dirty, filthy, liquor business can
be answered in ten minutes" retorted
Senator Brice, and he sat down amid
liberal applause.
After a whispered conference with
Senator Tillman, Chairman Wilborr
announced that inasmuch as the
crowd was no doubt tired he would
Iadiourn the meeting for three-quar-
ters of an hour, to give an opportu-
nifty for dinner and after dinner Sen
ator Tillman would speak.
The recess was taken at 12.45. the
crowd scattered and dinner was
spread under the trees In various
parts of the grounds Dinner was
quite plentiful and practically every
body in the big crowd was provided
for, The crowd promptly reassem-
bled at about 1.30 and after music by
the band, Chairman Wilborn intro
duced
His mobile features having already
been composed with that studied arr
On familiar and so characteristic into
an expression that was both. interest
ing and fetching. Senator Ttllman
slowly moved into the place that had
been vacated by Senator Brice, ano
turned his head first to one side ano
then to the other, half comically ano
half fiercely until he got the desired
grip on his audience. Then he paused
until the initial applause began to die
away, and brought the crowd to atten-
tion with the drawling remark:
Hogs down my way root with tneir
noses. They don't shout"
A number Of people laughed ano
cheered, and as though oblivious to the
audience and its expectations, he turn
ed and jerked out: =,
| Take that pitcher away. l DOM
need It," He referred to the water
pitcher that was sitting on the pound
| ing board, and the remark as well as
the accompanying action were taken
to be funny. After another pause, Re
shouted:
| "I was merely alluding to the fact
that il has been said that there were
evidences Of purpose to pack this
meeting with rooters for the dispen-
sary."
This sally brought forth laughter
from many and few roots from the
rooters. Senator Tillman continued:
Ladies and Gentlemen: I am lc
stranger here. My friend has alluded
to my first visit as being sixteen years
ago. 1t was nineteen years ago. The
place was Massey's grove across yon-
der: but II was Tirzah. I came to you
as a stranger, and spoke as best l knew
how. ! come to you today not as an
office seeker; but In response to an In
vi:ation signed by four or Ave hundred
people and In order that you may un-
derstand why I will make certain allu.
slons and follow certain lines viii
read II to you.
| Senator Tillman read the petition
which invited him to come and defend
l h ttN,a