The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-11-08
SUMTER S. c.. WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER 8. 1905
BR1cE Law UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
G. Duncan Bellinger, Former Attor'
ney General, Confident Of Knock
ing 1t Out in Federal Court.

ney General, Confident OF Knock.
ing 1t Out in Federal Court.
| Columbia, November 3.-The law
|yers for the Union dispensers who are
seeking to have the Federal court
step in and restore these dispensers
to their job on the ground that the
| Cnicn election was void because the
Brice law Is unconstitutional, are
laughing at the cry Of bad politics
THAT is going up over their move
from the. editorial and news columns
of the daily and weekly press Of the
State, are amused to know that their
fight is looked upon as likely to in-
cense the people into driving the leg
islature to enact a general prohibition
law.
1--WE don't care continental cuss, -
said ex-Attorney General G. Duncan
Bellinger to me today, what the leg
islature enacts or neglects or refuses
OF fails to enact. We are not repre-
senting any politician or bunch Of
politicians. We are seeking dehn-
ite remedy, and we believe we are
going to get it. We want our clients
restored to their positions
"You represent no general associa-
ton of dispensers, or dispensary ad-
herents?"
.sNo, sir.'t
.eNor the State board Of control ?"
.Not in the remotest way. think
it would be a very bad move on their
part to get mixed up with fight Of
this kind
"Do all the people you do represent
live in Uion county?"
Cali named in the papers do" And
Mr.. BeIlinger laughed. He declined to
say what ether interests he and those
associated with him represent. 1t is
a question that has aroused much in
terest throughout the State.
According to the remarks Judge
Pritchard made at the time he made
arrangements to hear you at Rich
mond on the question Of issuing a
mandatory injunction to accomplish
what you failed to accomplish at
Asheville, he does not seem to think
YOU have much of a case?"
ION the contrary, Judge Pritchard
clearly indicated that he saw that the
Brice act was unconstitutional, as
every good lawyer, and even every
-layman, who has read the Federal
constitution, sees. But he doubts
whether we can get at that point
through our efforts to restore to Of
fee. We think we can convince him
he is wrong. He was right in decid-
ing at Asheville that ne had no ju-
risdiction; we knew the moment the
question was raised that we were
gone for the time being. But even the
lawyers on the other side know that
the Brice law is unconstitutional ac-
cording to either the State or Federal
constitution
Think you will succeed before the
convening Of the legislature"
Eyes, I think we will. But if we
don't we are nevertheless in this fight
until we do succeed, or until the leg
islature repeals the Brice act or abol-
ishes the dispensary system"
"In your opinion will the legislature
do either at its next sitting?i'
Gas look at it the next legislature
Will do nothing with the dispensary.
No politician with hopes Of a future is
going to father a bill to abolish the
dispensary. He won't stake his fu-
ture on any such move in view Of all
the doubt and confusion about the
matter"
"Oconee county went dry this week
by a vote Of ten to one. Some twelve
other counties are dry by almost
equally impressive majorities. Do
you discover any element of doubt in
that?'
.sThe elections show merely that
the people are dissatisfied with the
way the dispensary is administered.
And besides, only from third to half
the people are voting under the re-
strctions of the Brice act Wait till
the primaries are heard from"
tAttorney-welsh; who is associated
with Mr.. Bellinger. advocates amend
ing the dispensary law so as to pro-
vide for selling across the dispensary
counter by the drink, mixed accord
ing to the best science, practice and
skill Of modern barkeep, the doing
away with request blanks and the eX-
tension Of the closing hour to 9