The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-07-27
MeLAURISoN THE DIsPENsARY
Ex-senator Scores The State Liquor
Institution in Strong Terms.

Ex-senator Scores The State Liquor
Institution in Strong Terms.
Columbia State.
A great meeting was held at Dillon
Tuesday. 1t was farmers meeting,
and was addressed by several promi-
nent speakers, who discussed the
questions Of the day. At length the
dispensary came in for share OF III
teresting talk.
This was occasioned by the reply OF
former Senator McLaurin to some
questions which were submitted to
him during the course of his speech.
1t was understood by some that the
meeting was to be held under the ans.
pices and in the interests Of the South
ern Cotton Association, with politics
entirely eliminated.
This rule had been adhered to by
Mr. R. P. Hamer and Senator R. l.
Manning, the two first speakers.
The Dispensary.
Former Senator McLaurin had spok.
en- for about ten minutes, following
these lines also, when gentleman
from the audience approached the plat.
form and handed the speaker a paper.
Having finished his sentence, Mr.. Nc.
Laurin read the paper, then read it to
the audience, and the paper in ques.
tion was as follows:
Senator: At our committee meeting
yesterday we decided we were all Of
one acord on the cotton question, hav-
ing read much on the subject and hav-
ing many able speakers who will fol-
low you here today. For that reason
we decided that we would remind you
that the burning question of the hour
with Us is and will be for the immedi-
ate future, dispensary or no dispen-
sary, and if you nave no serious OBJ
jections we would like to hear your
views on the subject. What do you
think of the dispensary laws as it is
writ on the statute books of this State,
and as it has been, is, and probably
will be, as long as It is law, executed
by those in authority?"
Signed: w. T. Bethea, w. M. Hamer,
E. L. Moore, E. r. Hamer, Wade Stack
house.
Mr.. McLaurin said that he had been
charged by some as being politician,
and this subject was one that politi-
clans are now lodging pretty skill
fully, but that he had stayed in Wash
ington long enough to get above that.
He had never failed to expressed his
opinion upon any public question, and
if they wanted to hear him discuss the
dispensary law he would do so.
The crowd at once vociferously sig
nalized a desire for this very thing,
and the speaker warmed up so in
simultaneously that he began by say
ing: IF you'll excuse me, I'll shed a
collar" Collar and tie at once came
off, and all the forces at the speakers
command were brought to bear upon
the subject. Mr.. McLaurin, in un-
measured terms, condemned the entire
system, from its very beginning. He
had no good word for it, but condemn
ed it as a reproach upon the State, a
reproach that time could not efface.
He paid sarcastic reference to the
sage of Trenton and his quiet dairy
farm" and drew a parallel from Louis
XIV and his guillotine to 'our grand
monarch whose destruction is before
him." The chairman called time on
the speaker twice, but amid great ap-
plause he was asked to continue. The
second time he was called the crowd
again shouted for him to continue and
when Mr.. F. H. Weston gave him five
minutes Of mis- time and Mr.. +. II.
Hyatt followed with a similar state
ment, the speaker continued amid re-
newed cheers and applause.