The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-10-11
Shades Of Dispensary Opposition

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lied, ostesibly into three divisions. There
is ANAL minority who foolishly believe
that prohibition will actually stay the sale
and use Of liquor, and that mere enactment
by the legislst ure carries with it q moral
effect that will stop drinking.
Others oppose tho state monoplizing the
sale OF whlskey and would have that right
extended TO any Citizen who is able 10 pay a
high license. Others still would uproot the.
dispenssry license, As they say, It is per-
meated wife graft.
| Granting TO those who believe In the efficacy
OF prohibition, honesty Of purpose. It 10 sur.
prising that they will shut their eyes to the
fact that in many prohibition states, Maine
for instance. more LIQUOR licenses are issued
BY the us. government by one thousand In
with open bars. And prohibition leaders In
these states only claim q small reduction in
the consumption OF liquor. This will ever
be tho case % long as Congress permits the
shipment Of liquor, unmolested, into q pro-
hibition State. Under the present interstate
laws, the man ormesns can ship in his usual
supply and take II TO his house under the
very nose OF q constable, while the "blind
tiger" will manage 10 ship in and manu-
facture sufficient TO supply the demands Of
the poorer olass.
The shouts Of triumph have scarcely died
away in the splendid old city Of Newberry,
and already six arrests for illioit trafao In
liquor have been made there, and that too.
under the administration Of Mr.. Cromer, .
"Danier TO the evil doer.
Under this system the tribute goes to other
states and to worthless set who conduct .
back door business.
Ofthose who are here placed In the second
CATEGORY, whatsoever may be thought Of the
advisability OF their plan. It has ths merit OF
boldness and independence. They twever
lose sight Of the fsot that tho right 10 license
the sale OF an Objectionable article 10 founded
In "polioe regulations" by the government,
and carries with IL tho right Of that govern
ment to monopolixe the sale olit thought *.
pedient for police purposes.
All OF the talk about the State engaging In
the business, and educating children on IL
quor MONEY is mere twadddle.
| A dollar raised by liquor license enter
National State or Corporate 10 subject to the
| same objection az dispsnsary profits. To use
| . homely illustration, the destruction is just
| such q destruction as farmer makes when
he rents out his farm instead Of working 1t
thimself with hired labor. Biblical scholars
will recall the passage OF scripture about 1.-THE
price OF q dog, etc :" and yet the state is
levying this year Q tax Of fifty cents per
capita on all dogs, and the funds 60 TO edu.
cate our children. Too pure TO use whiskey
revenue TO dispel ignorenoe yet willing to
combat II with "the price ofs dog"
AS 10 the third and last class mentioned,
those who look with yelled and ayerted faces
through pmcked glasses, at tho petty graft,
found here and there In the dispensary, OF
them 1t may be asked, ifthis is the only in.
stitution In which graft abounds.
| 1t Is . lamentable fact that graft does
abound 10 generally. 1t is seen at every
town In the national government; IL has
cost the two lsrge insurance companies In
Itte world millions Of dollars and It has
wrecked some OF the most prosperous cotton
mills OF this state.
Almost any paper picked up casually tells
ofs defaulting bank cashier or president.
lEx-5upervisors OF Greenvil and Riohlsnd
counties are each said TO be short something
like forty or 1fLy thousand dollats. Tressur.
ers OF Hory, Edgehled and Dorchester are
said TO be short In considerable sums, TO say
nothing OF the ex Treasurer Of Chester and
other counties found short In the recent past
lSurely the petty shortages and irregularity
OF dispsnsary ofioisls unesrthed by . zeal
ous and capable committee are insignifoant
In comparison.
The number Of men employed In tho differ
lent branches Of dispensary work can not be
much less than those employed as county
iofacers, and the evidence Ia to the eject that
where the. people have lost one dollar
Through dispensary ofncials they have lost
1--we through their county officials.
Would anybody advocate the abolition ol
1.-The county ofaces7