The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-09-01
Senator Manning diyesIiis Views
ION the Dispensary.
WANTS LAW AMENDED
The Senator, Who May Become Cas-
didate ior Governor, Does Not Ac-
cept System as ills at Present.
Opposes Prohibition as It
Won't Be Enforced.

The following letter from Senator
Richard L. Manning, of Sumter, who
may become q candidate for governor
will be read with interest:
SUMTER, S. o., August 23.-A
number5of articles have appeared In
the newspapers calling on those who
are spoken of as probable candidates
next year to express themselves on
the questionswhioh is now agitating
the public mind t.namely, the liquor
question.
AS one of,those referred to, I desire
to say that have no hesitation in
stating my position on this question.
In doing so have no desire to preoip-
ttate the campaign at this time for
although. i have frequently been men,
tened as a candidate for governor,
have not, up to thisN time, positively
decided to.be.a candidate, and .insnowl
sta6lng my position on the liquor Ques-
tion do not commit myself to enter
the race. do so now merely to pre-.
vent the idea being formed In the
public mind that am awaiting to
see which way the tide turns before
stating my attitude thereto.
In my opinion, aa.graYe condition
confronts our people, and It's practical
and wise solution should be Of para
mount Importance to the political as
pirations OF any man or set Of men.
Irrespective of any candidacy, feel
that it is the duty ofalevery Citizen
who realizes the esponsibilities of
cltizenship.to do his part in bringing
about the wisest and best solution of
the liquor question, to:put aside pref
udice, to pu5 aside politics and every
consideration save the earnest desire
TO bring about that condition which
will promote temperance and straight.
forward, honest, conduct and morality,
and will minimize the evils Of liquor.
1t is inevitable that differences of
opinion will exist as to the way to ac-
complish this desirable end even
anopg thcse earnestly and honest-
ly striving after the Same object.
respect the position Of the prohibi-
ZIONIST who believes that prohibition
can be effective In South Carolina. T
admit that there has been growing
tendency to curtail drink, and the
time may come when the tone Of our
people will be educated up to such q
degree of self-diEcipline, self restraint
and respect Tor law That prohibitorY
law against the use or sale of liuuor
may be observed, but in my Judgment
that time has not yet come i'm South
Carolina.
But the time has come wheh the
people OF this State Will no longer
submit to continuance of the NAL.
administration Of the dispensary law
this condition has become intOlera.
BILE. The dispensary must be purRed,
and every act Of administration con-
Grary TO its purpose Of restricting the
sale of liquor must be corrected, the
ofncers or employe responsible there.
for punished, and every act OF wrong
doing wiped OUT
The issue In South Carolina iS dis
penary or prohibition; this does not
mean that the Issue must be ''dispen-
sary-as-tt-is" or prohibition" but
dispensary amended and honestly ad-
ministered" or prohibition"
A bill will be introduced at the coua.
Ing session Of the legislature which
will, If adopted, 80 change the dis
penary law that 1t will be distinctly q
Law to restrict and curtail the use of
lNQuor-Will make the prohibitive fea-
lures prominent and imperative, per-
nit the sale Of liquor only under con-
ditions that will reduce the evils 10
the minimum, and subordinate the
profit feature OF the law. This bill
will also make the salaries of dispen-
sers and employees absolutely indepen.
dent Of the amount of sales, will
throw every possible safeguard around
the purchase OF liquor to prevent bri-
berry and corruption, and will endeavor
to correct such defects and eliminate
SUCH abuses as the work of the inyes-
tiRating committee may reveal, and
make such other changes as may be
deemed best.
believe that such q law can and
Will be a great step toward redue.
Ing the evils Of liquor; that 1t can bo
made effective and that 1T will not
} ,terfere with other functions of gov.
: ernment.
With such a law, the issue would
be "dispensary law 80 amended" or
prohibition. On this issue, would
stand for the dispensary law 30
amended; but do not stand for the
dispensary law as 1T is.
RICHARD ]. MANNING.
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