The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-06-27
THE D|SPENSARY IN GEORGIA.
A True Story by Temperance Men Of Ath-
ens---Facts Which Our People
Would Do Well to Note.
Conditions in Athens Not Very Different
from the Complexion of Affairs in South
Carolina.
Athens Banner.

self had produced in less than six
years.
In Athens the vote stood 529 for pro.
hibition and $50 for barrooms. A ma
jority of 6l5 had been wiped out and
tranefor med into a minority of 10.
Those who were not here then can
realize something of how deplorable
affairs must have been under prohibi-
tion 10 produce this amazing result.
If the pending movement succeeds
this county will be placed once more
just where it was in 1891, with all the
intolerable evils that then existed, and
with no possibility of rising in our
might and overthrowing the evils un-
less the legislature will see fit TO repeal
our local law and give US chance to
vote again on the question. We would
be under perpetual prohibition in
name without power to help ourselves,
dependent upon the representatives
from other counties to fix our rights
and disabilities.
If the dispensary is abolished it will
he unlawful for anybody to "sell, bar
ter or exchange" intoxicating liquors
to anybody for any purpose what
ever" in Clarke county.
The dispensary is temperance
measure, intended TO restrict and reg
ulate the sale of liquors. But of ne
cessity there must be derived from the
sale either profit or loss.
1t is impossible to 80 regulate the
price as to come out even at end of the
year. The policy of the commission
ers from the beginning has be en- to
place the price at the highest figure al
lowed by law with view to lessening
the amount sold. If the price is re-
duced the tendency is' TO compete with
liquor dealers elsewhere and 10 invite
trade from other communities to come
here. The profits now amount to
about $4,000 per year. This goes to
support the country schools and to pay
the expenses of the city government.
If this revenue is abolished then the
legislature will have TO amend our city
charter and allow the mayor and coun.
Gil to increase the ad valorem tax from
one per cent. and that means that ev-
cry man who now pays ten dollars tax
mnst pay fifteen. Until that amend
ment can be secured there must be
placed on every business in Athens the
old specific taxes, that caused 30 much
dissatisfaction few years ago, suffi-
cient in amount to raise $4,000.
Either this or the city must reduce
expenses and any one looking over the
expense account will see that the only
place to reduce is by decreasing the
force of teachers. policemen and fire.
men or reducing the pay of these poor
~ paid people who are SO necessary to
our welfare.
In the country the schools must no
longer keep open for nine months and
the pay of teachers must he reduced.
The paving of our streets must cease
and all public Improvements must
come 10 an end, until such time as we
can increase taxes under an amended
charter.
But this is q small matter of dollars
and cents compared aUiM the great
question at issue in the sale of liquor.
TO those aOho believe aUith US that 1T is
the bounde' duty Of every good man to
thTow all possible safeguards around
the youth Of the land and to do all in
his poa0e1' to promote the a0eJare Of has
community and maintain peace, good
Orde, and morality, We respectfully
submit that of all means get de6ised
the dispenSary is the best solution of all
the problems that surround this vereG
question Of the regulation of the sale OF
HQuor.
1T is temperance measure, framed
by temperance men, invented and in
augurated by the Prohibition Club Of
Clarke county. 1t embodies the best
thought of Our most earnest and con-
slstent temperance advocates. 1t has
thrown around it in its organic law ev-
cry wise restriction that law can posi-
bly, place about the sale of any COM
modify. In its aim it is an ideal meas
ure. If there have crept ipto it's maps
agement any abuses, or any laXily, or
if there has been any departure from
the plan and intention of it's founders,
all these can be and must be corrected.
The dispensary belongs to US, the citi-
zens of this county, we can control it
as we please, it il subject to the COM
mapd of q healthy public sentiment
and will be candpeted just as the good
people of Athens and Clarke county
determine it shall be Its managers
will doubtless render ready obediences
to the demands of the public and aUe
earnestly suggest that the proper
course, y you haze any fault to find, is
not to abolish, but to perfect. TO abol-
ish the dispensary is not to fly to ills
we know not Of 1T is to rush into q
state Of affairs that a0e haze tried and
found intOlerable, and that we will
find still more intolerable now than
We found it fifteen years ago. We
have all the old evils many times null
tiplied and new and vicipus ones add
ed. In short time, in self.defepse,
We would be compelled to seek relief
either ip o new dispensary or in bar
rooms,
The above is signed by 81 citizens,