The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-06-29
Standing by The Record.
Newberry, June %.


There is nothing cquivocal in the
candidacy of Mr. Cole L. Blease for
Governor. He is the 'dispcnsary's true
lover and loyal knight and is ready
and eager to maintain his title against
all entries. The dispensary is good
enough for him. just as it stands,
without one plea, he would maintain
it. He has no patience with all this
paltering after reform. There is no
need for reform, the institution be-
ing already as nearly perfect as it is
possible to NIKE it.
There is a good deal of strength in
Mr.. Rlease' s position. The talk of re-
forming the dispensary is beside the
mark. We all know what the dispen-
sary is. 1t has been in operation for
thirteen years, and its effects are pret-
ty evident in South Carolina. Its
methods are known to the public.
They have been shown most elaborate-
ly by the investigation which is still
in progress with Mr.. Lyon and Mr..
Christensen as chief prosecutors. Mr..
Blease is member of the Investigate
ing committee himself. He has been
close enough to see the whites of the
eyes OF all the witnesses and he has
heard all the tales they have told, just
rs the people have been made ac-
quainted with them through the press
reports. With this information be-
fore him Mr. Blease stands up and
challenges any candidate for office
who is dissatisfied with the dispen-
sary, either as system or in its meth
ods of operation, to "prove that there
has been corruption in the dispensary
and to name the men who have bene-
flied thereby"
Corruption means the changing
from good to bad in any quality. To
prove present corruption in the dis
pensary 1t is necessary to establish
original goodness. That is a fair task
for the advocates of various measures
Of reform for the dispcnsary, includ-
:ng Senator Tillman and Messrs. Man.
ming and Sloan. They are all urging
the necessity for some change in the
law governing the dispensary, to pre-
vent corruption. Now where is the
corruption, asks Mr.. Bleasc. Those
who hold that the dispensary is an
impossible institution, being inherent
ly evil, can not enter the lists against
Mr.. Blease at ALL There is no issue
between them and him upon the prop
osition he has stated. He makes no
claim for the dispensary except it's
record. There it stands, he says, and
| like it. Nobody can quarrel with
such an attitude. There is no account
ing for tastes, and a man has the right
to exercise his own. Mr., BIease likes
the dispensary for what it has shown
itself to be not for what he thinks it
can be made to show itself Anything
other than what it is would be per-
version. And there it is possible for
the rmcompromising opponent Of the
dispensary, as an institution, to agree
with him. The various methods Of
"reform" which are being exploited
contemplate an unnatural develop
ment. Against such proceeding, Mr..
Blease, speaking from the soul of the
dispensary, protests.
AS we have said, this is a straight
forward position. There is no use to
waste time discussing the nature Of
the dispehsa1y any more. We have
all seen enough of it to know exactly
what it is. It's record is written in
scorching pages. Those who like such
things as the dispensary has accom-
plished should come out, like Mr..
Blease, and declare themselves in APP
.2roval and full satisfaction Those
who do not like them should demand
the closing up Of the whole business. -
Evening Post, Charleston.