The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-02-14
Wednesday, Feb. II, 1906

The Observer confidently expects 10 nave
the pleasure Of seeing the dispensary vo'eu
out OF Abbeville county next. summer IN
spite of the fact that the newspapers OF tne
county, are defenders OF the 6. M. l.-NeW-
berry Observer.
The Press and Banner hopes that the Oo-
servers pleasure would not consist entirely
In It's opposition to the newspapers ofth ne
County, though our peiRhbor gives no hin
of expected pleasure from any other source.
n the Observers hope of pleasure 10 based
upon a wish for the welfare Of the people. and
not upon ill.will for the county newspapers
the expectation Of pleasure at seeing the
dispensary voted out OF Abbeville' Is COM
mendable.
The Abbeville newspapers have had expert
ence with prohibition, and for thai reason
they oppose the removal OF the Restrictions
now placed around the sale OF liquor.
From every. history Of the human.famlly
intoxicants have been q snare and q devise OF
the Evil One to entrap the unwary. The
whiskey question is not yet settled. And
strange things still occur. Never before I'D
the life time Of this editor have We seen the
ranks OF the customers Of bars and the frienos
of license system reinforced by the advocates
of prohibition. AS We see II, and as we De-
lieve the facts to be:
8 Ftrst-Alrlovers Of the open saloon are OPP
posed 10 the dispensary.
Second-All advocates OF the license system
are opposed TO the dispensary.
Third-A few blind or misR nided prohibi-
tionists, however honest and conscientious
they may be, are opposed to the dlspensarS'
These three element combined are strong,
-. - l. q - hrno b hnun the r6GlrlCs
lions now placed on the legal saie OF heuor'
n prohibitionists were more earnest IN tnei'
desire for prohibition, and did not assume
a,rs OF boiler Than thou, they ought 70 see AND
know that we have prohibition foT nall Of
each swenty-four hours, and that our dispen
sary has never been open on Sundays. ID
soma towns the back doors Of drinking sa'
looms are not always kept sb ut on Sundays.
In the bar-rooLn days the places for dlspen'
sing drinks were kept open until q late nouI
at night. -four prohibition" friends eouio
realize The advantage Of this fact. and "ouio
Join in an effort TO have, the d1spensariee
closed at an earlier hour. and haVe them
opeued at q later hour, they would ACCOM-
plish much good.
II our respected brother will notice all this
al noise BRAlubb tuC oiFPSbeoJ
license element and supported by the ortnR'
Ing men, who are reinforced by a few prom.
bitionists.
We Ia he no stock In opposition TO the ais-
pensary because OF any cheating, stealing of
swindling that may have been revealed Dy
the recent investigation. The fault Is largely
due to the ine1perience OF the Legislature ID
providing safeguards for the Institution.
As far as we are informed there is no law 70
punish the controllers OF the dispensary loi
any Of re%prehensitle acts. 1.-THE award
ing OF contracts to furnish liquor al an eA'
cessiye price was made a penitentiar9 Oh.
fence, 1t ia quite likely that a repeti'on o'
recent purchases would not occur.
Because our own observation convinces us
that under the dispensary we have bad less
drinking and less drunk than under
any other system. this newspaper stands Tor
the dispensary. And our record for soorlety
and consistency in advocating restrictions on
the sale OF liquor would, In all probability
lose nothing in comparison with hat Of the
4 most jealous prohibitionist or the most bitter
hater of the ~dispensary: