The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-07-30
SENATOR BLEASE TALKS.
Of the Liquor Question and Prohibi-
ton and Dispensary.

The Augusta Chronicle Of Saturday
contained an interview with Senator
Cole L. Blease on the situation IN
Newberry on the liquor question and
incidentally on the question as it will
probably be presented at the next ses-
sion of the legislature.
The following is the interview:
"Senator what do you think Of the
failure Of the petitioners to have an
election on the disepnsary question IN
Newberry, due to an insufficient num-
Der Of names to the petitions?'
"Well, sir, while the local option
bill was being considered in the SEN
ate, an amendment was put in allow
ing several counties, Newberry IN
cluded, to have an election on the
question of dispensary or no dispen-
sary this year, provided the proper
petitions were filed. The amendment
was offered not to cause an election
to be ordered but simply to give the
people of the county the opportunity
to have such an election provided they
wished it, and it seems that they did
not desire to agitate the matter at
this time.
"Personally, I had no interest in
the matter, and did not sign the peti-
ton.
~ presume that the fight that /
made in the senate against the coun-
ty dispensary system is we'll remem-
bered, and 7 am still Of the same opln-
ion as follows: Because do not be-
lieve that the people Of South Caro-
lima are in favor Of such system as
the bill will give them; and because:
l believe that the system provided for
in the bill will prove curse to the
state.
"The people are showing that they
are not in favor Of such system, and
the system itself is proving to be a
curse, as the troubles in many coun-
ties of the state already show, and
the further it goes the worse it will
be, fake and farce, as said to you
in an interview Of May II, I am op-
posed to it, and will ever be.
"I believe, however, that if the
people Of this county had the oppor-
tunity they would vote to re-estab'
lish the state dispensary as we had It
before, but they are with me and
against this rotten sytsem which
some counties now have"
| "Do you think that the liquor
question for South Carolina will be
ne of the main questions for discus
sion and settlement at the next ses-
sion of the legislature, and If So
what if any. changes do you expect?'
was then asked Mr.. Blease.
| "I look for a straight fight in the
next legislature for state prohibition,
and,' continued the speaker, 81 ex-
pect the most interesting fight that
has taken place in the South Carolina
legislature since the session Of 1892.
when we first established the state
dispensary system. If the state dis
pensary people cannot re-establ1sh
that system, they will hold the bal
anee of power between prohibition
and the county dispensary system:
Then the question will be, what will
the faithful do? Upon the answer to
n South Carolina's posi-
ton on the liquor question depends
"Senator. T notice that in a news
parer interview recently Senator Till
man is quoted as saying if Georgia
GOES prohibition, South Carolina vii
follow in her wake. What effect, II
any. in your opinion. will this action
of Georgia have upon this state?''
was asked.
s:I think REGARDLESS Of what Geor-
oia does. the situation in South Caro-
lima will be just as I have given 1t to
YOU"