The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-11-27
THE REASON WHY
The Dispsnsasy WasFut Back at
the 1oWn of Eiloree.

Capt. Clafy, OF ahe County Board.
Discusses History of the Dispensery
Situation at Elloree.
Capt. j. q. Clafy, manager of the
County Daspeusary, and representa-
tive of the board in this county,
makes the following statement in
reference to the opening of q dispen-
sarw in the town of Elloree:
Some time in the spring OF this
year, shortly after the dspensary was
closed at Elloree, the county board
promised the Rev. John A. Brunson,
who has always led the fight against
the dispensary, that they would not
reopen the dispensary as long as he
could show to their satisfaction that
majority of the citizens of Elloree
were opposed to such action. Num-
erous requests had repeatedly been
made, through letters and personal
visits, by many substantial citizens Of
Elloree and vicinity that the dispen-
sary be reopened at that place.
In f2ct, there was almost unan-
simous demand from the surrounding
country that the dispensary be re-
opened, as a great many blind tigers
were in existence and doing -four
fishing business. The fact that num-
Der of blind tgers infested the Ell
loree section was reported to the
board, and Capt. Claffy and Mr. J. G.
Smith, mem bers of the board, went
to Eiloree to look into the blind tig-
er situation and satisfy themselves
as to the reports of the Illicit sale of
whiskey in that neighborhood. This
visit gave rise to the report that these
I gentlemen had gone to Elloree 70
investigate the matter Of reopening
the dispensary in that town.
Shortly after returning to Orange
burg, Mr.. Smith received a letter
from Mr. J. C. Evans, Of Elloree, one
of the strongest opponents Of the dis
pensary, and during the interview
Mr.. Smith, as a member of the coun-
ty board, assured Mr.. Evans that the
dispensary would not be reopened if
it could be shown that majority Of
the citizens of Elloree opposed such
action. Mr. Evans returned home,
and in a few days forwarded to the
board a petition signed by 81 citizens
who opposed the reopening Of the
dispensary.
The next step taken by the board
was to send Capt. Claffy to Elloree
to personally Investigate the matter
and End out the sentiment Of the
people. Capt. Claffy, accompanied BY
Nr. r. R. McCants, another member
lof the board, proceeded to Elloree to
carry out instructions. Capt Claffy
| personally interviewed every citizen
who could be found, with the excep-
ton of the Rev. Mr.. Brunson and the
Methodist minister, both of whom be
counted against the dispensary.
each mar was asked the question
care you in favor Of or opposed to
reopening the dispensary in Elloree?'
He took the name of each party and
noted his reply in writing with the
result that twenty-seven expressed
themselves as being in favor OF and
20 against reopening, Ii were indif-
ferent, and there were 4 who could
not be seen. Capt Claffy states that
he is prepared to make an affidavit
as to the result of this canvass should
it be necessary. This showed that
a. majority was not opposed, and was
the boards warrant for ordering the
dispensary reopened."
All of the papers in this matter
were inspected by The News and
'Courier correspondent, and 1t is a
noteworthy fact that out Of the 81
who signed the petition in opposition,
13 Of them stated to Capt. Clafy that
they were either in favor Of the dis
pensary Of didn't care one way or
the other. Deducting 13 from 81
leaves "a, which is the total OF those
seen by Capt Claffy, who were oppos-
ed, and those whom he did not see.
This shows that both sides made a
thorough canvass and neither missed
man.
AS to the election Of dispenser
for Elloree, the board states that
there were three applicants-W. f..
Jones, Henry Harbort and J. W. Fer
ry. Mr.. Berry was elected, he Icing
the only one of the three who resided
in Elloree, and his endorsements were
considered stronger, that is, his Pc
tition was signed by larger number
Of citizens. Mr.. J. NJ. Weeks, who
had previously held the Office four
teen years, was not an applicant for
the position, as be is now as bitterly
opposed to the reopening Of the cis-
pensary as he was in favor of its re-
tention during the fight to close it in
the early part of the year.
'rhe county board states thaL 'L
does not propose to engage in any
controversy regarding this matter;
that it feels that it has acted proper
ly in acceding to the wishes Of those
citizens of Elloree who prefe:: the
legitimate sale OF liquor through the
dispensary to the traffic as being car
ried on by blind tigers, and that all
the papers and other evidence bear
ing on the case can be inspected by
any parties who are interested.
The manner in which dispensary
affairs in this county have been con-
Quoted is exemplary, even the op-
ponents Of this method Of regulating
the liquor business being outspoken
in the praise OF the work done by
our county board, and it is a matter
=. yeS - n q nf~-i