Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-02-19
STATE MACHINE Is DEAD.
Carey cothran Bill Becomes a Law
Saturday Night.

Cdroy-COtnTdn 0iii oOSS"So e''
Saturday Night.
The state dispensary machine Is now
dead and the Carey Cothran system
providing for county dlspensaries un-
der local option is now the law OF
South Carolina. The new law was rat
ified shortly after IL o'clock last Sun
day morning and became effective up
on the affixing Of the governors sigma
ture Immediately afterward.
The story Of the passage Of the Ca
rev. Cothran bill includes the details OF
ore of the most remarkable pieces OF
legislative work Of which there Is any
record in this state. AS Is generally
known, the state dispensary has been
the leading issue in South Carolina
politics for years. The issue has been
fought in almost every county ana In
almost every. campaign. 1t was the
one great issue last summer, and al
though when the smoke Of battle began
to clear away, there was reason 70 pc
lieve that the state machine had LOST,
Il was quite certain that 1t still had
lots of friends and the majority against
Ii was small.
Shortly after the convening Of the
general assembly, 1t was made clear
that there was a good majority In the
house I'm favor of abolishing the state
machine and substituting q system OF
county dispensaries. The senate was
so evenly divided on the subject as to
make all calculations as to the proba-
BILE leaning of that body but little pet
ter than mere guess work.
Experienced legislators regarded the
situation as one that would likely re-
main unchanged. Friends OF the dis
pensary felt that even though they
lacked a majority, they had every ad-
vantage Of position, and with fairly,
good leadership they could hold their
own. The opponents Of the state dis
pensary felt that even though they
might be sure Of a small majority, IT
would take extraordinary leadership
to make good.
The fight was in deadly earnest from
start to finish. The dispensary people
defended their holdings with consum-
mate skill and ability. At times 1t
looked as II they would win. This was
especially true when they sought TO
divide the anti -dispensary forces on
the prohibition question. But here the
leadership of the anti -dispensary peo-
pie began to show itself equal to the
emergency, and straight on through to
the end the anti -dispensary people
showed legislative ability the like OF
which has seldom been surpassed In
this state.
Although It was very we'll known
that there were numerous chances OF
slip-ups that might result in their los
ing everything, the -dispensary
people took their own time. The lead
ers in both the house and senate
watched every possible contingency
with the utmost vigilance. and at the
same time kept about their work care
fully and deliberately until they had It
complete, exactly in accordance with
their own notion.
The new law went into effect imme-
diately upon it's passage. 1t contains
a provision for the closing of all the
dispensaries in the state. Governor
Ansel issued a proclamation on Mon
day to carry out this provision. The
closing is for the purpose OF erecting
the change from state to county con-
troll. The change is to. be effected as
rapidly as possible. In some cases the
dispensaries will be re-opened within
a few days and in other cases. IL may
be matter Of several weeks;
The county dispensaries viii be per-
mitted to take such portion Of the stock
they now have on hand belonging to
the state as they may think they can
use to advantage and they will be fur
nished additional supplies from the
present stock the state dispensary
as long as the state dispensary has on
hand any stock that may be desirable.
The bill to wind up the affairs OF the
state dispensary also went through all
right, in the shape prescribed by the
people who proposed it. This law pro-
vides for the appointment by the gov
ernor of a commission Of five. bus
mess men, none Of whom are to
be members Of the general assembly,
and each Of whom is to give bond IN
the sum Of $4,000. The commission is
to at once proceed to close out the en-
tire assets of the state dispensary ex-
cept real estate. 1t is to have the pow
er to investigate the conduct OF the
dispensary heretofore under the same
authority that was conferred upon the
legislative investigating committee: II
may refuse to pay for any liquors that
may have been purchased illegally.
The commissioners are to receive IS
per day for each working day; but
there is to be no per diem after Janua-
ry |, 1908.