The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-03-20
NAY Buy THE LIQUOR.
Attorney Stevenson Gives Dispensary
Commission Opinion on the Clarke
Liquor.


general, Mr.. J. Fraser Lyon, and Sen.
ator Francis H. Weston, who repre-
sents Clarke Bros. & Co. Of Peoria,
| Ill, the liquor concern which sold the
famous 100000 order to the State
dispensary, went over to Cheraw last
week to consult Hon. W. F. Steven
son, attorney for the dispensary COM
mission, as to the right Of the COM
| mission to accept all Of the Clarke
goods.
These goods were received at the
State dispensary before the local op-
ton law went into effect, but the leg
islative investigating committee, Of
which Senator Niels Christensen was
chairman, reported that these pur-
cSases were Illegally made and order
ed that no more money be paid to
either Clarke Bros. & Co., or to Leh-
man & Co.-which, it might be stat
ed, are practically one and the same
firm, according to the testimony.
When the commission appointed
under the special act to provide for
winding up the affairs OF the State
dispensary took charge it was decid-
ed to accept and pay for none Of the
Clarke and Lehman goods except
what had actually been accepted and
used. The Clarke concern has black
listed itself by sending sample case
of whiskey to a member Of a county
board.
Mr.. Vim. E. Hull, president Of
Clarke Bros. & Co., appeared before
the commission and offered them the
goods at a price considerably less
than the original invoice price. At
torney General Lyon was requested
by the commission to go 70 Cheraw
and consult with Mr.. Stevenson in re-
gard to the proposition. He went
over Thursday evening Of last week in
company with Senator Weston, at
torney for the liquor concern inter-
ested. The matter was placed before
Mr.. stevenson and he was requested
to furnish the commission with his
opinion as early as possible.
Mr.. Stevenson takes the view that
the commission has the authority to
accept any or all Of the Clarke and
Lehman purchases, but h. 6oes not
advise the commission what to do.
He says that it is a matter Of dlscre-
ton.
The evident purpose Of the COM
mission to probe to the bottom all
| irregularities connected with the
transactions of the officials of the late
dispensary and to assist the attorney
general in securing evidence against
persons who have been guilty Of vio-
j lating the law is revealed in the fol-
| lowing senence Of Mr.. Stevenson's let
ter:
| 'It shall be necessary and desirable
| for the legal department of the State
to prosecute such officers as have Of
Tended against the law in the pur-
chase of liquors and this discretion to
return or not the goods to the per-
sons who have sold illegally to the
State was probaly intended to give
an additional leverage to the COM
mission to procure evidence Of the
facts relating to such sale from the
persons selling.
.'The commission can and should
| REQUIRE a full exposition Of the COM
missions paid to the person securing
| the order under investigation, the
method of payment, the person to
whom paid, and whether any Of the
same ever came to the hands Of the
| member Of the board making the
| purchase and whether his expenses
on his trip to Peoria, Ill, were paid
directly or indirectly by the seller or
| the sellers agent
While Mr.. Stevenson holds that the
commission has the right to accept all
of the Clarke purchase if it sees fit,
the above extracts from his decision
indicate pointedly that he will not
recommend the acceptance Of these
goods until the matter Of the manner
Of their purchase has been gone into
fully, and not until the commission is
| convinced that there were no rebates
paid to any Official of the State dispen-
sary in connection with the Peoria
! purchase.
LAMAR HERO A SCHOOL BOY.