The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1907-03-07
TO BE OR NOT TO Be :?
That is the Question Confronting
the EIloree Dispensary.

The Rev. John A. Brunson Says the
People of Elloree Does Not Want
1t To Be.
Does majority of the people of
Elloree want the dispensary reopened
there or not Is question that will
have to be settled in a short while by
the County Board OF Contre, in this
county. Some claim that a majority
Of the people of that progressive lit
tie city want the dispensary to re-
main permanently closed, while 9TH
ers claim that majority of the peo-
pie want 1t opened. In this state Of
affairs the County Board OF Control
hardly know what do do. They want
to do the right thing, but the ques-
tion is::what Is the right thing? 1t
Is pity that the dispensary law does
not give towns like Elloree the right
to settle the matter for themselves.
| The matter Is being discussed pro
and con at Elloree, and the County
Board Of Control has been petitioned
not to reopen the dispensary there.
while on the other hand some people
have expressed a desire to have 1t
reopened. We are satisfied that the
County Board of Control will dc the
right thing as soon as they find out
what is the right thing.
1t is perplexing question for
them to decide, and they should con-
slider the matter we'll in all It's diff
ferent aspects before deciding it. The
opponents of the dispensary there
are outspoken, and seem to be cer-
tain of their ground that the people
Of the town do not want the dispen-
sary reopened. In a communication
to The Times and Democrat the Rev.
John 4. Brunson says:
AS Is we'll known we, the people
of Elloree, have been anxious for
several years to rid ourselves Of the
dispensary, knowing that it was a
curse instead of blessing, but un-
der the socialistic liquor regime that
obtained until recently We could not
accomplish our desire. And now
since the dispensary has been tenn
porarily closed and we have witness
ed some Of the benefits of prohibit
ton we are more anxious than before
to have It removed.
| For the past ten days our people
have enjoyed a delightful immunity
from liquor crazed men, both white
and black. And this Is no mean
privilege. Not great while ago g
drunken man driving like Jehu
knocked down and ran over in the
semi-darkness of twilight one of our
aged and respected citizens, and the
buggy wheel made over his left eye
an ugly wound that required surgic-
fal attention. More recently two
| drunken men with characteristic
recklessness collided on the high
way in the darkness with one of our
leading physicians breaking his bug
gy and fracturing his finger. Other
cases of similar nature might be re-
ported. TO be rid of such veXations
affords pleasure.
/ III tld0lIlOll W Iulo, Jul lliCi II &c
are enjoying an increased patronage
One of the largest merchants in town
told me today, that his cash sales
have increased about fifteen per cent
since the rule of prohibition began,
Another said that his increase was
even greater and added that he hop
ed the sale of liquor in the town
would never be resumed. Another
without giving any figures said that
last Saturday was an, exceptionally
busy day for him, and that his daily
trade had increased.
These results need cause no sur.
prise. They are only what we would
| naturally expect. They are the log
ical consequences of the operation OF
the law of supply and demand. The
more money the community has the
greater rhe demand for goods and
hence the greater the supply. Dur
ing the Nispensary regime the money
was spent for liquors, and If the dis
Densary is re-opeued it Will go for
liquor again! Last year the liquor
sales of Elloree amounted to S2S,-
600, more than $53S cash each week.
The sum of s2S,000 was sent out OF
the community, and in its place. came
liquor, drunkenness, degradation and
destitution II the dispensary IS re-
moved much Of this money will be
retained in the community and spent
for the necessities Of life and COM
forts of homes.
We do not want the dispensary in
| Elloree and we hope the County
Board will heed our petition and
take it away. Jno. A. Brunson
March 2,1907. Elloree, S. G.