The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-05-14
HON. COLE. L. BLEASE
TALKS ON LIQUOR.
PRESAGES ANOTHER FIGHT IN
THE LEGISLATURE.
Says Straight Prohibition or Re-
established State Dispensary the
Next Campaign Issue.
Augusta Chronicle.

Augusta Chronicle.
Newberry, S. c., May Ex-senator
Cole l.. Blease, the leader Of the state
dispensary forces in South Carolina
for the past few years, and still an
ardent advocate Of the system, was
seen today by aSChronicle representa-
tive, and asked concerning expected
changes in the present county system
which were limited at in IA statement
made by him in Charleston. Senator
Blease readily answered the questions
which were fired at him. lie said:
"Do | think that there will be any
changes in the present liquor laws?
Yes, sir: know it, the people Of
South Carolina have always been
known to be "A sensible people and no
set Of political tricksters can fool
them and if set of legislators are
deceived or misled at the first session
Of the general assembly they always
get as near right as possible at the
second because it is just previous to
the time when the people have a
cance to pass on the reelection Of the
members.
Present Law a Farce. ....
"Any man can see that the present
liquor law is farce and I do not be-
lieve that the two men that framed
it would go before the people for an
Office and take their own baby for
plank in their platform upon this
question. Take the beer situation IN
Charleston and Columbia and you will
find some very interesting matter to
be brought to the attention Of the
next session of the legislature to say
nothing Of some Of the acts of the
board winding" up the affairs Of the
state di>pen$ary, and some of the
county boards Of control. OF course
the newspapers do not publish these
things: no one expects them to do
so: however. there are those who are
Watching and al the proper time The
people will be fully Informed of the
situation and with the proof to back
the information as it is given.'
- ".What changes do expect? Well,
so far as | am concerned | am IN
favor of reenacting the state dispen-
sary law with such safeguards thrown
around it as the bilI presented at the
next session will contain and going
back to the best manner of handling
whiskcy that the world has ever
known. And right here | will say
that the system that was so abused
will again be presented to the people
on the roStrum and their attention
will be called to many charges that
were made and sevcraI promises that
were made if they would vote ii Ger
tain way and for certain people.
Where are those changes? What are
they? And what has become Of those
great prominscs9 made like the con-
ductor said about the platform to
lget in on, but not to stand on.
Penitentiary for Violation.
"If the state dispcnsary cannot be
rc-established, then I am III favor Of
rcpcalin" the present law and pass
in an act maiin~thc rNtirc state pro-,
hibitinN witt \ ianviso that if the
majority Of the Democrats Of any
county wants liquor sold in that roun-
ty that the sale may be provided For
.only in incorporated towns and cities,
and that the state shall provide n IL
cense to be paid TO the state, a county
and town or city as the ease may be,
and that license be granted TO indi-
viduals to sell strictly under the pre-
sent constitutional provisions and re-
u11irements and that it be made PEN
itentiary offense for any violation
thereof, and that no fine be allowed
to be paid by the guilty party but
if he is convicted that, be he rich or
poor, high or low, that he be put in
the penitentiary and made tto serve
his sentence. OF course the party to
whom the license is granted will have
to be Of good moral character and
give bond for the faithful execution
of the law on his part in all of its re-
unirements. "''
cit would take too much time and
space to give the details Of this plan
;and besides the platform is the place