The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-01-23


It has simply been a difference Of
policy, and I am ready to leave it 70
the public to say whether their pilicy
or mine was for the best interest OF
the people Of the State and the dis
pensay system.
With this explanation, beg to sub
nit the enclosed statement. as per
your request. Yours very truly,
w. o. Tatum,
Commissioner.
P. s.-The list requested of me, as
furnished by the clerk Of the board,
showing case goods ordered to be
shipped after Dec. 1, 1906, I do not
enclose for the reason that it will take
a considerable length Of time to copy
same. This will be furnished you
subsequently,, which, hope, will be
satisfactory.
Ever since have held the position
Of Commissioners, have tried to con-
duct the dispensary business on as
near q, cash basis as possible. and TO
this end have endeavored to avoid
overstocking either the county dispen-
saries or warehouses at the headquar-
ters here in Columbia. It has also been
my policy to meet the demands OF the
people of the State and supply the
kinds of liquor they demand. To this
end I have furnished the board CT di-
rectors statements showing the unf1-
He'd orders from county dispensers,
and have protested against shipping to
not order.
During the first Of last August l
found that the board Of directors had
laid in a stock Of new goods which
was instructed to send out either as
Introductory or to substitute for the
brands ordered by the county dispen-
sers which we did not to have in stock
at the time. This substitution caused
great dissatisfaction throughout the
State. To determine just what the peo.-
pie thought Of these goods, I ad-
dressed to the county dispensers the
fcllowing letter, dated Aug. 10, 1906:
80 dispensers: I propose to make a
desperate effort next week to get the
State board Of directors to discontinue
the practice of buying new goods and
SEA ling them to the dispensary as in
trod,c:ocy. I :,ave always been op-
posed TO ae-t7iing 50 1:-any case goods,
ana these Introductory goods have not
been shipped oat by my orders but by
orders Of the board of directors. I wish
an expression from you as to whether
these goods, after reaching you, are
going out or whether there is danger
of some Of them, being left on your
hands as hard stock. I wish to use
your answer next week, about Tues
day or Wednesday, before the State
board of directors in order to get them
to change this policy. Please be
prompt in answering this so that it
may reach me by Tuesday Of next
week. Yours truly. w. o. Tatum,
Commissioner"
In response to this communication
T received letters from nearly every
dispenser in the State protesting Wig
orously against these new goods, and
charging that they were not satisfac-
tory and the cause of general COM
plant. These expressions were very
positive, some Of them as follows: II
find it very hard to work them of, ;"
sis practically dead stock" regret
they were ever sent US and am salts
fed it will be a spell before the State
gets all Of her money out OF them,"
''will you advise me whether 7 can
ship the goods back" "the moment
show them (my customers) the in
trod1ctory goods. they begin to kick"
These are but few samples Of a
protest that was practically unani
nous. I have the letters on file, and
have attached the copy Of one from
the dispenser at Sumter. together
with my reply.
At this time there were in the coun-
ty dispensaries and at headquarters
$4,000 worth Of these goods.
With these facts I went before the
board at a regular meeting in August
and asked that they discontinue or
dering these goods. They accuiesced.
During the session Of the November
meeting Of the board a list Of the
purchases proposed at that meeting
was furnished me by the clerk of the
board On that I found about $500
cases of these Objectionable goods.
wrote memorandum on said list call