The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-12-09
Should Profit by Experience.
Atlanta Constitution.

South Carolina, some time since, reached
the conclusion that 1t made q mistake when
IL adopted the dispensary system patterned
after the first Georgia Institution OF thlt
Now there is an element in that state deter
mined to follow again in Georgis's footstep'
and inaugurate, II 1t can, statewide prohibi'
ton.
At q meeting OF prohibiuonists. held recent
ly in Columbia, 1t was determined to force b
fight Tor q statewide prohibition law, and 9
committee was appointed to draw q Dill and
look after them matter OF getting candidates IL
the field.
South Carolina now has tweniy-one dry
coun ties. under local option, and went one
In which there lare dispensaries under STATE
public sentiment is about evenly divided.
Under these general conditions 1t has been
determined to make the fight and the battle
Is on.
We shall not attempt to advise South Caro-.
lima as to what she ought or ought not to do
In the matter Of changing her present laws
regulating the sale Of liquor, but we may be
would be well for the people Of tnatstate and
their lawmakers to look about them, to ia
miliartze themselves with present conditions
and to profit by the lessons OF experiencetbe-
fore rushing SHIN n nesal 9ogs in tSs an t alie sss remedy
Before following Georgia too blindly, 1t
might be we'll, perhaps. Tor that state TO send
q conservative commission here to study the
OpeIhIlOu6 Vi BLU u dSLudl COA0lIlOhb nAdCt
the Georgia prohibition law.
1t may be safely assumed that the prohibi.
tionists Of South Carolina do not want q legal
travesty on their statute books: ..
pronibitionists Of n state want to retain H.
quor without taxation and without regula-
ton.
Before acting. then, it might be well for
South carolina to look into the operations OF
the Georgia law, particularly in tkeccities, IN
the moonshtning districts and. IN. fact, some
OF the country n which are legally dry
II might be we'll, too, for South Carolina TO
consider her " experiences under the dis
I pensary lawa and the manner 10 which 1t was
viewed and violated in Charleston and other
cities and sections OF the state.
We are presenting these facts not for the
purpose OF discouragingI butrather. live may
be permitted, ofdirecting the movement, IN
the hope that 1t will steer clear or the shoals
on which similar energies have too often
gone TO wreck. -,
The law-abiding element everywhere, and
Of almost every shade Of opinion upon this
subject, will welcome the elimination Of the
barroom; 1t has gone from Georgia and 1t has
South Carolina has not had a lagal barroom
In years and probably will never have an
But law and order advocates cannot sane
ton a travesty that is weak both in terms
and In enforcement. =
IfSouth Carolina, therefore, is determined
W ClduSo uoI pICoCut SIdSub0 OA bupJucp-
and It may be that II liz far from satisfactory
she should be careful not 10 swap the devil
for q witeh./
There are ways OF getting at things and
there are other ways. ..
And South Carolina has abundant example,
both at home and right upon her borders, TO
urge her to proceed cautiously and not to
make a fool Of herself by passing laws that
cannot be enforced. II she Is satisfied hat
her. people will stand. for state prohibition
all right, but II she 10 in doubt, 1t would be
the part OF sense for her u give them just
that for which they will stand.