The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1909-08-12
SOCIAL CLUBS IN THE STATE.
Many Of Them Simply Places for
Keeping Liquor.

five social clubs" have been charter
ed by the secretary of state. Taking
the social club" in its generally &C
cepted term, it means that although
South Carolina will be dry in name,
nevertheless in reality it will be very
wet and it is very improbable that
any of the thirsty will suffer. These
social cubs" are located in all Sec
tions of the State, especially in Co.
lumbia and Charleston. The social
clubs are supposed to have a num-
Der of members and few lockers on
the wall; however, it is not very
much trouble for a man to gain ad-
mittance and buy any kind of drink
that he desires.
A we'll known South Carolinian
said to-day in speaking of the so
cial clubs: South Carolina will
herald to the world tomorrow that
it is dry, yet it is possible for any
body to buy a drink in many Of the
towns Of the State, and Columbia and
Charleston are wide open, as the COM
mon expression goes. Now, it seems
to me that it is up to the officers to
get in behind these men in charge Of
the social clubs and if we are to
have prohibition, let's have it
straight"
Mr.. J. T. Can't, when secretary of
state, in his report of 1906 to the
legislature, says: 81 would suggest
that you would adopt some measure
that would correct the abuse OF the
privilege of Incorporation by certain
clubs or social organizations which
notoriously use their charters to
cloak the illegal sale of liquor. I am
advised that this Office acts in a min
isterial capacity in granting charters,
and that, except in the case of rail-
road corporations, no authority is at
tempted by law to be given to reject
any application for charter for any
purpose whatsoever, when the re-
quirements of the law are complied
with. I would suggest that you con-
fer the power upon this Office to re-
fuse to grant charter to club or
social organization, in the event that
the chief State constable files an af-
fidayit that he has reason to believe
the applicants intend to violate the
dispensary law"
The legislature took no action up
on the above suggestion.
The s.social Club" Act.
The following is the act passed by
the legislature under which the so
cial clubs" are chartered:
"Section l. Be it enacted by the
general assembly of the State OF
South Carolina, the secretary Of state
is hereby authorized and empowered
to issue certificates of incorporation
to any church, college, school, lodge,
society, company or other associa-
ton, having no capital stock divided
into shares, but holding or desiring
to hold property in common for re-
ligious, educational, social, fraternal,
charitable or eleemosynary purposes
other than for the insurance OF life,
health, accident or property.
'Sec. g. Any lodge, church, college,
school, society, association or COM
pany organized for the purpose afore-
said, may after giving at least three
days public notice in one or more
newspapers published in the county
In which the organization is perfect
ed, file in the Office of secretary OF
state, written declaration signed
by two or more of the officers or
agents elected or appointed to super
wise or manage it's affairs, setting
forth, first: The names and resi-
dences of the petitioners; second, the
name Of the proposed corporations;
third, the place at which it proposes
to have it's headquarters or be To-
Gated; fourth, the purpose of the pro-
posed corporation; fifth, the names
and residences of all the officers,
managers, trustees, directors or other
officers or agents of the proposed cor
poration at the time the application
is made; such other information as it
may desire or the secretary of state
may require. columbia special to
Augusta Chronicle.
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