The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-07-28
SENSIBLE REVIEW.
MORALS Of BOYS BETTER GUARDED
BY, COUNTY OFFICERS Than BY
KEEPERS OF CLUBS
and DIVES.

and DIVES.
Editor Press and Bannee:
One of Inc most important questions
confronting the people of AbDeVlile
County is whether or not the ditpen-
sarv should be abolished, and by their
votes on the 18th of August, the YER
dict Will be rendered. In the issue is
involved the great question OF Amerl-
can policy, individual and natural IN
alienable rights, morality and finance,
and it becomes US in the exercise OF
our right of suffrage, TO calmly ana
dispassionately consider whether the
abolition of that institution would DE
conducive to the best interest OF the
people. h,or
yer of the workings of so called pro-
hibition and the d~ispensary, both IN
Abbeville and elsewhere, the writer
unhesitatingly claims that the dispen-
sary is the more effective agent for
temperance and morality and the
best solution of the local whlskey
problem. | shall not discuss the ques-
ton from a political standpoint, but
rather as a moral and financial issue.
None can gainsay the great moral
influence exerted by the dispensary.
Although we have had the institu-
ton in our midst for 10 years, yet I'M
der it's very shadow, over l25 Able
Vile bows between the ages OF Ii and
25 wears, have grown up sober, indus
trious, and moral young men, whose
character would challenge comparison
with those of any prohibition city,
while those who drink liquor could
be counted on the fingers of one hand
What better results could be desired.
If opponents of the ~dispensary think
that its abolition means prohibition,
they should at once disabuse their
minds of such decisions.
If they have forgotten the history of
Abbeville dnring its period OF prohlDl-
ton, when whiskey could be a in
any quantity or quality, and the club
with all its attendent vices, allured
both the old and young, then let them
look at those Counties and States
which are now under the reign of so
called prohibition.
In a receut statement by the mayor
of Anderson city, he admits that dur
ing the last year under prohibition
laws, the express office of that city
alone, received $1,000 gallons of whis,
key, a few thousand less than was sold
by the dispensary when it was last yin
operation in the county. If $4,000
was received by one express office,
what must have been the total amount
received by thesdozen or more express
offices and railroad stations through
out the county.
What is the present condition of the
state of Georgia? In the annual re-
port to the government, Revenue
Agent James H. Suber, who has su-
pervision of Georgia, Alabama, Flor
ida, Mississippi, states that during the
fiscal year closed. and since prohibi.
ton went into effect, he found GIG ILL
cit stills in Georgia alone, against 40
in the entire four states during the
year prior to this. If any other evil
dence was needed to prove that pro-
hibition is a failure, the writer could
give his observative during a three
weeks stay in Atlanta recently, where
whiskey in any quantity and kind
was sold during every day of the week
Sunday not excepted. One merchant
admitted selling SO pints at 81 per pit.
Then, from q moral standpoint, why
UOlioh UhC ulSpChooly "hlS LAAiiA
misses and legalizes the sale of whis-
key, and substitute in its stead the H.
licit and unrestricted sale of poisonous
stuff, and the social club which allures
young boys from the family circle to
spend their evenings, unknown to
their parents, in drinking the dregs Of
vice.
Parents, your boys cannot spend
their time in the d%ispensary, or buy
its whiskey. Are the same restric-
tions thrown around them by the
blind tigers and social clubs under pro-
hibition rule?
All, but you say as a Christian you
are responsible for your vote, and can
not support an institution which sells
whiskey. Consistency, thou art a
jewel. Are you not guilty Of doing
the very thing which you disclaim?
May Abbeville be an exception to
her past prohibition experience, and
different from the Counties now under
prohibition rule. Will you cast your
vote to unloose the lion now Gagged
under the strong arm of the law, to
prey at will upon the young manhood
Of our county? Surely not.
Already efforts are being made to Sc
cur halls for the organization of clubs
in the eveEt of the abolition of the dis
pensary.
1t is necessary to discuss at length
the financial benefits of the ~dispensary.
Facts speak louder than words. Hear
the evidence. From the School Com
missioner office we find that the three
mills constitutional gives SIS, 600, that
the school funds of the dispensary is
100000, and that the average of school
terms is about eight months. Parents
Of Abbeville county, are you willing to
vote out the dispensary and reduce the
school term to four months as it was
run prior to the establishment of the
dispensary? or, are you willing to
double your tax levy to six mills, and
yet have all the evils of Whiskey
without the profits?
From the Auditors office we find
that the county levy amounts to ap-
proXimately Sl9, 600, and the amount
from the dispensary for county pur-
poses $4,000.
Tax payers of Abbeville county are
you willing to vote out the ~dispensary,
and double the tax levy to meet the
ordinary county expenses, besides to
pay annually, for years to come, an
extra tax to meet the Indebtedness in.
Cured by the building of the new