The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-08-05
SOCIAL CLUBS"
viii Take the Place of the Dis
psnsaries and
SUPPLY MUCH BOOZE

Twenty-Five of These So-Called So
cial Clubs Organized Since the
First of the Year-It is Charged
That Lockers Frequently Supply
Some Who are Not Members.
The Columbia correspondent Of
the Augusta Chronicle says since the
first of the year twenty-five "Sociai
Clubs" have been chartered by the
secretary of State. Taking the
social club" in its generally accept
ed term, it means that although
South Carolina will be dry in name,
nevertheless in realty it will be very
wet and it is very improbable that
any of the thirsty will suffer. These
social clubs are located in all Sec
tions of the State, especially in Co
lumbia and Charleston The so
cial clubs" are supposed to have a
number of members and few lock-
ers on the wall, however, it is not
very much trouble for man to gain
admittance and buy any kind of a
drink that he desires.
A well known South Carolinian
said few days ago in speaking Of
the social clubs, South Carolina
will herald to the world tomorrow
that it is dry, yet it is possible for
anybody to buy drink in many Of
the towns of the State and Colum-
ba and Charleston are wide open,
as the common 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 1905 to the
legislature says: Il would suggest
that you would adopt some mesaure
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.
am advised that this Office acts in
a ministerial capacity in granting
charters, and that, except in the
case of railroad corporations, no
authority is attempted by law to be
given to reject an application for
charter for any purpose whatsoever,
when the requirements Of the law
are complied with. would suggest
that you confer the power upon this
office to refuse to grant charter
to club or social organization, In
the event that the chief State consta-
BILE files an affidavit that he has rea-
son to believe the applicants intend
to violate the Iispensary law"
The legislature took no action
upon the above suggestion.
The Social Club" Act.
The following is the act passed by
the legislature under which the
Social Clubs" are chartered:
Section 1. Be it enacted by the
general assembly of the State of
South Carolina, the secretary of
State is hereby authorized and en-
powered to issue certificates of in
corporation to any church, college,
school, lodge, society, company or
other association, having no capital
stock divided into shares, but hold
ing or desiring to hold property in
common for religious, educational,
social, fraternal, charitable, or
eleemosynary purposes other than
for the insurance Of life, health, az
cident, or property.
Section 2. Any lodge, church,
college, school, society, association
or company organized for the pur-
pose aforesaid, may after giving at
least three days public notice in
one or more newspapers published
in the county in which the organiza-
ton is perfected, file in the office of
secretary of State, written declara-
ton signed by two or more of the
officers or agents elected or appoint
ed to supervise or manage its af-
fairs, setting forth, first: The
names and residence Of the petition
ers; second, the name Of the pro-
posed corporations; third, the place
at which it proposes to have it's
headquarters or be located; fourth,
the purpose Of the proposed corpo-
ration; sixth. the names and resi-
dences of all officers, managers,
trustees. directors or other officers
or agents of the proposed corpora
tion at the time the application is
made: such other information as 1t
may desire or the secretary of State
may require"