The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-09-20
COUNCIL ON LIQUOR QUESTION
City Fathers Discuss Rc-Opening of
County Dispensary.

joke of the evening being that on
MIR. McLaurin when he made a mo-
tion and then wanted to withdraw it,
but was prevented from doing so by
Mr.. j. p. Booth, who refused to with
draw his second to the motion.
The motion which turned into
joke on Mr.. McLaurin was made
some time during the discussion OF
the city finances. Some one men,
toned the fact that during the DAYS
of the dispensary the city had gath
cred about $4,000 each year from
the dispensary profits. There were
several members Of council who re-
eretted that the dispensary was not
now in operation in this city, when
Mr.. McLaurin suggested that council
take up the matter and do all in it's
power to get the delegation In the
legislature to pass q resolution to al
low the people in this county to vote
on the question again, when he
thought the dspensary would be voted
back in.
why don't you put that in the
form Of 81 motion?" asked Mr.. Booth.
I'll second it, If you do"
"All right said Mr.. McLaurin. I do
put 1t In the form Of a notion" The
motion was at once seconded by Mr..
Booth. while Mr.. Cuttino. as quickly
made a motion to table Mr.. McLaur-
in's motion. Mr.. Cuttino's motion
was seconded by Mr.. Rhame. Dis
cussion was called for and for ten
minutes o. more the members Of coun-
Gil aired their views Of the dispensary
law.
Mr.. Wright said that he had al
ways been a prohibition man and
that he had voted to put the dispen-
sary out Of business. but that he
would not again vote for a dry coun-
ty. II he had another chance
Mr.. McI.aurin said that he had vot-
ed for dry county at the polls.
when 1t came to a vote for wet or
dry. but he would not be caught do
ing SO again.
Mr.. Booth had voted for a dry
town, but he had changed his mind
since he had seen how the prohibition
law worked. and he did not want any
more Of 1t. He wanted the city to get
some Of the money the many blind
tigers were now getting.
Mr.. Cuttino was heartily opposed
to the sale of liquor and he thought
that the present law was working
splendidly. He knew that some blind
tiger liquor was sold. but not suffi-
cient to take into consideration, and
there were not so many drunk peo-
pie on the streets now as there had
been when the dispensary was in
operation.
Mr.. Jennings stated that he had
always favored the dispensary and
that he was still in favor Of 1t. He
would like to get the chance to vote
I'm the dispensary again.
Mr.. McKeiver was In favor of al
lowing the sale Of liquor, while Messrs
Wilder and Glenn, without stating
what they would do when It came to
show down on the dispensary ques-
tion. stated that they did not think
that the Fathers Of the City" were
the proper persons to ask the dele
cation In the legislature to pass an
act allowing them the privilege of
voting the dispensary hack into oper-
alton.
The matter was discussed i'm an
unofficial sort of way for some time
and Mr.. McLaurin decided that the
members Of City council were not the
proper parties to take up the mat
ter with the legislative delegation.
He therefore. asked to withdraw his
motion. Mr.. Booth objected to this
and despite the repeated requests of
MIR. McLaurin that Mr.. Booth allow
him to withdraw the motion Mr..
Booth stood firm, objecting to with
drawing his second.
Upon this standing there was moth
Ing for the Mayor to do, but put the
motion to table made by Mr.. Cuttino.
Tie did this and there was a majority
I'm favor Of tabling Mr.. McIaurin's
motion. so the original motion was
not put 10 council. As the Mayor an
nounced that he would not put Mr..
McLaurin's motion since 1t had been
tabled. Mr.. McI.aurin heaved n sigh
OF relief and muttered something
IKE THAT was narrow escape"