The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-01-24
ABBEVILLE DISPENSARY BILL
WAS DEFEATED IN HOUSE
THURSDAY
VOTE WAS VERY CLOSE
Mr.. Ashley and MIR. Watson of An.
dersOn and Others from Surround.
ing Counties Vigorously Opposed
the Measure.

| Thursday afternoon defeated Dy one
vote Mr.. Moore's bill seeking an cleo
| ton for Abbeville county for the re-
kstoration of the dispensary in that
| county. The vote was so to 49 on q
bill that lad been -unfavorably re-
| ported. There are several counties
| that are trying to have these elections
on the liquor question and the pros
pect now Is that general bill will
be presented looking to some provis-
ion for such elections.
There was spirited discussion OF
the bill,that had come over from last
year, but it failed. The same idea
will be taken up in the pending bills
to provide for such elections In Or
angeburg, Dorchester, Berkeley, CAL
houn and other counties.
Mr.. Moore made strong and forci-
BILE argument for his bill. He insisted
that it was a local bill and his peo-
ple wanted the county dispensary. His
county, he argued was not in favor
Of prohibition, although the record
showed it. This was because of the
restricted vote and the requirements
as to certificates. He knew what
his people wanted and held that his
| county could have no election except
by special authority. He argued that
his county could have no election ex-
cept by special elections. Mr.. Moore
said there was no reason why Mr..
Ashley should be 80 solicitous about
his county. If the Anderson people
WANTED liquor from Abbeville they
would have to come for It; It could
| not be sent.
Mr.Ashley said the Abbeville people
we're after money-Anderson money
that was about all there was to 1t.
Replies to Ashley
Mr.. Moore said Abbeville was not
asking for dispensaries to have An
derson folks come down and Duy the
liouor. His people wanted to sell IL
ouor. He thought sentiment was
changing and that the committee
would now favor the bill. He was will
ing to stand on his measure. All he
wanted was for a full and fair Cleo
ton. There was not fair and open
election last time and all he wanted
was to have the real expression OF
the full white vote of his county. He
had prohibitionists to come to him
and tell him that prohibition In Alb
neville was a farce. Abbeville want
ed to vote and that was all. 1t would
cost nothing, as it has provided to
hold the election at the regular pri-
mary.
MIR. Browning of Union, wished to
know whether only qualified electors
or those entitled to vote in the pri-
mary shall participate in such an elec-
ton.
Mr.. Moore said only qualified elec-
tors were to participate only the eiec-
tion was to be held on the day the
primary Is held.
General Law Suggested
Mr.. Magill said he must differ with
Mr. Moore and based his objection
entirely on the ground that a special
law was wrong and a general act
should be passed. Mr.. Moore held
that under the general law there was
no privision for such election as was
sought.
Mr.. J.. Bolton Watson was strong
in his opposition to the bill.
Mr.. McCrary Of Pickens, was op-
posed to the sale of liquor and was
heartily opposed to the bill and ar
gued strongly against proposition to
take any chance Of Abbeville selling
liouor. AS to the lack Of enforcemer
of the prohibition laws, the best peo-
ple in many counties were often to
blame and he begged the people to
help enforce the law and then there
would be a better feeling.
Merrs. Ashley, Watson and
Scott of Anderson, voted against
the. bill and Messrs. X.
P. Smith and Jackson for it. The
c,,ood doleoation was solidly OBJ