The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-05-28

sNe aii VINO may wish to discuss the
question full opportunity to do SO.
We make but two conditions, that the
communications be as brief as DOS.
sibie and that the writer's sign their
names. In this matter We want every
one who has anything to say to say
1t, especially IL he has any facts or
real arguments for or against the pro-
posed legalizea sale of liquor i'm lieu
of the blind tiger traffic.
- y
Gov. Blease's prediction that Gov.
Brown of Georgia will have a par
don ready for Col. Tom Fielder is
quite Interestingly is the opinion OF
an expert and Is indicative Of how a
partisan executive takes care Of his
friends who get into trouble. Gov.
Biease judges Gov. Brown by him.
SELF
The statement. printed in another
column, showing the quantity and
value of liquor brought into Sumter
county by freight and express during
March and April of this year affords
food for serious consideration when
compared with the gross sales of
liquor by the county dispensaries dur
Ing the same months OF 1909. After
all due allowance has been made for
the difference In the cost OF the liquor
bought by the gallon. case or keg by
clubs and individuals from wholesale
liquor houses and the retail selling
price of the dispensary, also after al
lowance has been made for the ilquor
from dispensaries In Flor
ence and Richland counties and
brought into Sumter county. the con-
clusion is inevitable that the consump-
tion Of liquor I'm Sumter county has
been reduced approximately fifty per
cent since the county dispensary sys-
tenn was abolished. This being the
case. and the figures contained in the
statement referred to r., substantiate
this correctness OF this deduction, IL
appears certain that a long step in the
direction Of suppressing, the evils OF
has ben made since the
dispennary was closed, Therefore.
those whepiace the good Of the com
munity as a whole above mere finan-
ciai considerations. should unite TO
the re-establishment of the
dispensary and then 60 Il step
further by taking an. active personal
interest in finding ways and means to
suppress, the, Illegal Illicit sale Of II;
lnor. We. have, had from the out
set of the agitation for. the re-estab-
lishment Of the ,dispensary, and s.ill
have. an open mind on the subject, but
OH the strength of the showing made
IN this comparative statement. we are
Of the opinion that the dispensary
should not be re.established. If Il Is
possible to reduce the consumption Of
liquor fifty per cent by the closing
OF the dispensary, 1t has been worth
all that 1t cost the city and county In
the loss Of revenue from the dispen-
sary. The prevalence of blind tigers
and the lawlessness that result there
from are fiagrant evils that are
n stencil in the nostrils of law abid-
ing citizens but they exist only be.
cause these same law abiding citizens
endure them and In effect. endorse
them and wink ut them. 1t may not
be possible TO stop the drinking of
liquor by those who have the appe-
lite. but strong. healthy and deter
mined public sentiment against the
illegal sale Of liquor by so-calied So
ciai clubs and blind tigers. and sim
liar lawlessness. can be suppressed.
There Is strong sentiment against
the re-estabiishment Of the dispen-
sary already; viii the anti -dispensary.
ties have the stomach TO inaugurate
n determined and relentless warfare
against the clubs and blind tigers, re,
" 70 ~ xn,kx q