Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-08-16
WHY The DISPENSARY
Larry CAN'T UDfOIdS Origin Of State
Rum Mil.
MATTER OF POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY
Inside Facts as to HaN the People CT
the State Were Euchred in the
Early Days of Tillman.
For The Yorkvillc Enquirer.

Perhaps I know as much about the
dispensary law as any man, as | Of
ficiated at it's birth in Athens, Ga, and
imported the iniquity into South Car
olna. and for which Lam still repent
ing in sackcloth and ashes. While
editing the Athens. Ga, Banner, /
made one of the first fights in the
south for prohibition ~and we won by
some 700 majority. Bar-rooms were
aS thick in that city as leaves in
Nalambrosa. but with the help of the
good women the victory was won.
But it was soon found that the only
reform was to- turn the liquor traffic
over to certain drug stores, while the
city was deprived of its license
money. Under the law a physician
had the right to prescribe intOXiCants
for his patients and it mattered not
what allied a man the drug store doc
tors prescription was n quart Of
whisky or half dozen bottles of beer.
Rectified and low proof liquor, that
sold at wholesale for about 81 per
gallon, was retailed by drug stores ut
$2.25 per quart and beer sold at %
cents bottle. The last year of So
called prohibition one druggist told
me he cleared over 81 900 from the
liquor end of his business. The peo-
pie became so thoroughly disgustcd
with the farce that an election was
called to vote on licensed saloons. and
bar-roOms would win Il crushing vic
tory. At that time Athens was chiefly
a college town, and the prohibitionists
in the legislature threatened if bar
rooms were rc-establishcd they would
take the state appropriation from ;hc
University This would have beer n
solar plcxua blow TO the city.
One day on the street ! met T. W.
Rucker, bright young lawyer. and
after n member Of congress, who.
stopped me and stated that he thought
John w. Brumby. an uncle of Dewey's
flag lieutenant at the Battle of Man.
lila. had found something through
which we mi ;ht defeat the liquoriteS.
He stated that Captain Brlmby had
a copy of a magazine telling about
the success Of law in Guthcnburg,
Sweden. where the government con-
trolled the liquor traffic and it was 4
grand succcss-was enriching the
country and reduced drunkenness.
We both repaired TO Capt. Brumby's
office and he showed us the article,
and which we carefully read. | saw
at a glance that it would l." Il winner
if we could get bill through the
legislature (Which was then in ses-
sion), permitting n vote on the sub
jcct. Mr.. RuCkcr drew up bill 10
that effect, committee went to At
lanta, to lobby for the scheme. but
they found strong opposition, both
from the prohibitiOnists and the ad-
vocatcs of bar-rOoms. But after hard
Work the bill was gotten through and
the campaign started. 1t was hot
enc. too. for the liquoYites were
strongly organized and had many
business men with them. But the
advocates of the dispensary won by
small majority.
| did not long remain in Athens,
after it's introduction, but the dispen-
sary proved gold mine for awhile
to the city, and the first permanent
street work was paid for from its
profits. After several years expert
ment the law was repealed and pro-
hibition was again adopted. 1t was
charged that the dispensary was cor
rupting the people and /the money
made was taken from a class that
owed first duty to their families.
When | came TO South Carolina to
take editorial control of the Columbia
Register, an election had recently
been held at which the voters were
permitted to declare at the polls for
or against state prohibition. The
liquor advocates. while in majority,
treated the contest as farce and re-
fused to vote. The result was that
the drys won.
Tillman had promised on the
stump to approve any law on the sub
icct the legislature might enact. The
Roper bill was introduced and was
being rushed through as decided
majority were prohibitionists. | told
Gov. Tillman that the state was not
ready for prohibition; and explained
the farce enacted in Georgia; that If
The Ropcr bill Iccame Il law the next
campaign would not be between Re-
formers and ConScrVativ" factions
hut between prohibition and license
saloons. and sure defeat would DE the
portion of his political faction. TIL
man stated that he was not pro-
hibitionisl but he would ppI"v" TN"
Roper bill when it passed. After
some discussion. hc finally told IN"
ihat hr thought hc could influence tn"
legislature to accept Il compromlS"
fixing the liquor license at $1,000,
half to go to the towns and half to
the counties. with early closing hours,
and strict enforcement. ] agreed To
nave conference with the anu
members of the legislature. and
t,,,,r naip -,