The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-08-09
STORIES OF OUR SOUTHLAND
History Of the Dispensary Law and
It's introduction Into South
Carolina.

It's lNCfCouCtlCH thtO SooiA
Carolina.
: Perhaps I know as much about the
dispensary law as any man, as | Of
hciated at it's birth iii Athens, Ca, and
tnTmted the iniquity into South Car
olina; and for which ! am still repent
ing in sackcloth and ashes. While
editing the Athens, Ca, Banner,
madea one of the first fights in the
South for prohibitior -and-wef won BY
sone 700 majority. Bar-rooms; were
as thick in that city as leaves in
Valambrosa, but, with the help of the
good !: women the victory was won.
But At:'a it was soon found that the only
refnrm was to turn the liquor traffic
over to certain drug stores, while the
city was deprived, Of it's license
money. Under the law physician
had the right to prescribe intoxicants
far his patients and, it mattered not
What allied a man the drug store; doc
tors prescription was a quart of
Whiskey or. half. dozen bottles Of beer:
Rectifed and 1ow-proof liquor, that
sold at wholesale for about 81 per
gallon, was retailed, BY drug stores at
'sa!25 per quart and beer sold at rs
cents bottle. The last year Of So
called prohibition oneA druggist told
me he cleared over 'sI1, 900 from the
Iauof end Of his business. The peo-
pis became so thoroughly disgusted
with ths farce that an election was
called IS vote. on. licensed saloons, and
is was apparent that the advocates Of.
b9rlroonls would win a crushing vic.
tory At that time Athens was chiefly
sebllege town, and the pfohibitionists
ii the Legislature threatened if bar
rooms were re-estab1ished they would
tape the State appropriation from the
University, This would have been a
Solar plexus tD;fow to the city, e's&-+5 q
Zone day on: 'tit tie streets1 met T. W,
Rueker, bright young lawyer, and
after d member of Congress: who.
stopped me and stated that he thought
JshnW. Bruplby, an uncle Of Deweys1
das lieutenant at the Battle Of Man
iiia, Mad found something through
WfiichEws might defsaas skssliquontsss:
HEsSssasea that Captain aBEudfb.yF had
seopy Of a magazine telling about
thsessneeess of a saw IN 5Gushenbafgs
sssea sn where the I ;GoveTfnRshs
trdlsssa the liquor. and is vas "a
grSnd saecess- was enriehihg ths
c551Satf and reduced s drunk kennsss.
wa Both repaired ta6;' HBssaaab
CHS he showed fii Us g tthes u e assttieiess
sianfd1ssvkseh ii We esaFehdAss read saw
81 atasgfanssl HAT Tt wie6iuldi be q a. winner
Fl we could get a Bill Though the
Legislature which was thena in 'ses-'ll
ssiaa ting a; vote on the sub
jetks iiskers dfews up IA bill to
ths effect, a lcomn1ittee went 60 eAt-
laasa lobby for the scheme but
thg fonnd strong oppositioas both
from HE prohibi tionistss and the adj
vDesases pf .baNrooms. Butafter hard1
uzRthegbaI was gotten through and I
tie eampaign started sItevsssa hot;t
one, 600, sfor : the liquarHes weret
stse1gay eorganized andr haa5 mafiyt
business. men with them. But. The |
adyoeates of the dispensary won by
smsAsa1a5erity. 81 -
If diidSnot long remain in Athens
afteriits Introduction; but the. dispen-
saarys proved a gold mine for awhile
to Che city, and the first permanent
stsissesswork was paid fors froin-its
profits After, several years expert
ment; the law was repealed and pro
hibiieisons. again adopted. It was
charged that the dispensary was corr
raating { the people and the money
made was taken from class that4
owed first duty to their families.
WhenI eame to South carolina to
taaget editorial control Of the Columbia
Register: an election had recently
been held at which the voters were
permitted to declare at The polls for
OF against State prohibition. The
LIQUOR advocates while, m majority,
treatestfe contest as a farce and re-
fused t51vote. The result was that
the drys won. : "
s.Tiflnnan had promised on the
stump so approve any law on the sub
iect the Legislature might enact. The
Ropes 'biH iwas introduced and was
being rushed, through, as decided