Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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*"t>**,,'*'*ll**">*'**'*>**<^^_ (3T?c ^"a metis ^dt'cvti'iet "' ' - ' - 11 ? i , .. .-,-.- . i ! ? ?1- ? " 1 " ... - ....... .,,, , , ..,.-, VOL. XL LAURENS. S. C, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1896. No> 29, IMPORTANT CHANGES RECOMMENDED BY GOV. EVANS, He Suggests that the Board of Control be Composed of Five Members and All Pur chases be Flrat Approved by Thorn?A State Inspection of All Liquors Shipped In tho State in the Intoreat of Health. The following Is the special message of Governor Evans on the dispensary, which was read last week to tho Leg islature . Gentlemen of tho Genoral Assembly: In 1892 tho dlsponsary law was enaoted as a solution of the vexed and muoh discussed whlskoy problem. All rea sonable men acting In tbo light of the experience of other States acknowl edge that prohibition is loipructiblo so long as whiskey is regarded aef<r.:i legitimate article of commerce by the national government. It van only be ohorlshod as an idoal theory and must bo classed with other Utopian ideas. The drinking habit is recognized by all eiviii/.cd governments as an evil aud one that is peoullarly within tho provinco of legislative action'. This notion must be from the naturo of the evil directed to thosromoval of the cause as we can not prohibit men from 'gratifying their tastes and thirsGs. Wo can punish mon for destroying the life, limb or property of others and to some.oxtont restrain their actions, but we can no more legislate the taste for whiskey out of an old toper than wo can jealousy out of the human heart. As long as a stlmulunt is craved by the human appetite and whiskey is dis tilled in North Carolina tho drink rs of South Carolina will havo it law or no law. I havo n ;ver dreamodjof reforming a druukard by law or moral suasion. For the habit once formed is a d i- ease, a physical condition which legislation jjun not cure. Wo must add rose our Ielves then to the condition that con fronts us and not theorize on govern ment. The first objoct should be to prevent this habit from being form-id by tho young citizens. Second. To eliminate drunkenuoss; third. To so gratify tho thirst of tho old toper as to make him unobjectionable to sober citizens. Wo claim tho dispensary law has practically accomplished tho first and second objects ; tho third can only bo fully accomplished by tho death of tho subject. I When death occurs and the national government outlaws whiskey and alco holic beverages, then and not till then, will prohibition be practicable. Tho law in this Stute has ha I a hard road. It has been opposed by the United States Courts with partisan judges and by a fow of our own citizens with riiles and shot g uns, but so far it has pre vailed and li now written in tho or ganic law of this Stato und better on the hearts of tbo people. It may bo ''aid now to ho the settled policy of the State. Its experimental stage is over and I am happy >o Inform you that in ouly ono city of tho Stato have the peoplo refused to accept it as snob. I havo boon requested by a repre sentative of the Gospel Tomporanco League to ask .\ on to amend the law so as to allow whiskey to'bo-"fBpld only for medicinal, pharmaoutlcnl and mechanical purposes or In other words to repeal tho dispensary law and adopt what was rojeoted by your honorable body and known us tho Nettles bill. I can not do this for reasons that must be apparent to you and which I stated while a membor of t be Sonate, and for the further roason that tbo dlsponsary is succeeding beyond the expectation-, of its friends, and to pass such a law .as requested would not accomplish what the dispensary is now doing, but would simply increase tho crimo of perjury and falso representation in tho Stato. I would not be understood as objecting to the agitation of prohibition nor to restricting tho sale of whlskoy by any means. It is beneficial to all govern ments to have idealists, for if not wo might lose, sight of the principle and cease striving for tho coveted goal. As a moral reform measure tho dis pensary must commend itself to any unprejudiced mind. The tomptatlons to tho youths of tho State.offerod by saloons has been swopt away and wltb it bus gone tbo games of billiards, pool, tho faro banks and tho corrupt lnlluunces of tho barkeeper ; in muni cipal and Stato elections. l)urir.T .tho late holidays there occurred only one , homicide in the State and this was not from whlskoy, but an old feud. This record baa never been known before, not a oas'3 of erlmo for which lynohing is resorted to or attempt at such has occurred within tho past year. Two circuses traversed the Stato during the past year, visiting large towns of importance and with tho oxceptlon of Spartan*.in g not, an arrest was mado for drunkenness or disorderly conduct. , In Greenville one arrest was mado for drunkenness and ho was oxhiblted as a curiosity. It was the invariable practice of the colored population to drink on circus days, but it passed away with har-roo.u days. I dlspatoh ' ed four constables to follow the cir cuses in their tour through tbo Stato, but they wi ro not needed to preserve the peace and not an accident of any kind was reported. I addressed to tho various mayors of the towns of tho i Stato tho following circular letter : Dear Sir : You will greatly oblige mo by answering tho following ques tions ut your earliest convenience. 1 This is important: 1. Has drunkenness and erlmo in creased or decreased in your town and county since August 1, 1804, to tho present timo *, if so, by what per eent ? '&, Has tho number of plain casos of drunkenness tried boforo you, mayor or Intendant, increased or deoreased since Angust 1, and if so, by what per eent. ? 3. Has tho consumption of whiskey ' Increased or deceased slneo tho eBtab llshmont of the dispensary, and if so, ? by what per cent. ? 4. What has been the effect of the dlsponsary law upon tho general good order and peace of your town or oity ? Homo time ago we had roplies to these quories from your board of con trol ; but tho letters have been dispos ed of and it is Important that we hear from you. 1'let-so number your an swers to conform to tbo number of the questions above. The repilos received in some cases wero unreliable an the mayors were unworthy of belief. In suoh oases, however, I took tho precaution to ad dress a letter to ono of the aldcrmon of the town and they are submitted here with and I trust will bo published it full as thoy Jspeak for thomselves. In appears from these reports that drunk enness has deoreased for tho entire State fifty-seven per cent. The num ber of oasoB tried In mayors' courts for drunkenness and disorderly con duot has decreased aixty-slx and nine ' slxteonth per cont. 3. The consumption of whiskey has decreased forty-seven and slx-sovonthe per cent. It must be observed that this de crease ig not for the entire period since the enactment of the law, out for tbe past year. Compared with the pre Oeding year 25 per cent, may be added as a reasonable estimate for the pre ceding year. Jt is quite encouragiug to the friends of the law to note tho general change of sentiment of mobt of the towns in its favor. Tbe country has always been a unit in favor of tho law, and has demanded its strict en forcement. The bitterest enemies of the system now admit that mora'ly speaking it is a grand success. THE DISPENSARY AS A 11USINESS. In 1892-93 there, wero in the Stato sixty-nine dispensaries. Total amount purohased by them. .?671,555 99 Sates at invoice price. 573,578 38 Total sales to consumers... 079,222 88 Gross protits. 185,355 40 Exponses i. 88,580 15 Not Profits. 70,775 25 Tho operation of tho State and county dispensaries for the past year have been peculiarly Buocoasfr.l. The v<.hunt; of business has greatly increas ed. The sales of the county dispensers for the eleven months ending Decom bcr 31, amounted to nearly one mil lion one hundred thousand dollars. It is not to be Inferred from the Inoreased sales of the disponsarles that the con sumption of Intoxicants is on the increase, fur the statistics which I have already given dearly prove the I contrary, and go to show that tho Intemperate use of intoxicants is on tho decrease. That the dispensary is a potent factor in tbe great moral reformation I vonture no unbiased mind will dispute. Tbe increased sales by the d'spensarlos are accounted for from tho tact that the fierce and bit ter opposition to the disponsary law which has hitherto existed has largely subsided In Its intensity and the sober second thought of law-abiding citizens has disclosed the faot that their un reasonable opposition to a law design ed for tho protection of the morals of the Stato was grounded more on pre judiced and a misconceived idea of personal liberty than aught - elso. With this return of reason and the .exhaustion of the supply of barroom whiskey came in a largo degree a cessation of the bittor hostilities to the law, and as a result the tradio in liquors was directed to its legitimate channels, and public sentiment cry stali/.od about the dispensary law as tho wleest and most praotlcab'e solu tion of the whiskoy problem. Tho sales of county dispensaries for tho eleven months ending December 31 amounted to $875,530.20 ; tho sales by county dispensarios for tho same period amounted to $1,07(1,903.05 at a gross profit of $201,383.45. Tho net profit that has accrued to the Stato from the operation of the State dispen sary for the eleven months ending December 31 amounts to $133,407.77, and the net profits to the towns and counties from the operations of the sub-dispensaries for the corresponding poiiod amounts to $100,131.28, muking a total of accrued profits to the Stato uud towns and counties for the olovon months of $239,599.05. Adding the $25,571.85' unearned profit due the Stato on {roods in bands of county dis pensarios at tho clone of tho past year it would swell tho total of earnod and unearned profits to the State and towns and counties for tho eleven months to the amount of $205,170.90. The net profit accruing to the State as revised to December 31 from the beginning of the oporatlons of the disponsary to thonoloso of ex-Commls sioner Traxler's term on January 31, 1895, amounted to $110,348.80. Added to th's the not accrued prolit of $133, 407.77 for the period of eleven months from February 1 to Docombor 31, 1895, makes a total of not accrued profits to the State from the oporation of the State disponsary to the amount of $243,816.57. The books of tho State Commissioner as is shown in his annual roport, and also by the special legislative examin ing committee, show that at the closo of the past year tho total assets, at cost prico, of the State dispensary wore $314,070.21, and the total liabili ties $70,253 07. These assets consist of: Cash. $ 54,107 03 Wines and liquors ut the Stato dispensary . 55.631 56 Teams and wagons. 800 65 Machinery and office fix tures. 2,650 47 Bottles, corks and eoopor age. 26,581 43 Cash loaned to tho State Treasurer. 50,000 00 Wines and liquors at sub dispensaris. 116,235 65 Porso.i.a1 accounts. 8.057 45 Making total available as sets of. $314,070 24 Outstanding against these aseots are liabilities to the amount of $70,253.67, which is duo by tbe Stato for wines and liquors purchased, making a net balaneo of assets above liabilities of $243,816.57, which amount represents the net earned profit to the Stato ut tho close of the year, and this profit has beon placed by tho Commissioner to the credit of tho general fund of the State. In conformity to a clause In the now constitution, providing that all future earnings of the Stato dis pensary shall go to tho sohoole of ih ? State, the Commissioner will place to the credit of tho school fund all net earnings whloh shall hereafter accrue. Prom a careful analysis of that pro vision of the constitution, it will be seen that the school fund will not be entitled to any portion of the net earnings to December 31 of $243,815.57 shall have been covered into tho State treasury to the oredit of the genera! fund. Honco it will be eighteen months at the carl test before we may expoot any lnoreaso In tho school fund from this Bource. I am happy to stato that the State appropriation of $50 000 has been refunded to the State from tho pet earnings of the dlsponaary and an additional $50,000 surplus oovored into tho State troasury to pay the ex penses of the constitutional convention. Prom tho following tabulated state ment you can gain an idea of the hoaviost Items of expenBos incident to the running of the buslnoss : Supplies used for eleven months. $93.864 70 Freight charges. 60,953 14 Cost of constabulary. 48.032 01 I found that tho system of bookkeep ing in vogue at tho disponsary was most unsatisfactory, and I employed Mr. Seth W. Scruggs, an expert book keeper, to doviao a system especially united for this business, for which I Said him $250, and I regard it as the est investment tho Stato has ever made. Tho system as inaugurated by and now in oh arge of Mr. Scruggs, its originator, has received the endorse ment of many of the leading business men of the Union. It is a most satis factory oheck on tho county dispen sers, and is so simple and comprehen sive that any one of any business knowledge can understand it. A reoord of the gallons, value and brand of all liquors bought and sold is kept at the office, as in also a record of the number of gallons of all kinds dumped into and bottled from the tanks. The oouioty dispensers ore required to send a weokly statement of their sales at i invoice and consumers' prices and a i weokly statement of their cash trans actions, and a cheek covering the State's share of all sales. At the end of each month they are required tj> Bend to tho Stute Com missioner a copy of their merchandise purohases ana sales and remittances and a copy of their cash transaction* for the month and also a copy of their sales at invoice and eonsumors' prloos for tho month and an itemized state ment for tho month. They are re quired to take stook at the end'of eaoh month in tho presence and with the assistance of one member of the county board of control and to send to the Commissioner an itemized inventory of all merchandise on hand Bigned by the dispenser and the member of the board of control who assisted in the stook taking. At tho end of eaoh quarter thoy are also required to sond to the State bourd of control a quar terly statement of their purohases, sales, expenses, gross and net profits, and stock on hand. A duplicate state ment is also sent to tho board of con trol. Under this system wo have been enabled to dispense with the inspec tors. The expense of the constabulary has been more than met by the the value of tho oontraband whiskeyoaud wines seized and the suppression of the Uli olt traflio In such. Tho amount fo ? maintaining the foreo was $411,032.01. The valuo placed on contraband dump ed was $17,031.70, leaving a net cos*, for maintenance of $20,000 37. Th< value placed upon contraband seized does not represent the true value of tho articles captured as thero Is a large amount still on hand of goods unsuitable for the business of the dis pensary, and consequently of no actual value. I am satisfied no State officer* are entitled to more commendation than these men who do not hesitate to risk thoir lives and in several Instances have lost them in defense and in exe cuting the laws of this State. If it wero not for the espionage of these officers tho " blind tigor " would be rampant and tho dispensaries would not be self-sustaining.- If tho present Improvement in public sentiment in the towns and cities continues I am satisfiod the constabulary oan be safely cut down to ono-half the present force at tho ond of another year. THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW. The Governor is empowered to em ploy two chief State constables and as many Stato constables as may bo nec essary to enforce tho law. Upon my induction into ofllce I determined to reorganize the constabulary and If pos sible dispense with it altogether. After trying a small force for a monih I found that it was Impracticable and unless the fcrco was increased tho execution of the law would bo a failure. Wheiever the constables wero with drawn from a town or county Im mediately petitions would be sent me requesting their return. For the year ending tho first of June, 1895, there wero isaued by tho United ' States Internal Revenue Collector 805 licenses to retail liquor. This includes 1 as Dispensaries which lenves for illicit 1 dealers 730. For the year ending June 1 1st, 1893. there have been issued so | far 387 licenses, this includes 88 Dis pensaries, leaving a total of 299 for illicit dealers. Of this number 107 were taken out in the oity of Charles- 1 ton, ton of which were for tho Dispen- ! Barles, which being deducted leaves a grand total of 157 illicit dealers in this city. It will oe seen from these figures j that over fifty-two nor cent, of the I illicit traflio in whiskey is carried on In tho city of Charleston. It will bo 1 further obsorved that tho number of 1 United States licenses issued for tbo 1 Stute has deoreased ovor forty-one por oent. for tho past year. The illie.it sale of liquor had almost boon starved out and dwindlel to a ! minimum when wo wero paralized by a most unexpected decree by the United States Circuit Court, through Judgo Simontou. This Judge it will be remembered was the first to hub- 1 tain tho constitutionality of the law; but ho has now completely reversed his former decision and undor tho 1 guise of interstate commerco ho nulli fies every section of the law intended to prohibit tho illicit traflio. This law seems to bo tbo boto noir of our dis tinguished United States Judges, I {raw ley. Simon ton and Goff, but so far we have reversed them and I feel satisfied wo will continue to do so. Tho Caso before. .1 mi go Si men ion was brought by a citizon of Charloston named Donald, who claimed that, whlskoy had been ordered by him from without our State for his per sonal use and had been seizod by tho constable:, and confiscated by tho State to his damage $0,000. After able arguments tho Judge declared that the Dispensary law no whore declnrea that tho use and consumption of alcoholic liquors in themselves are injurious to the morals, go. d health, and safety of tho Stato or of hor people. Alcoholic liqu?>r is declared to bo contraband and aga'nst the morals, good health and safety of tho State only when it is not Imported by tho Dispenser or is not in his band i. Re winds up by saying : "ff all aloohollo liquors were excluded from the State or if all persons wore prohibited to import alcoholic, liquors or if tho laws of South Carolina had declared that all alcoholic liquors were of such poison ous and detrimental obaraetor and that their uso and consumption as a beverage were against tho morals, good health and safety of the State other and ditferont questions would arise." Let an injunction issuo as prayed for in the bill. The following injunction was is sued : "Ordered and decreed that a writ of injunction, bo awarded and do issue out of this court commanding and enjoining and restraining tho defen dants M. T. Holly, Sr., as Chief Con Btablo of tho Stato of South Carolina and all othor porsons acting under him, his and their successors in office, and also the defendants J, M. Scott, R. M. Gardner and E.\C. Boaoh and all otbor Stato constables of the Stato of South Carolina and al\ county sheriffs and their deputies am.' municipal officers, chiefs of police, anu policomon and all othor officers of tho State of South Carolina or any county,or oity or town of tho said State of South Carolina and all persons whomsoever aotlng or olaimlng to act under the authority of the Aot of the General Assembly of the Stato of South Carolina, ap'proved January 2nd, 1895, or any warrant Issued by or undor authority thereof from seizing or attempting to seize in transit or to seize both before and after, arrival in the Stato of South Carolina and at any place in the Stato of South Carolina take, carry away, or con fiscate any packago whatsoever of ales, wines or spirituous liquors or any in toxicating liquors tho produot of any other. Stato or foreign countries im ported into or brought into South Car olina by any . means of transportation i whatsoever by complainant James , Donald or any other person whomso : ever for hie own use and consumption, ; and from entering and foroibly soaroh i IngW attempting to search the prem 1 isostor dwelling of tho complainant i Jamas Donald or any other person < in Wo State of South Carolina, or any railroad depot, railroad oar, or a team boat or Hailing vessel or other vehicle of interstate commerce, or any vehicle whatsoever within this State for transporting such intoxicating li quors as aforesaid Imported or brought into this State for hin use or consump tion from hindering or preventing by any means whatsover the complainant, James Donald, or any other person in the State of South Carolina as im porter and consumer of the ales, beers, wines anJ spirituous liquors of the other States and foreign couutries from Importing, holding, possessing, using and consuming the said intoxicating liquors as aforesaid so imported for his use and oousumptlon." I incorporate this Injunction here in order to per petuate it as a legal curiosity and to show the extent to which a partisan judge can be swayed by unreasoaablo prejudice. It will be seen that he en joins everybody from unborn babes up to the high sheriff from interfering not only with Donald's whiskey, but from interfering with any citizen in the State who had not even asked h Is gontlo protection. Courts of Equity sometimes legislate for partios before the court, but this Judge has assumed tho power of our General Assembly to make a law for the State and also of Congress of the United States. Under contempt proceedings he has incar cerated men in jail who wore absolute ly without notice of his injunction and whon brought to his notice that the shorlffs were treating the jailed con stables as men ohargod with contempt and not as ordinary criminals he ordered them removed to olty jails with instruction that they be treated as tho commonest criminals. / You are familiar with tbe state of affairs that followed his injunction. Whiskey was imported Into tho State by every quondam barkeeper for por sonal use and tho barrooms of Charles ton were virtually thrown wide open. They became so bold undur the pro tection of their judges as to violently resist tho eHurts of tho constables to close their hell holes. I found it im possible to do anything with them on account of the sentiment of the city being overwhelmingly In their favor. 1 ordered tho coudlables to confine thoir efforts to seizures that they had reason to beliovo were not for personal use and thoy accomplished a great deal although tho results wore quite un satisfactory. I appealed to the mayor, and ho promised co-operation; but shortly afterwards the city council re fused to pass an ordinance prepared by the mayor which provided for the punishment of the keepers of blind tigers. I caliod upon the mayor and ho endeavored to have tho ordinance enacted; but in vain. They were joined to thoir idols. The chief of police was a frioud of the law but he hud neither the moral nor the legal support of tho council or the com munity and his appoals were only par tially successful. I gave the city iot ice that unless the law was better .enforced I would have to resort to the metropolitan police law. This had dight effect; but It soon wore off. I igaln gave warning several months afterwards and the enlef of police isked me to give him a little moro ime and ho thought matters would b in a hotter condition. He succeeded n making several cases against illicit lealors; but the grand jury, of tho best dtizons, so wo are informed, refused to ;ako tho oaths of men who they placed in oharge of their homes und lives ind unceremoniously threw out all 3ills against illicit dealers In whiskoy. This emboldened tho Illicit dealers *nd I again invoked tho aid of the courts and succeeded in obtaining marges of venue In Beveral cases; but the question la still in tho Supremo Court as to our right to such change. My patience became exhausted and I Appealed to the State Hoard of Police Commissioners and they did not hesi tate to place the police of the city of Charleston undor too control of a com mission. I regret that this was neces iary, but It was simply a question of whothor we should abundon the Dis pensary in Charleston or first exhaust 3vory means in our hands for the en forcement of the law. I am satisfied that tho police can do more than all the constables in tho State towards en forcing tbe law In our cities, and If tho :ity authorities will not allow them to lo so it is tho duty of tho State to take shunge. if .the next year docs not af ford bettor results then a now law must bo mado for Charleston. I am satisfied, however, from present Indi cations, thut we will have nothing to complain of. Convictions of violators of this law havo boon promptly had in nearly ovory county of this Stato where tried, except in Charleston. This is encour aging and shows that tho stubborn re sistance to the law has gradually sub sided. You will readily soe that tho protection given by Judge Slmonton to persons importing liquors into this State (or porsouul usu and the burden of proof being placed upon the consta bles to show tniit the samo Is not for personal use, makes our tusk indeed a bard one, in (act it prevents us from seizing imported liquors except whero it is consigucd to persons couvicted of violating the law, and even theso can always lind a friend who will allow the use of his name to shield a criminal.* In order to comply with tho inter pretation of tho interstate commerce law by this Uoitou States Judge I would rcspeotf uily recommend that tho law bo amended by declaring that all alcohol ic liquors, except when analyzed by the Stale chemlBt and found to be chemically pure, are detrimental to the hoalth, morals and welfare of the citizens of this State, are contraband and liable to seizure whero vor found without a warrant, and whon seized shalli bo forwarded to tho Stato Com missioner and by him destroyed. This would cover the objeotlon of Judge Slmonton and would relieve tho law of a continual warfaro by tho ,lwhiskey ring." I will ondoavor to point out to you the amendments to the law which have suggested themselvos to tho Attorney General and to mo In our otTorts to enforce It during the last year, and whloh we believe absolutoly necessary for its protection and per petuation. The Board of Control should bo composed of five membors, consisting of the Governor, Secretary of Stato, Comptroller Genoral, ex offlolo, and two members to bo elected by your honorablo body who hold no other office and are of the business Seoplo. Those two members should e elected for a term of four yoarj, and so arranged so as to requlro the eieotlon of one evory two years. The object of this must bo apparent to you. An the board is now constituted three of the busiest Stato officers are re quired to look after this stupendous business of moro than a million dollars a year.. Thoy elect a State Commis sioner, whoSO term of OQlCO expires with tha\t of the board; Next year the duties of tho Seoretary of State will be almost doubled by reason ol the additional'work imposed upon him by your body. TVio Comptroller General is one of the busiest men In the State House, and is \roqulred to be absenl from the caplV a g>'oat deal hy reason of his settlortionts with the County Auditors. Ci^Vtcrms of office expire every two years, and if the two additional members are not furnished the Dispensary affairs are liable to be placed in new, inexperieneed hands every two years. The incoming board would in all probability elect a new Commissioner and the institution would be greatly einbarra. ed by in experienced ofiloers. By the plan I have 'suggested there would be two directors always in office who would be familiar with- the busln??? and not dependent upon State officers for their appointment. The responsibility for the success of this business rests upon the Board of Control and it is unfair to the Governor and his associates upon the board to compel them to vouoh for every check that is signed and every purchase made and every dollar expended. Tho duties of their offioeB render It impossible for them to do just ice to this business and to evon know of what Is folng on. For tunately we have had Commissioners so far in whom we have confidence; but should this offioor prove to bo cor rupt or incompotent he could In a f - w weeks wreck the entire institution. The induooments to corruption in this business are exceedingly great, and the men with whom the Commissioner is compelled to deal are ofton un scrupulous. It is useless tor mo to enumerate tho many ways in which tho Board of Control may bo Imposed upon and unless tbo most stringent regula tions are thrown around tho business to ,prolect it. I fear tho result. It is mado the duty of the Governor as Chairman of the Board of Control to approve every warrant drawn by the Commissioners upon the Stato Treas urer, and I have approved as high us thirty thousand dollars in ono day without having any evidence as to how it was to be applied except the signaturo of the Commissioner and tbo draft of tho firm for whose benefit It was drawn. This is too much re sponsibility to place upon tho Gover nor, and no should be relieved of it. I would, thQi'ofore, recommend that all account., of the State Commissioner bo first approved by the State Board of Control and tbo consent of tbo board be first obtained before the Commis sioner is allowed to incur any debts, and that such bills when so approved be presented to tho Governor for approval and payment. I would further recom mend that the clerk of tho board be paid a salary of fifteen hundred dollars per annum and bis duties enlarged and he bo required to certify all bills approved by tho board aud cheek off the merchandise purported to be cover ed therein. In this manner tho board will bo enabled to know what they aro doing and the Guvoruor relieved of a responsibility that should not be placed upon him. This would also relievo the Commissioner of any insinuation or charge of favoritism and remedy tho weakest feature of tho law, and thus place it beyond the criticism or reproach of its enemies. Of one thing you may be certain, if any degree of corruption isoever discovered at this institution the people will destroy it as quickly as they inaugurated it, aud should euch corruption bo practiced it will bo sure to be unearthed sooner or later. It is your conscientious duty to so frame this statute as to guard against any contingencies that may arise in the future by tho election of Stato officers hostile to the law or from its careless enforcement by Its friends. Tbero are amendments of minor Importance, but whioh are necessary for tho enforcement of the law, but I am sure they will appeal to your good judgment without further hint from mo. Tho system of operating the County Dispensaries since the inauguration of tho Scruggs form of bookkeeping is as near perfect as you can mako it. During the past year we havo discov ered three defalcations among County Dispensers. They ha o been reported to the Attorney General, and ho had entored suit upon tho bonds und com menced criminal process against tho Dispensers. It is but just testate that these defalcations occurred during tho year provious to tho inauguration of the Scruggs system of bookkeeping. I apprehend no further trouble on this line. I woald recommend that tho County Supervisors bo taken off tho County Board of Control as under the new Constitution ho is ineligible, and be sides tbo duties of his office are incon sistent with thoso of tbo Disponsa.-y, and if be attends to them properly he will have but little time to devote to the businoss. I desire to impress upon you the advisability of| divorcing the Dispensary from any other office or State institution. So that no responsi bility for its management and success may not bo divided, but rest entirely upon tho shoulders of officers appointed to look after in exclusively. In conclusion, portnit mo to say thut I feel a peculiar anxiety and iutorest in the success of this institution by reason of my connection w ith tho onuct mont of tho law while a member of your honorable body, and without any hesitation or apparent egotism on my part 1 do not beliovo that any future Governor will fool towards tho law und guard it as scrupulously as my prede cessor and my sot f. For these reasons I havo endeavored to talk to you plain ly und point out what I slncoroly be liovo necessary to porpotuto a law so wi.-oand salutary. SENATOR TILLMAN'S PROGRAM. An evening paper In Washington publishes an artielo on the political position of Sonator Tlllman, in which it says that since his speoch in tho Senate, Senator Tillman of South Caro lina has received numerous letters from Domoorats appealing to him to stato his position, otherwise his spoeeb in tbo Senate would bo of great harm to tho party. In reply to a lottor from a friend in South Carolina, Senator Tlllman writes as follows and puts himself on record without a doubt: "I havo your lottor of February 5, and appreciate very much your kind words of commendation, in order to preserve the unity of the| white Demo cracy of South Carolina wo cannot act on your suggestion not to send delo gatos to the national convention at Chicago. '?We have already captured tho Stato Domooraoy. We aro tho Stato Demo cracy and we must go to Chicago as suoh, prepared to bolt if need bo and ally ourselves with tho freo silver mon of the West. It would be a fatal blun dor not to sond delegates to the na tional Domooratio convention and would only be putting It In the hand of our golabug enemies. " If the national Convention doos not adopt a platform to suit ua and put on a man above suspicion as to his loyalty, we oan then leave the party, but not I before. The effort of overy true friend . of silver and finanelal reform should , be directed to having our Stato Demo . oratio convention composed solidly ol i mon of their way of thinking, so as to [ havo it act as a unit." 1 ?What is claimed to be tho largesi ? sirrffle pane of glass In tho country wa? [ received fit Hartford, Conn., from Bel r glum a few days ago. It is twelve ant > one-half feet wide, half an inoh thlo* pounds. ADDRESS TO REPUBLICANS AND OTHERS. A General Convention ? of the Republican Factions Is Asked to Heal the Breach? This Is tho Accepted Timo for Victory. Tho following address has bst n Is sued to tho Republicans and their sym pathizers in this State: Fellow Ropublicaus of South Carolina: Thoro is a condition of affairs in the Republican parly.in this State which niUBt bo mot and met quickly or dofoat will bo the result. It is the factional disvlsions in tho party ; how they orig inated, or who Is to bl?me for their existenco, is not the quostion ; to heal thorn and unify tho party is tho great quostion. The leaders of neither fac tion can or will move the matter. Theu It Is left for some ono other than them tn do so. In the interest of peace, harmony and unity I shall do so in my humble way, trusting that my elforts in this direction will meot with the approval of all concerned. There has uovor been a prospect of accessions from tho white men of tho State to the Republican party until now. MUgov ernment and broken pledges on the part of tho leaders of tho dominant faction of the white people, couple'! with fraud at t he. last election lu this State, has done tho work.and done it effeotually. I havo roeently hud mon of tho Reform faction, who, lu tho last election were bitterly opposed to nie, to come to mo und say, " You were right; wo are going with you into the Republican party." I am in a positiou to know what is going on all over tho State aud my word for it, "the harvest io ripe" from tho mountains to the seaboard. Will you throw this golden opportunity for success away by quar reling among yourselves und thus turn this tido away from us, or will you moot together and settle your differ* euces amicably for the good of the party and its triumphant succ088 In this Stato in November next Y If tho latter, accept my proposition. Then lookiug to this end 1 cail a con vention of the party to meet at the State House at Columbia, S. C, on Tuesday, tho lith day of April next, at 8 o'clock p. m. Each county to seurj double the number of delegates of its representatives in the General Assembly of tho State, and that these delegates may be elected at a mass meeting (or convention) he held in the respective eounties on Saturday, the 11th day of April, lSDti, the meeting to tuire placo ut the respective-county seats. LiOt the Stato convention so called bo a peace aud harmony conven tion to settle all differences and oleet a State chairman; vice chairman and u State executive committee with power to transact such other business uti may be necessary iu tho premises. Lot tho platform bo " honest olec tious and protection to American in dustries und labor and protection to all tho rights of tho citizen guaranteed by the constitution of the United Slates." This is broad enough for all to stand upon. If udoptcd by the general gov ernment, financial relief to tho coun try will follow. Mr. Lincoln was once asked abou . protection. He remarked that he did not understand the ques tion very well, but ho knew enough about it to know that if a ton of rail road iron was purchased iu England that England hud the money paid for it and wo had the. iron, but if a tor. was purchased hero by one of our citizens that we had both the money unt' tho iron. So it is, wo havo pu'-eased more abroad than we have sold abroad, houco the balance of trade is against us and wo havo been drained of out gold and to got it back tho govern ment has in the last twelve months sold an enormous amount of bonds. The only way to keep our Industries moving and to enable tbom to pu-> American workmen fair wages is to put a high tariff on everything in com petition to us. Tho tatilf is not high enough to do this ; as an evidence of it the balance of trade is against us. Upon this platform all can stand. Wo invite the Conservatives who'have been defrauded of every right to come with us. Wo invlto tho honest He former, who bus seen every pledge made by hia leaders broken, more of fices crcuted, higher taxes, places at Clemsou und Rock Hill which prop erly belonged to the poor taken by tho children ot leaders who havo fat offices, thoreby diminishing tho chances of the poor to enter these institutions; tho offices given to a few families, much so that the Legislature now in session has passed a bill to put a stop to it; the pledge that members of the lato soeahed convention should only recolve two dollars per day broken by tho members voting themselves foui dollars per.day; local self-government so much pruted about when suits wore pending lu the United Slates courts against tho Stato, has by the praters themselves been destroyed in Charles tor., because forsooth tho pet of th< Governor could not bo chosen chief o polico of tbut city; spies, soino o whom pull off their shoes anil creep upon your housetops to spy into you rooms, have been appointed ; Others have opened ladies' trunks ami others havo searched dwelling houses at Uu dead hour of night when only females and childrou wore occupants ; men young follow citizens, have hocn in carcerated in tho State penitentiary by some of tho judges in contempt, proceedings. Yet what a howl went up from these parties in power wheiuj Judge Goff fined tho sheriffs for con tempt. Tho decision in tho Dobs case In tho United States court was criti cised mo i harshly by these hinders, yet in the next breath they went even further themselves. But the day of rockoning is noar at hand, the people will pass upon all of these things in their own good time. They are the masters of theso men iu high places, who arc now assuming that the ollieos belong to them aud to their kith und kindred. Whon It oomoB thoro will be unearthed things that will crcato a sensation not only in this Stato, but all over this broad land. Come, then, Republicans, and holp to speed the day whon wo shall bo delivered, when prejudice and passion shall bo oust aside and . wo shall have poace, pros perity and happiness under a govern ment of tho people, by tho people and for the people Respectfully, Sampson POPK, Newberry, S. C, Fob. Llth, 181)0. ?Congressman H. D. Money, who has been elected to the Senate (rom Miss issippi, Will not tako hi.-i veal ' mit 11 I ?!?'.'. The reason ho was elected bo long ahead of the time of tho bcglnuing of tho Iterm is that undor tho new Constitu tion of tho State of Mississippi tho Log u lslaturo will meet only onoe every four 11 years. The next session of tho Logisla - ? turo will be. held In 1800. Just think 1 of thctpeaoeful timo thoy muat have in , Mississippi with asoseionof the Leg islature only once In four years. AWFUL TRAGEOHT^BLACKSBURQ. A Stranger Assassinated in tho Heattof Town? A Woman in tho Case. Tho murder of Chas. T. Williams, a stranger in tho town, has created in tense excitement in aud around Blacks burg. Tno foul deed was committed in one of the principal streets, and for a time the affair was wrappod in mystery, but the coroner's jury rondor ed a vordiot whioh cleared up the mystery, as follows: That Chas. T. Williams came to bis death by a pistol bail shot from a pistol in tbo bauds of M. U. Reoso, and that one Dau Luckio is accessory." Ott Ttiutsday night two citizens re turning to their boarding housostumbl od over the dead body ol a man. In vestigation showed It to be Ohas. T. Williams, of Tunnel Hill, Ga. An alarm was raised and on searching his body three notes wore found from Mrs. Anderson, a milliner.' Mrs. Anderson has been twice married to her present husband, having been divorced, aud then remarried ubout eight months ago. From theso notes it was found that Williums bad been sont hero by Mr Anderson in tho oapaeity of a peace maker, and while acting in this ca pacity was murdorod. There is no direct proof as to who committed the murder, but Muriou R. Heese and Daniel Luckie aro moiv? than suspeuted. Heeso is one of tho richest men in town and has a wife in Greonviho County, with whom ho has n?v0r lived. Lueklo is a brother of Mrs. Auderson. Both havo left for parts unknown. 'I'ho evidence against Reese Is this : Heeso is known to havo been insanoly jealous of and aliuobt v '.Idly Infatuated with Mrs. Anderem. _)n the night of the murder there wao a party at the louse of Marion Moore und on a piazza )verlookiug tho residence of Heese -vas a Miss Farrington, who testified .hat she saw two people at tho time )f the 6hots run from whore tho dead nan was found. One of these parties iho positively identified as Heese and ho other Went into tho bouse of Mrs. Anderson and is supposed to have boon liuckio. hoboing the brother of Mrs. Anderson. Heese was reported to have , >eon unduly Intimato with Mrs. An- , ierson, and, it is said, furnished a ; iouso and supported her, only a fow j loors from his own residence. Wil- , turns, In spite of tho warning of Mrs. ? L?dersen, called at her houso about | :30 on the eveuiug of tho killing, and ] >*as shot a short while after. , The mostjintonse excitement prevails n Blaoksburg. Miss Farrington has lift for Charlotte, saying that she was * fraid violence would be done her if he romained hero. The friends of I he murdered man aud tho town coun- t ;! have employed counsel to prosecute < iccse. Detectives have been employ- ' d, and are now actively searching for 1 tacoe, who is supposed to bo with 1 fiends near hero. It is tho universu) 1 pinion that he committed the uiurdor. ' FULLER ACCOUNT OE THE STORY. ' jThe Gaffney Ledger gives a much J Aller statement of the troubles whioh j :d to the awful tragedy, in tho follow- , ug version of its correspondent at j tlaektburg : Tho woman whoso perfidity inspired . Iiis tragic deed is Mrs. M. E. Ander- , in, who is renowned in this commun- . ty fur lier beauty. Slit:, is a blonde, ot large, but stately, with charming t matures, and generally wore a suiile ; liat would be calculated to drive some ? leu oruzy. olio came hero about two t ears ago from Georgia. She, with ther parties, a man and u woman, c poned a millinery store In tho Iron B ?ty Hotel building. After a few , lonths tho man drew out aud the two ^ omen continued the business a short ^ bile. Then Mrs. Anderson run the ? usiness alone until January '05. In he meantime she boarded with Mrs. iompsy, proprietress of the hon City c lotei, und for awhile bad tho entre - d tho best homes of Blacksburg. Mrs. t indorson was a grass-widow. She ? na'ly loft the hotel and rented a suite j f rooms in tho rear and above her mil- j inary sloro. Then it was that her . ntimaey. with Heese became so pro- ( onneed us to cause comment. Gossip iccaino &o rife she quit keeping house , nd went to board with Dr. Humsour, | , highly respected citizen. Her di orced husband cume to tho city about , uly a your ago. Ho sought a recon- ( illation and tho pair woro remarried ?y the Hov. Mr. Johnson. Tho next , lay after tho ro-niarriago tho husband , eft, and ho has not been heard of , ineo. It is thought tho woman dosir id to appear to havo a source of livoli- J mod aud that she induced her hus >and to return and remarry her for the mrpose of having that appearance, or Heeso was wealthy aud if he gav icr too freely people would be mor (able to suspect, but if she was mai - ded she could claim hor husband was >rov)ding her with funds. Wliilo Mrs. \ndorson was hoarding at the Iron Jifcy Hotel aud before hor re-mar r I ago ,his mun Williums called on hor one lay. After ho left Heese quarrelled ivith tho woman. Mrs Anderson after wards roturnod to Georgia. Soon uftor tier departure Reese left and wont to Atlanta and then out west. In a few nonths Heese returned aud a few weeks ifter Mrs. Anderson returned. She thou purchased a piece of property. Her homo was elegantly furnished in I she seemed to have an abundance ;>f wealth, carrying au account with a Oharlotte bank. On hor former stay here she was financially embarrassed und was generally regarded as being without means. Shortly after she re turned her brother! Dan Luckio, came hero. Ho secured a position with Heese and lived with his sister. There after Rocse' visits to the Anderson do main were quite frequent, in fact she was generally regurded as Hcoso's mis tress. And so matlors wont until the night of t he tragedy. M.R.Reese is a large, liuo-looking man about forty-three. Ho has made considerable money in real ostato and trading. Ho was generally regardod as a good citizen except in this affair. When a Ledger representative saw him Saturday ho was faultlossly attir ed in a becoming suit of black of tho cutaway pattern. Ho looked some what neryous aud uneasy, but would not bo taken for tho midnight assassin that his follow townsmen havo pro* nounced him to bo. The most damaging testimony before tho coroner'-, inquest, and that on which tho warrant was sworn out was glvonjby Miss Farrington,a dress'maker from Charlotte, but who is at prosont in tho employ of D. L. Brown of this place. The shooting occurred almost, if hot immediately, in front of Miss I Furrington's boarding house. Sho sv. ore. in substance as follows : " I was reading a novel whon my at tention was drawn by tbo three shots in front of tho heuso. I turned down a leaf at the placo 1 was reading, laid tho book on a trunk and went to the window. I heard voices and tho shuf fling of foot on the outside, and a man say ' Don't say a d-^r-n word about this.' Two mon then webt Into Mrs. Andor son's house. As tho door opened I could soo from the reflection of. the lamp In tho hallway that they wore M. R. Ilvese and Dan Lv.ckcy. Tho figures were about their size." - V i ? THE NATIONAL FARMERS' ALLIANCE. The Sub-Treasury Abandoned as a D?man ?Joining in the Fio'itfor Silver, Mr. J. W. Bowdeu, of Ande on Couuty, watt reoently iu attondan o upou the aunual raootlug of tho Nation al Farmers' Alllauoo In tho elty of Washington, and gives an interesting aooount of what took place while ho was there When asked about the National Al liance meeting, Mr. Bowdeu roplled : "Well, to be'candid, the mooting was much better than I expected, both In point of uttendauoo and tho general condition of the organization. Seven teen States wcro represented and several others reported, showing the troasury iu good condition, which is a good indicator of tho life of tho or ganization. Major Mann Page of Vir ginia, who was oleetod tho now presi dent, la a strong man and well known to Ailiaucemen everywhere, as ho has boon eonuoetod with tho order since its Incorporation. Mr. South worth, of Colorado, tho new secretary, will also make a very compotent oflioial. The mujority of tho dologatos regretted very much to givo up Col. D. P. Duncan as secretary, as his ediolcnt work was highly appreciated, but it bus been the unwritten law to divido tho offices among tho various sections reprosontod. "What about tho political slpniU cation of tho meeting ?" " 1 don't know that it had any special political significance, but from tho anxious inquiries of Washington re porters, it seemed that it was expeotcd to create somo kind of a hiatus or'slap somebody In tho face. Of eourao no political action was taken, a.K. 'ho only thing Mun shewed a tendon \ '<) touch polities was some tmall chuugos of the. demands, it seems very hard ior some of our friends to understand how an organization can bo interested in poli tical affairs and yet take no part in partisan polities." 14 What changes were made in the demands V" "Woll, the only significant change in the demands w as thcoliiuinatioo of the sub-treasury, and also the demand for $50 per capita. These parts of tho icmauds had cono to be looked on us letalis of legislation and did not havo i place in too demands of tho farmers organization. Tho land plank and ?ailroad plunk were made to r< id as ,hey ditl originally. In reality, tho Inanolal demands of the Alliance por ectly accord with the views of all lUrrenoy reformers." " Did you attend the silver confer )uco y" "Yes, I attended the sessions through * .be two days and was very much 'ratified at the earnest determination >f those present for ustralghht, square ight for the, white metal and govern* nent issue of currency without regard o party. The conference was com losed of Republicans and Democrats, he organized Populist taking no pu"t n It. It was determined to organize a lilvor fight in every Stato at once. A tatlouai convention was called to meet n St. Louis on July 22, the same date ind place of the meeting of tho Popu ist national convention, as the opinion s that there will he a joining of forces hen. A national committee composed >f one member from each State was appointed and a chairman, who is Dr. J, Mott of North Carolina, svas put n charge of headquarters at Wash ngtou. This national committee will inly act until the meeting of tho na lonal convention when one will bo looted In its stead." Did tho South Carolina Congressmen ,ttond the conference V 3 " Nono but McLaurin, lie took a cry prominent part in the delibera ions and was on tho committee that yrote the declaration and resolutions." Will South Carolina be organized ? " Yes, 1 was placed on the national ominitteo us representing this Slate, ,nd will proceed to get in touch with ill those iu sympathy with tho okjoeH^_? if the movement. I will only ??, lowover, until a State chairman can >o selected; when a chairman is elected there will probably ho head* quarters established and the work ictively pushed. For the preserlt 1 vill answer all inquiries from my lome office.' Mr. Bowden was asked what effect vould this have on the May Demo cratic convention. " I do not know. Wo do not intend .o light against, or try to Interfere with mat hotly it ny way. Woomy Intend ,o build a I use. of refuge for the lost dicep when they are turned out of tho Cleveland pasture." Did you hoar Senator Tillman's jpeoob ? J~ " No. 1 expected to hear it but ou joing to the galleries half tin hour bo foi'0 ho was to begin. I found the men standing ten (loop around tho doors seeking admission. Before my turn Dame the Senate bail adjo truod. There is no Question, however, hit what that ipeeph created the g route vi e eaatlon d.Hl the Washing! in pul I ? vor en joyed." Bow about Till noun's and McLaurin's persons! relation.-. ? "On! well I don't know. It rathor seemed to me to he cordial on each side. McLaurin's strong and tactful defense of the Senator in the llouso was very much appreciated. Tho fact it- from McL&urin s popularity and influence he can bo a very useful lieu tenant for Senator Till man, and spoak ing on general principles, 1 should think that before this session is ovor their friendship will bo stronger than it e ver was. The truth is, they make a very Strong team. It svill bo re membered how well they worked to gether on the stump in the campaign of 1802." Tho Mount Lebanon F.hakers havo recently perfected an ingenious euro for. dyspepsia^ Theii', Digestive Cor dial consists of a food a'.Voady digested and a digester of foods happily com bined. Tho Importance of this invention will be appreciated when wo roalizo what a proportion of the community aro victims of some form of stomuch trou ble Thousands of pale, thin pooplo havo little inclination to eat, and whut they do ca'u causes them pain and dis tress. This Digestive Cordial of tho Shakers corrects any stomach deraugemont at onec. It makes thin people plump, livery one will he greatly Interested to read the little hook which lias been placed In the hands ol druggists for froe distribution. What is LaXOl P Nothing but Castor Oil made as palatubio as honey. Chil dren like It. ?An original sontonco was given 1 ttelv hy a Western judge. A man who did not know how to road andiwrito, convicted of a slight otfonco, wan sentenced to imprisonment until ho hod loarnod to road. Another offender, who had had a good cducution, was sontencod to keep him company until 'be had taught him to read. After thron weoks thoy wcro dlnohs.-god, they had fulfilled their task to t letter. \