The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-04-12
GOVERNOR TllLMAN WILL TAKE
CHARGE OF ALL POLICE.
In An Address to the Militia. He Declares
that Unless the Law Is Obeyed H. wilt
Discharge Every Peace Omcer In South
Carolina.
No Fear Of Civil War.

declaring municipal police and con-
stabuiary under his orders. The proc
lamation is as follows:
STATE OF SOUTH CARoLINA,l
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
COLUMBIA, S. {.
Whereas. Section $40 Of the general statutes
Of this State declares that the Governor shall
have authority whenever in his judgment it
and In any emergency to assume the sole con-
troll OF the whole or any part OF the municipal
to authorize the chief constable of the State or
any deputy chief constable to command as
sistance in the execution Of process In sup
Whereas. 1t Is made the duty OF and the
power is given said police to enforce the
statute known as the "dispensary law, but
that instead Of obeying the requirements of
said law the said police except In few
towns have been an obstruction and are active
aiderS and abettOrS OF those who are opposing
the laws: and
Whereas Under the same statute the power
the purpose Of its enforcement: ana "
Whereas. The rebelltous and lawless element
OF society have bounded and insulted these
officers and sedulOusly educated the public
mind to resistance, causing several encounters,
resulting in bloodshed between cOnstables aud
Illicit whisky sellers producing intense ex
element and danger to the peace and welfare
of the State: now
Therefore 1. benjamin R. Tillman. Governor
of the State OF South Carolina. do issue this
my proclamation giving full and official notice
to the municipal authorities OF every city and
incorporated town in the State OF South Caro-
lima and to the police and marshals thereof
that under the powers given me by said section
6l9 the emergency contemplated has arisen
and does now exist and that do hereby as
sumo such control Of the whole force Of munic
1pal police and marshals of the several cities
and incorporated towns OF the State. They
are hereby ordered to enforce all laws on the
statute books. together with all municipal Or
dinances and orders from municipal authOri-
ties not inconsistent with the purposes OF the
proclamation. AS soon as the emergency
which Is now upon US shall no longer exist
| will relinquish control and restore the former
status.
=. r. TILLMAN. Governor.
| J. E. TINDALL, Secretary Of state.
Are Not Ready to Obey.
AS far as Columbia is concerned, the
! dispatch says the proclamation has
| created great excitement. The Mayor
| when asked about it said that he had
referred the whole matter 20 the City
! Attorney. who is now conside ring the
| question. Chief of Police Radcliffe
says that he awaits or.ers from the
Mayor and will not act otherwise until
instructed by him so to do.
For the first time since Friday Gov.
Tillman went to the State house Tues
day. He was accompanied by John
Gary Evans, refC4m candidate for Gov
hurt nor modest him, as many people
thought would be the case when he
| appeared on the streets again. He is
not going to he hurt in Columbia, hut
his action in assuming control of all
| the police in tho State has created
| great Indignation. The 4CO or more
troops remaining in the penitentiary
| were. by orders of the Governor,
marched up to the State house. They
| were formed in line before the build
ing and addressed by the Governor.
The Governor said:
The dispensary law is on the stat
ute books. l, as chief executive, have
sworn that the laws of this State shall
be respected. and, so help me God. l
will exert all the powers OF my Office to
see that the law is Obeyed."
The Governor was severe in his con-
domination CT the militia companies
| that have refused to obey orders.
"Over at Darlington" he said, "these
| handbook soldiers, these soldiers turned
politicians, pranced all over the coun-
try and sent for re-enforcements 10 bar
rooms and whisky men, but they have
never fired a shot at a single constable
and they did not want to find them.
The Governor did not fear civil war.
1T will not come and cannot come, he
said. because the people are in the
saddle and intend to remain there.
One man told Mr.. Ielldell here that
he came from Edgeteld, my own coun
ty, with a shotgun to kill me Friday
night. | will not mention his rame.
Threatened men live long, and [ have
never felt uneasy.
This riot is political frenzy. shall
not bulge an inch from the stand that
have taken as the peoples Governor
You may imagine from this that an
going to ag ,ravate the trouble. but
am simply going to uphold the law.
could not have done what have unless
I controlled the railroads and the tele
graph line. From this day the con
stables shall watch the policemen anG
report to me whether they are doing
their duty. and if they do not obey my
orders and if the authorities do not co
| operate with me ! shall cell the Legis
lature together, and We will have thu
power given the Executive to remove
those men and appoint others who viii
obey the law"
At this point Mr.. Early cousin o
Mr.. Norment, who was killed by Stat,
; Constables, yelled out: why dom
you obey the law YOURSELF"
This created a big commotion in tn,
crowd. One of the Governors sym
pathizers yelled out shoot him." ant
both factions rushed up. The Gov
ernor called for silence and Chief o
Police Radcliffe jumped Off his hors,
and grabbed Early, commanding order
ana took him away
As the Governor finished his speecl
1 - o1 l.