Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-04-12
WILL FACE THE ISSUE
GOVERNOR TILLMAN WILL TAKE
CHARGE OF ALL POLICE.
In an Address to the Militia, He Declares
that Unless the Law Is Obeyed He Will
Discharge Every Peace Omcer In South
Carolina.
No Fear of Civil War.

| No Fear of Civil War.
A Columbia, s. c.. dispatch says that
while press and telegraphic censorship
is no longer exercised by Gov. Tillman,
the chief executive has assumed con-
troll Of the police force of the State.
He has issued a proclamation under
Section $40 of the General Statutes
declaring municipal police and con-
stabulary under his orders. The proc
lamation Is as follows: y,
| STATE OF SOUTH CABoLINA,l
| EXECUTIVE CHAMBER.
| COLUMBIA, 8. q.
where's, Section ols OF the general statutes
have authority whenever In his Judgment It
| shall be necessary to arm the constabulary
troll OF the whole or any part OF the municipal
| police In cities and incorporated towns, and
to authorize the chief constable OF the State or
| any deputy chief constable to command as
| sistance in the execution of process in sup
pressing riots and preserving peace; and.
| 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
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
| ts given the governor to appoint constables for
the purpose Of its enforcement; and
Whereas. The rebellious and lawless element
OF society have bounded and fnsulted these
officers and sedulously educated the public
mind to resistance causing several encounters,
ITesulting I. IN bloodshed between const.bles aud
element and danger to the peace and welfare
| Of the State; now
Therefore I, 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
fnnn taA IN tha fota G<,xfh Ia
lima and to the police and marshals thereof
that under the powers given me by said section
SIS the emergency contemplated has arisen
sumo such control Of the whole force of muuic-
ipal 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-
proclamation. AS soon as the emergency
which is now upon us shall no longer exist
Will reltnqufsh control and restore the former
status.
B. r. TILLMAN. Governor.
J. Z. 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 to the City
Attorney, who is now considering the
question. Chief of Police Radcliffe
says that he awaits orders 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, reform candidate for Gov
ernor. The citizens neither tried to
hurt nor molest him, as many people
4 l. l.
appeared on the streets again. He is
not going to be hurt in Columbia, but
his action in assuming control of all
the police in the State has created
great indignation. The 400 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. |, as chief executive, have
sworn that the laws of this State shall
be respected, and, so help me God,
will exert all the powers OF my Office to
see that the law is obeyed."
The Governor was severe in. his con-
demnation of the militia companies
that have refused to obey orders.
over at Darlington" he said, "these
band-box soldiers, these soldiers turned
politicians, pranced all over the coun-
try and sent for re-enforcements to bar
rooms and whisky men, but they have
never fired 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.. Yelldell here that
he came from Edgefield, my own coun-
ty, with shotgun to kill me Friday
night. l will not mention his name.
Threatened men live long, and have
never felt uneasy.
This riot is political frenzy. l shall
not bulge an inch from the stand that
/ have taken as the peoples Governor.
You may imagine from this that am
going to aggravate the trouble, but
am simply going to uphold the law.
could not have done what have unless
/ controlled the railroads and the tele-
graph line. From this day the con-
stables shall watch the policemen and
report to me whether they are doing
their duty, and il they do not obey my
orders and IL the authorities do not CO.
operate with me shall call the Legis-
labure tOgetner, dnu we Will nave tne
power given the Executive to remove
those men and appoint others who will
obey the law" Rt
At this point Mr.. Early a cousin Of
Mr.. Norment, who was killed by State
Constables, yelled out: "Why don't
you obey the law yourselfY"
This created a big commotion In the
crowd. One of the Governors SYM
pathizers yelled out aShoot him!" and
both factions rushed up. The Gov
ernor called for silence and Chief of
Police Radcliffe jumped off his horse
and grabbed Early, commanding order,
and took him away.
AS the Governor finished his speech
there were deafening cheers from his
| troops. An order was then read to the
troops commanding them to return to
their homes and extending thanks to
the gallant and patriotic soldiers and
| citizens who, a. moments notice,
dropped their various avocations and
pursuits to respond 70 his call
/