The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-11-18
Talk of Removing the Metropolitan
Police.

COLUMBIA, Nov. 16.-"Governor Evans
has decided to take tho metropolitan
police off of Charleston on the 1st of
December" Is the latest of political-police
rumors. HE has advised Chief Marshal
Martin of his intention, and that officer
has been here to see him aboutit." These
two statements were made on what was
alleged to be good authority. There may
or there may not be foundation in the re-
port. It will, however, be interesting to
make note Of the rumor and to watch
out closely for further Developments
along this line. There is something in
the wind about the matter.
When the report was first circulated
the presence Of Fair week prevented its
thorough investigation. Friday saw quite
q number of Charlestonians in Columbia.
Some few-mark you, few-came to see
the Fair; others came to see Governor
elect Ellerbe about the patronage in
Charleston, but what brought Marshal j.
Elmore Martin here with such crowd is
subject for just speculation in view of
the rumors that are afoat.
It is not to be expected that Governor
Evans would talk about such coup If he
contemplated it or had decided upon it.
This morning, when I asked Governor
Evans about the rumor, he said: "I have
not considered it yet" Then it was sug-
gested that the rumor came pretty straight
and he said: "I asked hem (Chief Mar
tin) to make showing of what had been
done. AS to what am going to do is in
my own meditation, aud am not yet
prepared to say what will do about the
matter"
Now the rumor might very well hang
on Governor Evans asking Marshal Mar
tin "to make his showing" Ifsomething
were not in the air why should Governor
Evans have asked for ''his showing" at
this particular time, especially when it
has never before been announced or pub
lished that Marshal Martin has been eG
pected or required to make any 'show-
ing'' to the Governor as chelrman OF the
Whether the report proved satisfactory or
not is, of course, matter Of mere specu-
lation, and very probably Gouernor
Evans is, as he says, "meditating" over
the report. Another feature OF the rumor
is that Marshal Martin has asked his
political friends to use their influence
with Governor Evans not to have him
make any change as to the metropolitan
police on the 1st Of December, or during
his term Of Office for that matter.
What there is in this report is not
known, but in due time will be develop
ed. When it was understood that Mar
shall Martin was in the city, and that it
was probably in connection with these
rumors, visit was paid to the Hotel Je-
rome about IL o'clock to SEQ him. The
night clerk, however, said he had gone
to bed and expected to leave the city on
the early morning train, and 1t was not
thought kind to wake up the Charleston
officer, especially as Mr.. E. Mitchell Sea-
brook and Mr.. John II. Graman were all
assigned to room 43, and would all have
been disturbed by the midnight Interrupt
istered at the same time, and apparently
in the same handwriting, but did not re-
main over night.
Now it seems to be generally conceded
that Governor Ellerbe believes in
home government, and that he will not
press the metropolitan police on Charles
ton, if there are any assurances that the
city authorities will cooperate with him.
In word the metropolitan police for
Charleston is doomed, whether it be in
December under the Evans regime or
under Ellerbe month or two later, so If
Governor Evans removes the obnoxious
system there will be no complaint from
the Retormers, for as much is expected a
few months later, and it may be some
satisfaction to the Evans regime to make
some such coup, and then it would let
Governor Ellerbe 60 into Office without
having to make any explanations for un-
doing what Governor Evans had done.
AS the metropolitan police for Charles
ton is peculiarly the product of Governor
Evans Administration, it would be quite
the thing for him to let its birth, existence
and death be confined to his regime. It
is to be remembered that the political ad-
visers of Governor Evans were not unan-
imous in advising that Charleston be
placed under the metropolitan police
Special TO Ne,vs and Courier.