The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-04-21
Who IS Right
Mayor Smyth Makes a State
ment to Council.
was Unanimous Consent Not Re-
CURED for Removal of Alien
Police.

sSmyeh has spoker on the metropolitan
police correspondence with Governor
Elerbe snd be throws the responsibility
for Ike conti1uauce of Charleston 3
alien police force 90 the governor.
IS ndgiag from the almost total vaesncy
sof tie galleries Of council chamber to-
nigh, although in vas known that
Mayor Smyth would present his side Of
the much-told. .of gubsrnatorial efforts
to remove the metropolitan force. it
scanned that the publie cared very little
sabons the correspondence. SO long as it
aid aos carry with it the removal Of the
systems The mayors version of the
story Wis reserved for the last and after
appsrensly all the business had been
concluded and every one vas looking for
Tie gsyel 10 fall and council tc adjourn,
isy0r SmYth produced some papers
AID With but few words Of iotroduc-
tory began the reading Of his side of
the affair. He spoke slowly aud im-
plsssiyely, but exc;tedly; The report
uas mass Of sypevristen pages which
contained little if aoything new save
thas II vas the mayor discussing his
pat ia the grand farcs-couedy of re-
nogsl os the police force. The report
Was interesting ooly for this reasoo.
The sane hackueyed facts and PARTON
=
! lars we're gone Though with.
Ii few words Mayor Smyth's de-
Tense Was that the situation bad as
suned such shape that he thought
ks should speak FIR himself that he did
not und derstand that Governor Ellerbe
required unanimously signed agree
sment. If be did, be says tina. be would
never have brought the paper out of
Columbia. On the contrary, Mayor
EESnyth is certain that Governor Eller-
sbe's stipulasions did not provide for
unanimous action on the part Of the
couneil
Mayor snyth stated that when be ar
rived al the capital on Governor Eller-
BEL Invitation and The governor began
the noE famous conference With the re-
mark that the metropolitan system bad
been desired By the city cocnca, he In.
smediately corrected him and the 6rss
agreement drawn up. which started cut
with this assertion. was cancelled. Both
agreements we're Objectionable. Mayor
SSnYsh said, bus fpaliy agreed to the
second as he knew that she people of
Charleston desired to be relieved of the
humiliation ineidens to the acceptance.
Mayor Smysh said that the mere
fact ;ba. he wted the governor that II
aldermen had sigoed and be vas wait.
ing his p.oclamasion was evidence suti.
'cienl that be kuew nothing Of any de.
sired onanimous action.
The mayor stated that the governor
knew. or should have known. that he
(Msyor Smysh With the chief Of police
we're the proper parties to enforce the
law and that council was not invested
with executive powers Further. that
tsfee-fou.hs of council favored tie re
snoyal aud we're williog aDd capable to
enact any ordinances necessary to en-
force properly the dispensary Law aud
bring It's yiolators TO justice. By his
actiop the governor admits his injustice.
Mayor Smysb said. aud the deadlock is
on as resols Of conditions unoeces-
:sarily Representations which the
g,sernor should have kooxn could not
Be carried Ont 10 consequence of Mar
sshai Martin's openly declared friends,
Elk in number on the aldermspic
board.
Cd. q Davis moved that the entire
correspondence be spread on the min
utes. which motion was duly seconded
aud passed.
A sensation was spruag joss as ne
motion was carried by Alderman Mat.
shiss, Que Of the Regular faction. tu.
one of the seven who refused to sly o
the agreement Matshies uas former
wholesale Iiquor dealer. He declared
that be had long been waiting this op.
por,unity to explain his position.
He Indignantly denied tha. he
Was a friend of Mart,o. He said
that be was opposed to the dispen.
sary Law aad the metropolitan police
system. but that he had to
sccede to Governor Ellerhe's upjust de
mssds !u s,rone German accents be
sraeically declared that Charleston had
suffered the bumiliation Of nesropoli.
tan pelican police system for some time,
bat she could eodure it for a few years
longer; .be dag of reckoning would
come. BE said that be refused TO sigu
the agreement because he considered
sigoing it ao additional disgrace put up
oo the city. j. B.
SOME PLAIN TALK.