The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-09-22

nclv look that Governor Ellerbe's
former chief clerk should be able to
carry Governor Ellerbe's county on 8
factional issue which Governor Eller-
be is committed against; and it looks
uglier still that that candidate, Nor
ton, should practically promise Gov
ernor Ellerbe's appointment OF his,
Norton's subordinate to the comp
troller generalship, and that this sub
ordinate should thus be encouraged
to leave his work for weeks and can
vass Horny county in the interest OF
Norton and his own succession.
The estate" further criticises Gov
vernon Ellerbe, because Of the decls-
ion of the railroads to obey the law.
This is 8 broad statement, but it IS
true.
For several years the State Admin
istration and the roads, have been
engaged in a series of expensive and
vexatious lawsuits. Ellerbe came in
as 81 sspeace and unity candidate. He
has honestly tried to avoid strife OF
all kinds. AS Governor it is his duty
to enforce as far as possible every law
on our Statute books. It is not for
him to inquire whether it is good
law or bad one, if it is there he
takes an oath to enforce it until re-
pealed BY the Legislature. Section
8 and Is of the Dispensary Act re-
quires a certificate from the State
Commissioner to be affixed to all
liquors shipped into the State and
provides further, viz: "And without
such certificates any package contain
ing liquors which shall be shipped
from place to place within the State
or delivered to the consignee by any
railroad, express company or common
carrier, or be found in the possession
of any common carrier, shall be re-
earded as contraband, and may be
seized, etc.
Gov. Ellerbe called attention of the
roads to this provision of the laws OF
South Carolina, and again the estate"
threatens him with political extinc-
ton. It was his dnty as governor to
enforce the law. Itis the duty OF
every good citizen, including even
Mr.. Gonzales to obey and uphold the
the law. We wish. to say this and we
do not want to offend the Editor OF
the estate" for he has many admir-
able qualities, nor do we wish to re-
tard the growth of "peace and unity,
but if we must purchase it by ablect
submission and winking at violations
of the Dispensary law so long as it IS
a law, then we will take 'none of it in
our coffee" Our conception OF Gov.
Ellerbe is that he is man who will
do his duty without fear or favor. 1t
the estate" has been advocating
"peace and unity" only to assume the
role of Dictator" it will find itself
wofully mistaken, and that the best
men of both factions will repudiate
it. We sincerely regret at this crit
teal iuncture the discordant note
sounded by the estate" and we are
suppressing much that we would like
to say in condemnation of its bitter
and foolish attack on Governor Ell
lerbe. He found the Dispensary law
on the Statute books. He has made
an honest effort to enforce it.
He has made the first and only
statesmenlike move towards decentra,
lizing its corruptipg political power
by doing away with its most obnoz-
ious feature, the constabulary. He
has had year to study the system
and in his next message to the Legis,
lature, he will be expected to give
that body his opinion of the system
and suggest such changes as he
deems best in the method of handling
the liquor question. He is not ez-
pected to tell the newspapers and
public in advance what he thinks or
what he intends to recommend, and
it does seem to US that good sense
would dictate the policy of letting
the Governor alone and giving him a
fair chance. The "News and Courier
seems to have come to this conclusion
and it is matter of regret and surprise
that the estate" exhibits so little tact
and judgment.
Since the last Legislature adjourn
ed, the original package" decision
hos hean made This chances the
status of affairs, and it is evident to
every sensible man, that when the
Legislature meets radical changes
will be made in the Dispensary law
These matters should be met not in s
spirit of prejudice and passion, but