The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-08-05


lice. and told Governor Elcrbc that DIR.
Ilderton was going to INTRODUCES bill to re-
peal tho metropolitan act. Representative
Ilderton, of Florence county, and repre- |
sentative of Anderson county, both talked
with Governor Ellcrhr, and he assured
each of them that he wnnlu remove the
police from Charleston. These
believing that the governor
meant what he said, took no steps them
selves and prevented any legislation upon
the metropolitan police.
Before the adjournment OF the Legislature
Governor Eilrrbr assured select few that
that he would not remove the metropolitan
police until every member of the city c"un-
ell signed an agreement in writing to Ell
force the dispcnSary law.
At the time Mr. Bacot was working so
zcalously for Charleston, Governor Ell"rh"
promised several persons tina, he would rN'
act from the MAYOR of Charleston an agree
| ment in writing, to he signed by every
| mcmhcr Of the council to cn(orC" the dis
prnsnry law.
| This is admitted 10y Governor Ellcrh" III
this interview. But did thr governor tel
of this" No. 1t WAS kept rs II profound
secret from them. I knew nothing "f =.
was fighting the disprnsary Law. IL was
known only to "thr favored frw,. and was
carefully gllai led
Governor Ellcrhr knew that "i the IS al
dcrmrn at least six were political and per
Sonal friends uf Chief Martin. and S"ni'
Others would not sign any paper I" enforce
the diSrcnsarv law.
Before the Hd iuurnmrnt oi the Legislature
Chief Matn knew the terms which w"ul'
l. imposed. On March Isl Mayor SnlNtl
was informed 10y Governor Ell"rhr that he
w,uL take up the metropolitan police mai
ter after the nl li"urnn,nt "i HE l"giSln-
turc March ith Mayor SmNih hN"d IN"
ii Il for The conference. Now mark; May
or Sruvth in this conference proposed L"
have tn" council pass ~, ordinance" I" en-
force, the diSrrn>ary law. This could h"
dome hv n ma inri,N, OF ai most tw"NhirdS
| vote IF TN. council. I;ut Governor Ellrrh"
said hr would not humiiia'" th" people Of
Charleston hv havin. ihrm To pass an "r.
dinanrr. Governor Ellcrhr hnd in ah
vance, prepared II typ"wiiit"n H.r"''lH"n1
! and presented il I" Mayor Sluylh. ThC
p :prr was an innocent Looking affair, ana
with some m"diii,Hti"i, Mn,"r Smylh took
il to CharlrSt trm for signature. i'ih Cover
nor Ellrrhc tell Mayor Smlth that the pa
per must be- signed 10y every one "f the al
dtrmrI? No. Mayor Snyih says he never
for Il nlumrn' Thought it was To he signed
-, all if he had h" would not have carried
il t" tharl"~,"r. I'll" paper WAS presented
ON the Sth f"i the council I" ,.ian il; or the
twenty four, seventeen signed, six refused
60 Sign, one was out OF the city. hut after
wards sign"". The paper was sent to Co
lunlia t." Governor Ellcrhc as slgnnd, IIe
refused tn rrmov" the metropolitan police
hrraliSr all ,i.l not Ait;ii.
Did Governor Ellcrhn give In" Mayor of
Charleston the assurance !9 had Bivcu eth"
favored few" No. Did Governor Eliur.
hc tell Mayor Smyth that he ~ late as the
2Sth of February had assured Il friend that
,hc ,nrtr,nniitam police would not he re
moved until each ni ,hC aldermen signed
No!
a fir lend Of Chief Martin wrote Govern"
Ellcrbc and said: ~ have written t
friends IN Charleston that ynn would no
rrm.ya the metropolitan police until al
the aldermen r;LHrd it. I have II" wish I
misstatc your position, y" wish I" kn",
il I am correct" This letter was ww,,Cl
after The adjournment of the legislature, O
the 4th OF March.
This letter Governor Ellrrhr anSwrrr
| on March Sth saying: "N"u have state
my position correctly and | will stand /
| it,"
On March Sth the agreement WAS nr"S"l
ted to the council Of Charleston f"r sign;
turc, the day this letter was written.
Thnr" is the proof of y"ur duplirity. I"'
crnor.
During the session, "I tn. leg ialaturr CO.
rrnor Ellrrh" asked my advice about Il
removal. told him, in substance: :"
you have promised T." remove il ynu shnnl
DO il r"u sh"uld keep your rrnmSr.''
| knew n",niG4 ~ the terms of the It
m"val until IN" rnl'rsa pi,,liah:A i.
never advised with amy on" ah"u, II II,
had anything To- ln with the k-",.img -! |!
' helped iu pass il hut il had promise.
I" rrm"N" it would have kept m, word
+ 1t might hr we'll for the public 10 kn"'
how proud Governor Ellrrhr WAS Of ih
performance. "Thr favored few rnul
: tr.l AMI :, certain rx.t;nvrrnnr can tel
how he h"astrd II iAr.G acquisition "f u,
litral wisdom
: "Ddnt l play the metropolitan boy:
.Iuhuny""
eyes, Billy. y"u played EN-"
! Mr. Mnrtirlh was aprlnudc at the rnl
; rluSion II his apr"ch, Mr. Nnyirll r>
rninrd t.,at he as only slmnking ~ NJ,
| Laurin politically, and had tho hiRhrs, l.,
gard for him prrSonally.'
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Nofirr a. 'Eruc!icrS.
Tho Picilrns EnnntV Teacher