The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-11-30
REPLIES TO HIS CRITICS.

Governor Ellerbe Denies that He Ad
vised NewboId to Avoid Arrest-He
Favors the Dispensary withou,
Profits-Hc VIII BE q Candidate
for Rc-Elcction.
Governor Ellerbe invited the news.
paper reporters to interview him, and
expressed himself on various topcs OF
public interest. The Columbia cor.
respondent OF the News and Courier
makes the following report of the in.
terview:
Governor Ellerbe has given the peo.
pie as Thanksgiving Offering his an
nouncement that he would be q candi-
date for reelection, and further that
he proposes to stand for an amended
dispensary law, while regretting that
the system has to suffer changes. 1t is
the first important and conclusive au-
nouncement on the part OF Governor
lIllerbe. Tonight Governor Ellerbe
telephoned for me to come to the Nav
sion, and gave out the following inter.
view:
81 see in the News and Courier of
Tuesday an editorial commenting on
the report from it's Chester correspon-
dent which, while not directly doing
so, may by insinuation lead people to
believe that the Governor advised
Newbold not to surrender. The langu-
age used by the Chester correspondent
reads: He was instructed by the
State authorities not to surrender un-
til to-day or until the Court of General
Sessions of Spartnnburg County had
adJourned.' | wish to denounce the
statement as absolutely and unqualified
ly false. | sent Mr.. Newbold no mes
sage, gave him no advice and made no
terms IA is
l am getting heartily tired of such dirty
llings and insinuatiOns. 1t seems to
me that gentleman has no protection,
but has to submit to such sanderous
lnsinuations. | have also been harshly
criticised for pardoning May and Buicc
for killing Sims. Sims was a desperate
moonshiner who was openly violating
the laws of the State, and when May
and Buice attempted to seize the
Liquor Sims started to fire on the
officers, and had they not killed him in
the discharge OF their duty would have
been killed. Moreover, Mr.. Crawford,
who was present, testified that the
killing was in self-defcncc. This is en-
tlrely aside from the petitions and the
| endorsement Of seven OF the Jurors.
There were in addition to other petit
tlons, ono signed by many OF the very
| best OF opartanburg's men. There
seems to be common understanding
on the part Of certain people to destroy
the dispensary law, and they take ad-
vantage of all these unfortunate occur
FENCES to use them against the law.
Since | have been Governor | have
| tried fearlessly to perform my official
| duties, and will not be swerved by idle
clamor or senseless criticism.
Several days ago an interview was
printed from the Rev. Carroll, in which
| was reported to have said that rather
than join the liquor men would go
To. A great many have asked me
to fill out that blank What | said
was: Before | would turn this State
over to the liquor element | would go
home and go to ploughing." The most
difficult problem that confronts us to-
day Is that OF the liquor traffic. The
dispensary, | think, is the best solution
OF the question, but as the Courts have
decided that the dispensary is not a
police regulation | am in favor Of
amending the dispensary law, SO as to
make 1T q police regulation by elimi-
mating the profit feature, and, If neces-
sary, not to sell it as q beverage, but
only for medicinal and sacramental
purposes. Those who advocate high
license have surely not read carefully
the decision Of the Courts, for in the
case OF Scott VS.. Donald the Court ad-
vanced the views that the State could
prohibit. they could inspect, but could
do no more II the dispensary is not a
police regulation, and the State can
not control the liquor under the dis.
pensary law, 1T certainly cannot do so
under high license. Besides, under q
high license system it would In a few
months degenerate into the open bar
room. AS a rule, mon who would buy
a license to sell whiskey would have no
moral character, and would be alto
gether irresponsible and pefectly il
different to the welfare of the State
and of the people. Their only object
would be to make money, and the CON
stitutional restrictions would be disre-
oarded. This liquor fight is not a
factional issue. 1t Is fight between
the moral elements Of our people and
the liquor men."
"Do you propose to make fight on
this next year,"
81 propose to go before the people on
my record, and, If necessary, to advo-
cate the policy just outlined. Some oi
my enemies have said L might be re-
elected because OF the unwritten law
to give Governor two terms. | want
! 1t understood that no one need keer
,, out of the race on this account, and
would not have 1t as u mere matter Of
, precedent IL my effort did not warrant
! an endorsement. III / cannt refute the
numerous charges that have beer
: made against me and l cannot show tt
. the people that l have honestly ant
y faithfully tried to discharge the duties
Of the Office, do not care to be re
:, elected Some people may think 1t II
! y a very fine thinr to be Governor, bu
u u there are other things / value NOR,
= bighly, and Before 1 would sacriic,
= = my manliness or any principle would
y be defeated a thousand times. Will,
y like to please, had rather have tn,
Y consciousness of having done my dut,