The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-07-20
Military Amendments.

Governor Ellerbc has been the objec' Of
much criticism on account Of his appoint
ments Of officers in the State militia. What.
ever may be said against the Governor il
other respects, he cannot be called parti'
san n regard to the appointment Of these
officers. Any unprcjud:ced man ought tc
be able 10 see that circumstances ncceSSa-
rily govern many matters Of this kid, and
one in whom is vested the appointing
power quite naturally has to select the best
men OF the different politica! parties in
such Il manner as to conciliata the various
factions OF the people.
SO far, only two regiments have enlisted
from South Carolina Col Joseph X. al
stou of the Old Conservative party, WAS
made colonel OF the First Regiment, and
nobody can question his ability to lead it.
Then such men as Watson began to assail
Governor Ellerbe for not appointing q Re-
former. This attempt to revive fact:onaiism
was made for political effect IN the present
campaign and for nothing else. For these
positions brave, courageous military men
are needed, whether they belong to any fac
ton or to none ct all. Governor Ellerbe
was elected by the whole people and is
right in recognizing no party III a matter
of sucl. consequences as the appointment
of officers to lead our troops in the present
war.
When the Second Regiment was to be
formed there was great doubt rs to who
would command it. Colonel Willie Jones,
Colonel J. G. ~ardlaw and Major H. T.
Thompson were IN the lead for the posi-
ton This time Governor Ellerbe desired
to select man who had been allied with a
different faction from that Of Colonel Al
sson. So Colonel Willie Jones was appoint
ed colonel and Major Thompson lieutenant
colonel. and nothing can be said against
either. 1t is to be regretted that there is
rot like position for such man of ability
and splendid military training as Colonel
Wardlaw. However. 10 allay any prejudice
and satisfy both parties, competent man
from the Reform ranks was chosen. So
matters had to be equalized for the Cover
nor to prove an executive of the whole State
and no faction in it.
AS to ignoring the regular officers of the
Joti of
whatever, even if all of them had been dis
regarded for others, provided those chosen
were better men. But the militia officers
have not been ignored. Only two regi.
ments have been formed and one of the col
on els was colonel in the State militia.
Again, we cannot sec where the up
country has been Disseminated against in
the appoin tment of officers. Both the col
onels are from Columbia in the centre Of
the State, and the capital of it. The up
country has large share Of officers below
the rank of colonel, and we fail utterly to
see where it has been wrongly treated. The
larger Offices had to fall somewhere. Char
lesion did not get them, neither did Spar
tanburg Columbia did. Quite rightly
men and factions, and not sections, were
considered
What we have said need not be con-
strued as an unconditional endorsement of
Governor Ellerbe's administration and as
an indication as to whom we will support.
We have rot entered the lists as Governor
Ellerbe's champion, but we do like to see a
man given credit for the good he does. The
Governor has been the object Of much IN
just criticism and abuse. He has made ap-
pointments from both factions and from
the different sections as we'll as he could,
for the reason that he has tried to be an
executive of the people and would not be q
partisan in the hands of any party. We
respect him for his independence of action
and irmness in what he believes to be
right Trenton (Edgefeld) Call: