The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-10-05
The State Election and the Lesson i
Teaches.

many, but the result did not mate
rally differ from what the Headlight
prognosticated. We never had q mo-
ment's doubt but that Governor FL
lerbe would be reelected, but knew
that the strong combinations against
him would reduce his majority. The
day before the second primary, in re-
ply to an Inquiry, the editor of this
paper stated that, from what he could
/ gather, Ellerbe would go in by ma
jority ranging from Eve to seven
thousand.
There were six candidates opposed
to Governor Ellerbe, hailing from
every section Of our State, and all
well presumed to be strong men.
With the single exception of Col.
Schumpert, they were very abusive
against the Governor, and centred
their fire upon him. OF course each
of these candidates had his friends
and workers, and after the States
first primary, and the gubernatorial
candidates had been thinned down to
Ellerbe and Featherstone, those who
supported the losing candidates felt
! that it was necessary to beat Ellerbe
| to vindicate their course. It is true
that Col. Watson came out in letter
endorsing Ellerbe, but we doubt if
he controlled dozen votes, and only
published himself political turnooat,
who, after denouncing Governor FL
| lerbe in the most abusive manner,
tried to ingratiate himself in his good
graces by dieting upon his own
words. Candidates can control vot-
ers in their own interest, but when
they endeavor to turn them over to
some one else they will ind them
selves badly mistaken.
But the reduced vote polled by
Governor Ellerbe was not intended
as rebuke to his administration, but
disapproval of the manner in which
the dispensary has been managed IN
the past. Too much favoritism had
been shown the State constables, and
the people demanded that these off,
GERS be held to strict account for their
acts the same as other private citi-
zens, and not be made special pets OF.
The pardoning of May and Buice,
after their conviction by an impartial
| Jury, lost Governor Ellerbe hundreds
of votes in the upper section OF our
county as well as in GreenVille, while
the cruel and unprovoked killing OF
Mr.. Turner by Newbold set the whole
county ablaze with indignation. In
Spartanburg county hundreds OF
strong friends of the dispensary voted
for Featherstone simply to show their
disapproval of the manner in which
the dispensary has been managed,
and to put quietus on this shooting
down of men for an ofense, which, at
most, would only put them to the
changing for short time.
The next Legislature Will have TO
overhaul the dispensary law, and put
a stop to even the suspicion OF wrong
doing and hold constables to strict
account for their acts, or two years
hence the people will rise in their
power and wipe the whole system out
of existence.
Taking all things into considera-
ton, Governor Ellerbe made splen-
did race, and we doubt if there is an
other man in the State who could
have been elected with such COM
bination OF politicians and unfortu-
nate circumstances against him. The
whole fire of the opposition was d.
rected on Ellerbe, backed by the pull
pit and every man interested in the
tearing down of the dispensrry law
and the sale of liquors by private par
ties. But the majority Of the voters
refused to be controlled against
man whom they knew to be honest,
and who had done his duty faithfully
and fearlessly. Governor Ellerbe had
also to combat the hundreds of dis
appointed ofice-seekers, who failed
to receive appointments at his hands
to civil Offices or in the army. But
the great mass Of our voters respect
ed and honored Governor Ellerbe,
and refused to strike down and hu-
initiate a good and pure man.
But during his next term the
many obstacles he had to encounter
will be removed-factional differ
ences have been allayed, and our
people are again working together in
peace and unity, and to Wm. H. Ell
lerbe, more than any other man, is
this happy result due. The war has
ended and there will be no scramble
over positions in the army, and most
of the appointments for State Offices
have been filled. Therefore we pre-
dict that Governor Ellerbe will retire
from the gubernatorial chair at the
expiration OF his second term, amid
the plaudits of the whole State, and
his official record will go down in his
tory as one of the cleanest in the an
nails of the Palmetto State. 1t would
have been q shameful outrage to
strike down as pure and honest a
man as Governor Ellerbe at the
clamor of ambitious politicians and
an unholy alliance between Prohibi-
tionists and liquor men.
But one glorious result has en-
sued: The people went to work and
cleaned the State House Of those
who have been holding Office since
1890, and made an entirely new deal.
Piedmont Headlight.
~ r eT0PEN Z