The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1898-02-09
Why Eptca Was Appointed.

We take the following extract from
lengthy editolia] in the last issue
Of the Piedmont Headlight, which in
our judgment completely npsets the
charge that Governor Ellerbe ap-
pointed Mr.. Epton Comptroller Gen
| eral so that, BY 50 doing, he would
strengthen his political fences and
thus making his calling and elec'
ton sure" The reasons alleged to
have been given by Governor E!lrrbe,
a,e reasonable, just and fair, and only
those who are anxious to take his
place, could possibly ind fault with
them and they cnly by wide stretch
of fer; lie Imagination.
The Headlight say:
"As every one familiar with the
government of our State knows, the
House is the representative body, for
| lis members comes more direct from
the people, and it will be seen that
Mr.. Epton has tie endorsement OF
his State. And a careful examina
ton of the above vote shows that
Mr.. Epton was backed by as good
and true men as South Carolina pro-
duces. and factiopal lines were not
observed among his supporters. This
vote further shows that majority Of
the members Of the House realize
the fact that the grand old county of
Spa, tanburg, and the Piedmont sec
ton deserve some recognition from
the Democrats OF our State: and to
defeat Mr.. Epton was not the turn
ing down of a candidate, but a slap
| in the face Of the people Of county
and section that have formed a bull
wa,k for the Democratic party
against Republican domination.
Ever since the days of reconstruction
Spartanburg county has given her
solid white vote to our p: Y, and Mr..
Ep'on's appointment by Gov. Ellerbe
was the first time that our people
have ever received recognition by
being given a State Office And the
defeat CT Mr.. Epton was not only a
Reputation of this grand old county
and its people. but slur cast upon
our entire Piedmont section, which
the representatives Of our peighbor-
ing counties felt and resented by
their support of Mr.. Epton.
The writer of this article, while in
Columbia last week, called on Gov.
Ellerbe and discussed the defeat Of
Mr.. Epton. Gov. Eilerbe stated
that so far as his making any trade
with Mr. Epton before or after his
appointment, it is absolutely false,
for political issues were not discussed
by either of them. While comp
troller himself, Gov. E'lerbe was i'm
pressed with tie efficiency of Mr..
Epton, and knew there was not a
man III our State more fitted to dis
charge the responsible duties of that
Office than L P. Eptcn. But Gov.
EiIerbe says be has another and
equally as strong reason for naming
Mr. Epton to succeed Mr.. Norton.
He felt that his own Pee Dee section
had been given more than fair
share Of the public patronage. Him.
self Pee Dee man had been elected
governor by the people, and his
largest majority came from Spartan
burg county. When Senator Earle
died, he appointed another Pee Dee
man to succeed him, which was the
highest Office within his gift. He
had also chosen two Pee Dee men to
serve him as private secretaries,
while the comptrcller's cffice has for
years been filled with officials selected
from the Pee Dee secticn, Gen. Norton
himself being a Marion county man.
So to have appointed Mr.. Derham,
another Fee Dee man, as comptroller,
over the earnest appeals he received
from Spartanburg for recognition,
would have lightfully laid himself
open to the charge OF unjust favor
iusm fer lis own section. He felt
that Spaltanburg county and this
growing and prosperous Piedmont
section melited aud should have at
least one 1epl esenative in our State
government, and knowing Mr.. Ep-
tons peculiar fitness for the position,
he felt it due our people, as also to
his own sense of fairness, TO appoint
him comptroller. Gov. Ellerbe also
knew that Mr.. Epton was friend to
and supporter of Col. Irby, but he
did not intend to permit political
differences to Influence Linn in lis
official duties.
Gov. Ellelbe did exactly right
when he appointed Mr.. Epton, and
every fair minded and just man iu
our State will endorse him and horor
his motives. So far as the fight on
Gov Ellerbe through Mr.. Eptcn is
concerned, it will never subserve the
ends Of bis enemies. lie did exactly
right, and will be endorsed. The
people Of Spartanburg feel that tGey
have bten unfairly Disseminated
against in the selection of our public
officers, and are under obligations to
Governor Ellelbe for being the first
executive to recognize their rights.
Aud that tie striking down Of MIR.
Epton for partisan political purposes
and TO vent personal spleen against
the Governor, wall be resented by
not only the voters Of the Old Lon
District, but of this entire Piedmont
section aud belt.
One excuse for the fight made or
Mr.. Epton was that be refused to
retain Mr. D.rham in his position as
chief clerk. We have from Glr.
Eptons own lips tho following,
which throws new light upon that