The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-01-19

4
handed me an envelope bearing the
lamlliar engraved lettering, Estate ol
south Carolina. Executive Chamber
Columbia" and addressed "Mr. Il. II
weston, Columbia, 8. c., PERSONAL
Opening 1t read
COLUMBIA, S. O., Sept. 8, 1898.
(Confidentlal.)
Dear Frenk: In reply to your in
curry, Will say fully concur In your
Wow as to the best solution Of the liquor
question. After mingling with the
people for three months and thorough
consideration have como to the con.
clusion that the Dispensary Act should
90 amended SD as to allow each coun-
ty to settle the liquor question for
ltsolf, and havo determined to make
such recommor dation to the next Con-
oral Assembly.
Your friend.
w. II. ELLERBE.
TO Mr.. T.. H. Weston.
All OF this except the printed caption
ana date limo was in Gov. Ellcrbe's
handwriting. Tho dato was wrong
ono day behind.
1T was not rs precise a pledge as
woald have dictated, but whatever of
vaguencss there might be in the phrase
allow each county TO settle the liquor
| iuoSIioh lor ltSel. was offset by the
Initial statement, fully concur in
your Wow as To the best solution Of
tho liquor question:" | knew, and it
was a matte: Of public knowledge and
record, that MIR. Wcston's "viow" was
the satno as my own that ho favored
county choice between the dispensary,
nigh license and prohibition. While
dlc not have any confidence In Gov.
| Ellerbc simple word did not bclieve
he would dare to incur tho ObloQuv Of
exposure for violating this pledge, and
thought | had him fast. AS MIR.
| Weston was going that afternoon to
| Charleston and wished to use the ORR
glnal To secure votes for the Governor
| there, | took II copy Of the letter on
his promise to hand mo tho original
on his return. He did return it, and
have kept 1t in my pocket most OF the
time since.
| must confess that the Governors
prompt compliance with my ultimatum
was not altogether gratifying, for |
had thought the matter over and con-
cludcd that to carry out my part OF the
agreement would subject me to much
criticism and perhaps suspicion Of my
motives and that [ would have to with
hold my justification until the Legis-
lature mot. On this account | half
regretted my impulsivcness, which
had cntailed upon me Il severe ordeal
But the thing was done, and l won't to
| work In good faith to carry out my
part of tho compact, having the salts
| faction OF feeling that l had acted
wholly y for the public good. The next
morning Ihc State contained a signed
editorial urging high license voters to
support Ellerbe, and each day until the
election the paper did its best for him
LII 1T changed aS many as 1900 votes
which would otherwise have gone tt
Feathcrstonc 1t ia responsible, | regret
to say, for his nomination.
l dad not see Gov. Ellerbo from tht
time | returned from Cuba until som,
three weeks after his nomination b,
the second primary. He had called a
me messages asking mo to visit him
80 L went one day to his ofllce at tho
State House. After an exchange o
clvllities he asked my opinion OF the
clause In tho State constitution per.
mitting the Issue OF licenses for the
sale OF liquor, saying that according to
that clause ali liquors sold under hig l.
license would have to be bought from
the State dispensary. l analysed the
section and showed that 1t could boar
no such Interpretation. He persisted
IN his claim, however, and l realized
that ho was trying to find loopholc
by which to escape the redemption OF
his pledge. This realization angercd
me so much that could hardly trust
myself to speak. l paced fuming up
and down tho executive chamber and
finally told him that | was in no mood
to be dnllied with In that fashion; tn at
III he intended to buncO me as several
newspapers had predicted he would do
he might rest assured that | would
publish the pledge and show up the
whole affair. Then | started out, but
as [ had my hand on the door-knOb he
called mo back and offered to leave the
| Interpretation Of the clause to any
lawyer L would select. J. proposed
Chief Justice McIvcr, but he objected.
| then suggested Mr.. II. W. Shand and
| Gen. LeROy f. Youmans, and he chose
Mr.. Shand and sal d he would submit
| the question to him. (Wecks after.
| ward | questioned MIR. Shand, and he
! told me that the Governor had not said
a word TO him about it,
The main issue then came up, after
somc talk, and Gov. Ellerbe bare
facedly denied that he had made any
agreement whatever. q had his letter
in my pocket at the time.) He at
tempted to unload the whole responsi-
bility on Weston and Neal saying he
had told them when he wrote the letter
that he had not changed his views,
was still for the dispcnsary and would
make no agreement. Assuming an air
OF virtuOus Indignation he said he
would send for them and make them
set him right. He mover did.) was
so disgusted that | again started tt
leave, saying would expose tho whole
affair and let him settle it with Nea
and Weston as he could {: but again ne
begged mo to come back, and then
leaving his scat and coming to my side
In front Of the west window at> hi,
right hand, he said "Don't get mad
let's talk this thing over quietly ant
see IL We cart compromise it," Ant
then he proposed to do precisely wha
he had promised and what had OK
pected--to urge the Legislature tt
pass an act permitting each county II
choose by ballot between prohibition
high license and tho dispenaary.