The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-01-11
POLITICAL MICROBES AT WORK.

c. Allen, a discharged employee OF
the State peuitentiary, to make an at
tack upon Colonel Neal. Instead OF
the charges made by Allen inJunng
Neal, the effect should. be the reverse,
because there is nothing in Aliens
charges but the same old stuff that
Willoughby attempted to use as point
ical capital in '96, and which was thor
oughly investigated by court OF ln-
quiry where this same Allen testified
From his testimony and the admls-
sions of the prosecutor Willoughoy,
The committee was forced to make
report which should appeal to every
mans sense of justice and give Col
onel Neal that credit which a thor
ough investigation of the books and
the Institution entitle him. Those
who remember the pitiful exhibition
this man Allen made OF himself dur
ing that investigation, could not help
seeing the animus which was actu-
ating him at the time, and further
many believe it was an attempt at
blackmail.
Colonel Neal has never shirked an
investigation, and whenever any crit
icism of his official acts reached his
ears, be was the first to ask for an IN
vestigation. lis plain that the re-
vamping of the Willoughby charges
by Allen just at this time is for the
purpose of helping the opposition to
Neal, who, like all men in public OF
fee, will have opponents; if for nc
other reason. the Office pays good
salary. But without regarding the re-
suit of the election, we cannot believe
such attacks upon the character OF a
faithful Official and gentleman, will
amount to anything when made by a
man discharged from employment for
serious cause. We believe Colonel
Neal will be his own successor, as he
should be, if merit and q faithful per-
formance Of duty is to be considered.
The only charge having semoIance
of truth that we have heard brought
against Neal, is that he is too active
in politics for his friends, and this was
never said until he was entrusted with
J.L. McLaurin's Senatorial campaign,
which, everybody knows, resulted sue
cessfully. This was an unpardonable
sin with that class of politicians op-
posed to McLaurin, and ever since,
they have been scheming, wire-pulE-
ing and manipulating to compass his
defeat. Neal could today, kick the
bottom out of his opposition and have
most of his opponents retired, II ne
will give his word to certain political
microbes that he viii give them his ac-
tive support in the next election; they
know Meals word is as good as his
bond, and promise from him is a
certainty. But Colonel Neal will not
sell his manhood tor Office, and he
would rather have the opposition dou-
bled than make promises which would
mean nothing more or less, than a
Stacking of himself to do the bidding
of men whose carecrin public life, has
not brought credit to themselves or
the State.
The penitentiary is an institution
requiring at its head man of busi-
ness ability, a man with humane
heart, and disciplinarian In Col
onel Neal, the RECORDS show after sew
eral careful Investigations manage
ment, second to no institution in the
State. There have been great I'M
proyements and additional property
purchased without an appropriation;
on the other hanG, he has made money
snd turned it into the State treasury.
The healthy condition OF the convicts
show the watchful care he has been
keeping over the sanitary arrange
ments and the reduced mortality, is
convincing proof of his humane care
for the unfortunates under his charge.
Besides his keeping the convicts clean
and healthy, the record OF profits
turned into the treasury show be has
accomplished more work than any OF
his predecessors. As disciplinarian
we doubt if Colonel Neal has su-
perior in the State; he is kind but
positive, and any infractions upon the
rules is Immediately handled. He
is by nature a leader Of men, and the
force under him, while they do not
fear him, have such a high personal
regard shat all of them aid him in
maintaining the strict discipline SC
necessary at such vast institution.
We say that we believe Colone.
Neal will be his own successor, be-
cause we have an abiding faith i'll the
eo.,,S ;.,.los..,nnA oE tla Eanaral ! 6.