The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-01-26
GOV. RLLERBR BEARD FROM.
THE GONZALES oRARaE DENIED
Statement Made by Friends OF tho
Governor and an Entirely New
Light Thrown on the Matter.

/. y
Governor and an Entirely How
Light Thrown on the Matter.
L. Larry CAN'T in Evening Star.
Ia regard to the Ellerbe. .Gonva,es
matter, we will state that tho reason
Gov. Ellerbe has not given his side is
that one Of his principal witnesses.
Col. w. A. Neal, has been confined to
his bed with o serious attack OF sick.
ness, and even his most intimate
friends could not see him. In fact, all
the newspapers have been kept from
COY. Neal, and he knows very little
about the controversy.
Bere are tho facts in, that matter,
which we did not got from Gov. El.
lerbe, bu! from a gen tleman who knows
what he is talking about:
Even before the first primary, and
while Mr.. Gonzales was In Cuba, Gov.
Ellerbe stated to Mr.. w. D. Evans, and
other gentlemen, that he believed that
the people should be given the right to
vote on the dispensary or prohibition.
SO far as high license is concerned, he
believed that II the State sold LIQUOR,
tho State should control the business,
| and not delegate the power to outside
parties.
Some OF Gov. Ellerbe's enthusiastic
friends were anxious that he should
secure the support Of the Columbia
tested against this, and said that Mr..
Gonzales would drive more votes from
him than he could possibly bring to
him.
That Weston letter was written un-
der the following circumstances
Mr.. Frank Weston was in his bank
Office one night, when Col, Neal and
Mr.. Gonzales came in together. Mr..
Gonzales was walking up and down the
hoor, In an excited manner, describing
his. experiences in Cuba, and telling
how the Mauser bullets would whist 9
around his ears. After dilating some
timo on his war experiences, Uol. Neal
| remarked to Mr.. Gonzales
Let up on Cuba awhile; sit down
here, and we'll talk business"
Col. Neal then went on to explain
that Gov, Ellerbo was being bitterly
fought on every side, and had not o
single daily paper in the State to de.
fond him. He wanted to know II Mr..
Gonzales could not be induced to cham
pion the cause Of Gov. Ellerbe? ? The
reply was that ifhGov. Ellerbe would
promise to use his influence to let the
written pledge to that effect, The State
would support him, and under no other
conditions. Mr.. Weston was asked
to sound Gov. Ellerbe on this PROPOSE
tion.
The next day he called at the Capt.
tOl and found the Governor in bis
office. Mr.. Weston explained the po-
litical situation to Gov. Ellerbe, and
that ne WAS In serious danger of de-
feat. Mr.. Weston then told Gov. FL
lerbe that 1t was important that he
oh ho 1oil l. l. Il
and explained the conditions under
which Mr.. Gonzales would support
him.
The demands made by the editor OF
The State incensed Gov. Ellerbe very
much, and he answered Mr.. Weston as
follows:
Tell Gonzales that l say he can 60
to the devil with both his papor and
his demands for 1 don't intend that he
shall dictate to me. If Gonzales can
not support me from gratitude, after I
ment l old, he can let 1t alone and come
out for Featherstone and want you
to tell him 80 for me-"
sin fact" continued the Governor.
"some Of my friends think that my
election hinges on getting the Colum-
bia State to support me, when l have
always contended and believed that N.
G. Gonzales would do me more harm,
than good. 1t has already been charged
that have made deal with The
State, and I don't intend to secure
man or set of men," ::-
Mr.. Weston then went on to explain
to Gov. Ellerbe that 1t was not neces-
sary to make any written pledge to
Mr.. Gonzales, or go into any deal !; that
the Governor had frequently declared
to himself and other friends, that he
believed in letting the people settle
the liquor question among themselves,
and there was nothing wrong in put
ting down In black and white a posi-.
tion he bad already maintained by
word Of mouth that II he believed the
people had the requisite intelligence
to e.-ct Governor, they also had In
telligence enough tU Gettle the liquor
Issue. -,
DIR. Weston stated to Gov. Hlerbe
that he could address the letter to him
self and mark it "personal :" that he
was going to Charleston and wanted
to show that letter to some Of Gov.
Ellerbe's friends, down there, as It
would strengthen their bands. With
great reluctance Gov. Ellerbe ut last
consented to write that letter, but pro-
tested to tho last that the open support
"
his chances, and he didn't want it.
Whom the Governor states that his
views on the dfspenssry accord with
Mr.. Weston's, 1t will be remembered
that Mr.. Weston, in his first speech
during the county campaign, stated
t hat his own views had undergone a
change In regard to the dispensary,
and that he was not fighting the law.
So it will be seen that Gov. Ellerbe
did not sacrifice any principle in the
opening paragraph Of the Weston
letter.
OF course we do not report the
words OF the principals in this contro-
versy, but simply give facts collected
during our visit to Columbi from an
authentic and reliable source; and
when Gov. Ellerbs ard his side have
been heard from, the public will find
our report correct. ..-
This places an entirely new construc-
tion on that reported deal, and shows
Governor Ellerbe up in q favorable