Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1899-01-12
/ yYALHALLA, s. 6. ! a
I! TMURsDAK, JAN. ~, 1SOG. {
The Governof,s Message.

mitted to the General Assembly Tuesday
afternoon, soon after the Senate and
House had organized. 1t Is brief docu-
ment as compared with former messages
of late years, and this is ono redeeming
feature. Many of his ideas, suggestions
anu Recommendations are timely and
proper Tho dispensary, however, is
again given prominent placo in the pic
ture. and Is evidently still his '"pet"
measure. Briefly epitomized, tho mos
sage contains a review of the finances OF
tho State, which. ''are still in an unsatis-
factory condition." and contains many
suggestions for tho consideration of the
law-makers, touching tho ponal, charit-
able and educational institutions of the
State, tho "order and duration of Courts, :"
the suppression of lynch law, tho presor-
walton Of tho Confederate records, tho
regulation of the pension sYstem, tho
holding of biennial sessions of the Leg
islaturo, the care of tho public health
and the administration of tho dispensary
law.
He urges biennial sessions Of the Leg
islaturo; that the history of South Caro-
lina's part in the Civil war DO written to
accompany tho Confederate rolls, which
have been comploted; that lynching
should be suppressed, and tho counties
required to pay $1,000 for ovory victim
slain by mob; that all moneys paid to
State colleges be directly appropriated
by the Legislature; that tho appropria-
tinn FOR (InnfpAnrntn nnpc;pnnrc 1,n
duced one-half and the list bo purgod of
all unworthy boneficiarics; that a ro-
formarory' FOR youthful criminals be
ostablished; that iiboral appropriation
be made for the State Board of Health.
> ALI the foregoing suggestions arc on
the right line, except it be the reduction
of one-half of tho amount heretofore
given to the support of MANNED Confcdc-
rate soldiers, and his suggestion to make
Counties pay $1,000 to tho family of II
victim lynched by a mob. We are op-
posed to lynch law in principle, but sec
no sense or reason for making rich tho
family Of villain who ravishes II whito
woman, because he happens to bo over
takon by tho swift vengeance of tho mob.
Tho method is cheap form of dcmagog-
CRY, and will never go down with our
people.
The dispensary is still tho bone of con-
tention. Governor Ellerbc suggests the
question of dsponsary or prohibition
may be submitted to tho voters of each
county in tho State, as local option
measure, but he has imposed so many
conditions and burdens on any county
voting for prohibition as to render pro-
hibition impossible. In short, he makes
strong argument for tho dispensary,
and against prohibition, while ho attempts
to pose as local optionist. But tho sub
torfuge is too patent to fool any ono.
Mr.. N. G. Gonzales, in q lengthy edito-
rial over his own signature in the State,
OF tho 18th instant, gives Gov. Ellerbo q
terrible oxcoriation for duplicity in his
campaign pledges. 1t will DO recalled
that just before tho second Democratic
primary in September, tho State advo-
Gated tho denomination of Gov. Ellorbo.
Those who thought with tho State
were surprised at it's course, and called
on it for an explanation. This the
State declined to give at tho time, but
promised future explanation. 1t now
appears that tho State has been buncoed,
and Editor Gonzales publishes in full
the interview, and, also gives tho written
pledge of Gov. Ellerbe, signed on Sop
temner 6til, 1865. Upon agreement of
tho parties the letter was addressed to
Mr.. Frank II. Weston, of Columbia, and
Is as follows:
State of South Carolina,
Executive Chamber.
COLUMBIA, s. c., Sept s, 1903.
(Contidential)
DEAR FRANK: In reply to your inquiry,
Will say, fully concur in your Wow as to
the best solution of tho liquor question.
After mingling with tho people for three
months, aHd thorough consideration,
have ION" 20 the conclusion that the dis
pensary ACT should bo amended so as to
allow each county to settle tho liquor
question for itsolf, and have determined
to make such Recommendation to tho
General Assembly. Your frond
w. III. ELIERBE.
TO Mr.. f. III. Weston.
1t was well-known that Mr.. Weston
agreed with Mr. Gonzales and was an
advocate of local option for choice by
the counties between high license, pro-
hibition and dispensary. At tho time
this pledge was given tho contest be-
tween Ellerbe and Feathcrstono was
close, and it looked like Fcathorstone
would bo elected. In this extremity
Gov. Ellerbe. through his friends, sought
tho support of tho State, and it is prOba-
bio that by this course enough voters
were influenced to secure tho rcnomina-
ton of Gov. Ellorbc. A change of
1900 votes would have elected Mr..
Featherstone.
Unless Governor Ellorbo can refuto
these charges, he has paid u high prlco
for his victory Mt tho polls. Tho resort
to such subtle subterfuges will ovcntuate
In tho downfa' of any man, and it will
work his undoing
This furnishes ono moro striking ex-
ample of the corrupting influences of
the Stato's rum business on politics.
Several conspicuous victims have hereto
fore fallen by the way, and many more
are suro to follow, until the State admin
istration washes it's hands of this nofa-
riOus business. 1t i8 pity that so
many otherwise good men arc ontrapped.
d If Gov. Ellcrbe should be Inconsistent
and insincere in his recommendations on
tho liquor question, then a suspicion
must attach to all the other laudablc
policies advocated in his message Fu-
ture Developments are awaited with
interest.
-e...es.s.-eH-s "ees--.e...es.ss.-eH-s..- -.
Gen. Wheeler Loses Scat In Congress.
The House Judiciary Committee has