The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-10-26

the mon whom he has been maligning
to defer conclusion as to his state.
ments until further and contradic-
tory assertion should be made. 1t has
given me, personally, and the others
whose fate 1t had been to incur his
malice, pleasure to know that this con-
tidence has not been unfounded.
1t has been my policy since have
been q member Of the board of control,
and it has been that of my two col.
leagues, whom the X-clerk of the X
commissioner designates as the major
lty faction OF that body, to give to the
details OF dispensary management the
widest publicity. The dispensary is
the peoples institution, its manage
ment is their business, and they of
right are entitled to such information
as will convince them, ard keep them
convinced, that 1t is honestly and COM
petently conducted. We do not at
tempt to deny that 1t offers temptation
to the dishonest who may secure place
and position In 1t, and have long re-
allied that Its best safeg uard and
surest protection against the thief and
the rebate -taker ia an open board meet
Ing and the full glare of the public
eye into Its tnnermost workings.
A realization Of this fact, and of the
further fact that the best way and the
only way to purify 1t, rests in this
publicity, prompted the majority OF
the board to give the facts elicitod by
the recent Investigating committee to
the public In all their details, instead
OF attempting to cover up and to cure
the defects laid bare therein within
secret board meeting. Whether the
facts developed warranted the suspen-
sion Of Mr.. Douthit, the public can de-
I hnl hot ho Io ~ g.,
published are sufficient reply to any
suggestion that tho removal of the
commissioner was due to any factional
feeling In the board. Until these af1-
davits brought to light condition OF
affairs which surprised US, Mr.. Dou-
thit was In hearty accord and had the
unreserved support OF q majority of
the board of control, and would have
1t today but for these facts. believe
that he has been given consideration
that he does not deserve, in view of
them, and am astounded that two of
my colleagues On the board OF control
can strive to keep him In the position
of commissioner.
Shipping Clerk Black, in calling
some OF the facts elioited to our atten-
tion (specitic instances OF mismanage-
mont affecting the efficient discharge
Of the position he held) was protected
by the board In thus comrsgecus!y
doing his duty, and would have been
protected. 1t matters not upon whom
his charges reflected.
But, unlike Black, 80 long as Outzs
held his job, he had nothing to report
to the board, although he knew that
three out OF the five had recently
voted to retain him in his place, while
the other two acquiesced because it
couldn't be helped, and hence would
protect him although, like Josephus
Woodruff, he kept his little note book,
eavesdropping the conversation and
and supposed dishonesty of Commits
sioner Vance, to whopo he held the po-
sition of confidential clerk. The facil.
ity with which dates and incidents are
quoted is astonishing, and the fact that
they were taken at all at time when
Commissioner Vance was befrtending
him daily, and on two occasions saved
him from dismissal, Is equally aston
iehing to any fairly honest man. But
the contemplate Ramsey Sniffies, who
was beguiling himself into MIR. Vance's
confidence, knew, or thought he knew,
how to play his game. He judged
other mon like unto himself, and
doubtless fondly cherished his little
j
such good stead, to blackmail his posi-
| tion back again, whenever he should
be ousted for either of his failings, in
competency or dishonesty. OF these
fatlings, the former OF course had Ions
been known to us, and the latter w,
had good reason to suspect, but un
fortunately gave him the 5saeS5 O. ths
doubt and retained him as q courtes,
to a member OF the board Of contro
who lived in the county from which he
came, and to preserve If we could har
mony In the board, as we knew his dis
missal would enrage two members O
the board who were tied to him By
some bonds we were unable to com
prehend.
That blackmail was contemplated by
him and relied on, is plainly shown by
the threat, which he even went so fal
as to give to the newspapers, that he
would lay bare certain inside history
II his suspension were maze permanent
1t will be noted by the public that he
did not "blow of his mouth" Ia hit
own classic language, until the board
Of control had invited him to 1t by
making his suspension permanent-f
very good evidence that the authorities
there did not fear Its production.
That they, or any Of the gentlemer
whom he has 80 maliciously maligned
and slandered had no cause to fe ar hi
revelations will be indisputably showr
to the public in due season. That the
worst that he knows has not yet beer
told by him, as he says, it is easy to be
lieve, from our knowledge CT him, ant
Of the opportunities for stoalage which
he has enjoy ed during the six years h
has been connected with the dispensary
} but we are equally certain that 1t vii
not be given to the public--at least b.
QUITS. The public is not asked to TAX
our word even for the statement tha
from Investigations which have beer
made of the so.called charges OF thi
man, are not only absolutely groundles
! but are outrageous lies, with O. thi
veneering Of truth In minor particu
lars only sufficient to give them pla Isl
! bllity. A large majority OF these as
sertions must have been known t
| Nn,to 70 u uo baan foloo xubo., l. - 80 a,