The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-01-19
ELLERBE's LOCAL OPTION.
EDITOR GONZALHS IN TROUBLE

ELLERBE'S LOCAL OPTION
EDIroR GoNzALKs IN rRoUBLIS
Tho Governor Did Not Keen Hi,
Promise and the Editor OF Tho State
| Denounces Him In Scathing Terms
In the interval before the second pri
mary last summer between Governo,
Ellerbe and Mr.. Featberstone, every
daily newspaper in South Carolina
with the exception OF the Columpit
State, supported Featherstono ant
| bitterly attacked Governor Ellerbe
There was such antagonlsm to the dis
persary system and to tho Governor
personally, 1t wac generally predicted
and believed that the votes of the other
candidates in the first primary would
go to Featherstone on the second and
nominate him.
The Columbia State was anti.d'spcn.
sary ana anti-prohibitiOn, aud had
| been for year supporting 4 mode OF
settlement by county option, between
high license, prohibition and tho State
dlspensary. On account of tho absence
OF Editor Gonzales in Cuba, The State
had not taken q very active part in the
campaign. A few days before the
second primary, In signed editorial,
1t came out for Governor Elierbe, pro.
missing the local option and license ad-
vocates that it would be to their inter.
est to support him. The second Dri-
mary resulted In scant majority for
Ellerbe. Efforts to draw an cxplaua-
tlon from the newspaper were unsuc,
cessful. 1t asked its friends to await
the meeting OF the Legislature.
When the Legislature convened and
Governor Ellerbe's message was read
1T suggested county option between the
dispensary and prohibition systems, but
with such conditions about voting for
prohibition rs to discourage the adop-
tion of the system. Tho message ig
nored high license altogether and
made long appeal for the matntcn.
ance and fortilicatiOn Of tho dispensary
system.
Editor Gonzales was 80 bitterly dis.
appointed at the outcome Of his nego-
tiatiOns with Governor Ellerbe that he
has made q full statement In regard to
the matter, claiming breach OF faith
on the part OF Ellerbe, and denouncing
him In the most scathing and unparlia.
mentary terms. The main portion OF
his statement Is as follows:
STATEMENT OF MIR. GONZALES.
/ arrived In Colum bia on the evening
OF September S, but tinding myself in
almost total ignorance OF what had hap
pencd In South Carolina an the world
since the middle of June ard being
somewhat "dazed " by @ return to
civilization, did not at once resume
my editorial work, intending to study
up week or two before t.ttem pting it.
On September T. however, the Spar
tanburg Herald made an attack on the
dispensary system and called on me to
join In the fight, and that night wrote
an editorial, which appeared next day
in The State, giving my "hearty assent
to the propositions so we'll put by the
Spartanburg Herald" but stating that
on account of my lack of information
as to the campaign, the pledges of the
alliances l would be compelled, with
regret to be bystander." In addition
to these stated reasons had two Others
~ Contrary to my instructions an
editorial mildly endorsing Gov. Ellerbe
had been printed in The State during
my absence, and it seemed to tie my
hands and ~ l was informed that Mr..
had pledged himself to
general prohibition and nothing but
that, circumstance that made me
even more hopeless OF the promotion
Of my local option plan through him
than through Gov. Ellerbe, because |
was sure Mr.. Featherstone would do
what he said and | was not sure that
Gov. Ellerbe would.
That afternoon, September 8, when
went to The State Office l found
note on my table from the cashier
stating that Mr.. Weston and Col. Neal
had been to the Office to see me and,
having failed to do 80, asked me to be
sure to meet them that night at Mr..
Weston's bank Office. | kept the ap-
pointment.
We talked for nearly an hour on in
different topics. Al last Col. Neal said
to me, slapping his knee:
We'll, let's come down now to bust.
ness. Nearly every papor In the State
Is jumping on the governor; he's pretty
badly worried and is very anxious for
you to help him out Can't you do it?"
replied that had told Gov. Ellerbe
all along that | would not support him
for denomination il he stuck to the dis
pansary, and he had stuck to it.
Mr.. Weston said "Tho simple fact
OF the matter Is that the Governor
feels he is obliged to have the support
OF The State, and we have asked you
hero to find out on what conditions you
will support him."
Without hesitation aud Or the spur
OF the moment replied: of he will
pledge himself to me in writing to
urge the Legislature to pass Local
option law, allowing each county tC
decide for itself between high license,
prohibition and the dispensary, / will
support him" This idea had beon with
me Tor year 1t had been the object o
all my effort the previous fall and
winter, and 1t came spontaneously tc
my lips. did not stop TO consider tho
price l might have to pay in public
misunderstanding OF my motives if he
should accept my terms.
Mr.. Weston looked at Col. Neal and
then So Id: II don't think there will
be much trouble about that do you
Colonel p And Col. Neal replied, tc
me: " | think he'll do it easy enough;
he's got to do 1t II you insist"
Mr.. Weston then asked me II q YER.
bal assurance would satisfy me. told
him no; there had been too much
question about Ellerbe's verbal assur.
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