The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-01-18

tlSeMeNI.
Entered at the Post Office at Manning "s
Second-Class Matter.
THE EGoNzALEzE.ELLERBETURAoL
The newpapers and the politicians
for the past week have been thrown Nv
into a considerable turmoil by the
severe comments on the alleged deal
between Governor Ellerbe and Edi-
tor Gonzales of the Columbia State
We think the affair most unfortunate
and there has been more fuss k'cSeo
up over it than was necessary; 1t for-
nished the opposition to the dlspen-
sary, material upon which to build
prejudice.
Some Of those with whom we came
in contact condemn Governor Elleroe
for being so shors-sighted as to allow
himself placed in position OF being
accused Of dickering with known op-
ponents of the dispensary law, while
others believe that the Governor has
been the victim OF misplaced conf
dence. Many friends Of the dispen'
sorr fool there was a premeditated
plot to entrap the Governor and weak
en- his influence with the present Leg
islature. Then there are others who
claim it was a game OF politics upon
the principle of lighting the devil
with fire."
We have read with care that por-
ton OF the Governors message which
Editor Gonzales claims was violation
OF q promise made, and which mas
brought about all Of this terrible ar
raignment, and for the life OF us we
cannot see wherein Governor EIleroe
has violated the promise, II he maze
one. The letter IRON the Governor
to Mr.. Weston that was marked con
Hdentiar and which Editor Gonzales
submits as proof, does not make any
promise which was not contained ID
the message. In that letter to Mr.
Weston be says, 81 concur with
your views upon the liquor question.
The Governor in his message RECON-
mends that the liquor question be
submitted 10 the people. What IS
the ssliquor question:" The constitu-
ton has killed the barroom system,
but has left open the right for the
people to say in the future whether
they would have the dispensary, pro-
hibition or high license. Governor
Ellerbe in all of his utterances advo-
Gated the dispensary system, and IN
his message he recommends, the Il
quor question to be submitted to the
people for settlement; and where a
county votes prohibition, that county
should be deprived Of any OF the IL
quor revenues and be required to en-
force the execution of the law at It's
own expense.
Editor Gonzales claims the Gov
ernor promised to recommend "high
license" The Weston letter does not
say so; it says, Il concur with your
views upon the liquor question" The
whole thing hinges upon Heston,s
views as expressed to Governor Eher-
be in private. We do not know what
MIR. Weston's views were, but we have
always regarded him friendly to the
dispensary system but desiring to
have the question submitted to the
people for settlement and put stop
to the constant discussion. If the
private conversations between Gov
ernor EIlerbe and his friend, Mr..
Weston, brought about a promise to
recommend high license, the promise
was not made in words, but in effect
it was, because when he recommend
ed the submission, the general assem-
bly, could say dispensary, prohibition,
or high license, and would do SO, even
without a recommendation, if it saw
fit. But if the Governor made the
promise and By it Mr.. Weston secur-
ed the support of Mr.. Gonzales, he
should have carried it out and his not
having done so was a mistake. II
will be remembered that the Cover,
nor can only make suggestions to the
General Assembly, and it is for this
law-making body to say whether the
Governors suggestions shall be enact
ed into law. If this we're not so, the
Legislature would be a useless branch
of the government.
The only difference we can see be-
tween the recommendations of the
Governor and what Mr.. Gorzale:
claims is that the words "high i
cense" were not Incorporated in the
message, but the fact OF the Governor