The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-01-18
ELLERBE SCORED
BY N. C. Gonzales, Editor of the
Columbia State.

Columbia State.
SAYS He WAS BUNcOED.
The Story Of the Famous Local
Option Deal Between the Editor
of The State and the
Governor.
In a signed editorial in The Columbia
State Wednesday morning, Mr.. \. G.
Gonzales, editor of the State. exposes
the history Of the deal between himself
and Gov. Ellerbe for conversion Of the
Governor to policy Of local option for
liquor control, and the Governors fail
ure to keep his promise. After explain
ing his failure in 1897 to induce the
Governor to accepta local option policy,
which failure he attributes to the inhu
ence of Senator Tillman, he comes to
the campaign of last summer and re-
lates as follows:
This afternoon, September 8, when l
went to The State office found note
on my table from the cashier stating
that Mr. Weston and Col. Neal had
been to see me and, having failed to do
so, asked me to be sure to meet them
that night at Mr.. Weston's bank Office.
l kept the appointment.
Wetalked for nearly an hour on indif-
ferent topics. At last Col. Neal said to
me, slappiug his knees:
well, let's come down nov to bust
ness. Nearly every paper in the State
is jumping on the Governor; he's pref
ty badly worried and is very anxious
for you to help him out. Can't you do
it?'
replied that l had told Gov. Eller-
be ali along that l would not support
him for denomination if he stuck to the
dispensary, and he had stuck to it.
Mr.. Weston said: The simple fact
of the matter is that the Governor feels
that he is obliged to have the support
of The State. and we have asked you
here to find out on what conditions you
will support him. .
Without hesitation and on the spur
of the moment l replied: 'If he will
pledge himself to me in writing to urge
the Legislature to pass local option
law, allowing each county to decide for
itself between high license, prohibition
and the dispensary, will support
him." This idea had been with me for
a year; it had been the object of all my
effort The previous Il and winter. and
it came spontaneously to my lips. |
did not stop to consider the price |
might have to pay in public misunder.
standing of my motives if he should
accept.
Mr.. Weston looked at Col. Neal and
then said: L don't think there will be
much trouble about that; do you, Col
onel?" And Col. Neal replied, to me:
Il think he'll do it easy enough; he's
got to do it if you insist.
Mr.. Weston then asked me if a verbal
assurance would satisfy me. | told him
no; there had been 100 much question
about Ellerbe's verbal assurances al
ready; l must have it in black and
white for my own protection-but he
could tell the Governor that would
not show the pledge to anybody unless
he failed to observe it, in which case l
would. Then Mr. Weston asked:
Would you object to having the letter
addressed to me? am going to Char.
lesion to try and help the Governor
down there and l would like to be able
to show it to some of the politicians. !"
I answered that I would not object to
that. but that after he had used it in
Charleston I must have the custody OF
the paper.
The conference broke up with their
assurance that they would see the Gov
ernor next day and bring me his an
swer,
The next day, Friday, September 9,
Mr.. Weston came to my room and hand
ed me an envelope bearing tle familiar
engraved lettering, estate of South Car.
olina. Executive Chamber, Columbia, y"
and addressed: ''Mr. F. Fl. Weston
Columbia, S. c., Personal, " opening
it read:
State Of South Carolina,
Executive Chamber,
Columbia, S. c., Sept. s, 1898.
(Confdential.)
Dear Frank: IL reply to your inqul-
~, will say fully concur in your
view as to the best solution Of the
liouor question. After mingling with
the people for three months and thor
ough consideration [ have come to the
conclusion that the dispensary act
should be amended so as to allow each
county to settle the liquor question for
itself, and have determined to make
such recommendation to the next Gen
eral Assembly. Your friend.
w. H. Ellerbe.
To Mr.. F. H. Weston.
All of this except the printed caption
and date line was in Gov. Ellerbes S
handwriting. The date was wrong
one day behind hand.
1t was not as precise pledge as |
would have dictated, but whatever OF
vagucness there might be in the phrase
:'allow each county to settle he liquor
question for itself" was Offset by the
initial statement, Il fully concur in
your view as to the best solution OF the
liquor question" knew, and it was
matter Of public knowledge and re-
cord, that Mr.. Westons view" was
the same as my own; that he favored
county choice between the dispensary,;
high license aud prohibition. While l
di1 not have apy confidence In Gov.