The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-08-11
THE MOBLEY AFFAIR.""

awe have unfortunately misplaced the
COPY of the Bamberg Herald containing
an editorial comment on The States at
titude concerning certain phase in the
campaign for railroad commissioner. We
intended to reproduce the comment, but
the substance of it will answer the purpose
Our contemporary paid tribute to The
States constant fight for good govern:
{ ment and good morals in public office and
then expressed deep regret at our silence
on what it termed the Mobley affair. 1t
apprehended grave danger and had hoped
The State would have thrown itself in the
breach and attacked the enemy. Instead
it has marked with astonishment our ST.
lence.
"The State does not feel conscience.
stricken. No duty has been neglected.
As We remember, one of the candidates
for railroad commissioner intimated that
Mr.. Mobley, another candidate for that
Office, was receiving the support of the
dispensary. This Mr.. Mobley denied and
demanded the proof. A letter written to
a dispensary employe in Greenville by
relative of Candidate Mobley who is an
employe in the dispensary at Columbia
was submitted. The latter was non official
and had the appearance Of being sent by
one friend to another. Candidate Moblcy
stated publicly that the writer was rela-
tive and was legitimately interesting him.
self in behalf of his kinsman.
"That is all The State has heard of the
matter. There was nothing there TO indi-
cate the interference of the dispensary in
politics. If The Herald has further infor.
nation on this subject it should furnish it
to the public; if any candidate for railroad
commissioner can show that the dispen-
sary is being used in behalf of Mr. Mobley
OF any one else, we will be found assist
ing the exposure and using what influence
we have against such species of corrup-
ton. Neither personal preference nor
friendship would have influence with The
State under such conditions. .'-Columbia
State.
Our contemporary is rather obtuse.
Many persons who had no interest in the
matter, other than that of good govern
ment, have, we think, rightly inferred
from reading of the Mobley circular
letter that it was an attempt to use the
influence of dispensary officials in poll
tics, for the reason that it was written by
the head book-keeper in the State dispen-
sary to beer dispenser and asked him to
take care of candidate at the polls on
election day. This was certainly asking
that dispenser get out and be a political
"heeler" at the polls, something which is
forbidden by the State Commissioner and
the law, too, we believe. However, this
letter was not only sent to lone friend by
another" but we know that these circulars
have been sent to dispensers in other
counties who are not personal friends Of
book-kee2er Mobley. Possibly they have
been sent to dispensary officials all over
the State, and our information leads US to
believe that such is the case. Certainly
many dispensers in this section have re-
ceiYed them, and if this is not using the
dispensary influence in politics, then we
confess we don't know what it is. Will
The State still contend, in the face of
these facts, that there twas nothing to in
dicate the interference of the dispensary
in politics." We commend to its careful
reading the last paragraph Of the letter.