Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-09-21
MARTIN r. ANsEL.
Sketch of South caroIina's Governor
Elect.

mdTIln r. AnSel, WHO VIII DC lIlduB
urated next January as governor OF
South Carolina, was born in the city
of Charleston, the date being the 18th
Of December, 1850. He is Of German
descent. His father was John L. An
sci and belonged to a good and pros
porous family in Wurtenburg, Germa-
my Before coming to this country he
had received a thorough course OF
training in one Of the celebrated tech.
nical institutions Of that country and
had won the degree Of skilled master
mechanic. When he came to this coun-
try, he was still young man, and un-
married. Soon afterwards, however
he won as his bride Miss F'rederika
Bowers, a native German like himself
and a woman of extraordinary refine
ment and force of character
| The marriage of the parents Of the
newly elected governor was consum-
mated in Philadelphia. They did not
tarry there. however. From Philadel-
nhia they came to Charleston, and
here the future governor was born.
Later the young couple removed with
a party of friends and countrymen to
Walhalla. :. The home which they there
founded, and where the boyhood days
of young Martin were passed, is still
occupied by members of the family.
The close of the great struggle
which resulted in the overthrow OF
slavery found Martin F. Ansel lad of
fifteen. He had no opportunity to en-
Joy the benefits of collegiate edu-
ration. He was, it is true, for a time
member of the literary society of
Newberry college, but the education
which he received was the education
afforded by the public school at Wal
halla He Is today the firm friend of
the common school, and throughout
the campaign which has just resulted
In his sweeping victory at the polls
he has exalted above everything else
those institutions of learning to which
so large a proportion Of the youth of
South Carolina must look for their
preparation for life. Don't misunder-
stand. He Is firmly the friend Of
higher education, of the colleges Of the
state, and he ardently desires their
increased prosperity. but 1t is only
natural that he should have partic-
ularly tender place in his heart for
that class of schools which did so much
for him.
Mr. AnseI studied law under Major
James H. whitner. He had not yet
attained his majority when he was ad-
mitted to the practice of his chosen
profession. For nearly four years he
was located at Franklin, N. c., and
then he came to Greenville, in this
state, in January. 1870. He was ar
rayed with the forces led by the peer
less Hampton in the memorable cam
paign of that eventful year.
His political career may, however,
be said to have begun In 1882, with
his election to the legislature from
Grsenpille county. He was then thir-
ty-two years of age. He was re-elect-
ed to the house of representatives in
1884 and again in 1886. In each of
these years he headed the ticket in the
primary election. In 1888 he was
elected solicitor of the old Eighth ju-
dicial circuit He discharged the du-
ties of this highly responsible office
with marked fidelity, and the esteem
of the people who know him best, who
watched him narrowly, as all prose-
cutting attorneys are watched. while for
twelve long years he went in and out
among them, Is evidenced by the man
ner in which they cast their ballots
in both the primaries this year as we'll
as In the primary four years ago when
Mr. Ansel was first an aspirant for
gubernatorial honors. They showed
unmis stakably that they had full con-
fdence in him, and of this tribute Mr..
Ansel is justly proud.
Mr.. Ansel first ran for governor in
1902. In the primary that year he
lacked but few votes of being in the
second primary with Capt. D. Clinch
Hayward. The dispensary was not an
issue in that campaign, but Mr.. Ansel
two years ago committed himself as
favoring the idea Of local county op-
| tion in a letter to a prominent Meth
odist minister. A year ago he issued
an address to the Democratic voters
of the state in which he made public
this portion of his platform.
Mr.. Ansel's Platform.
Mr. Ansers platform, upon which he
sought the suffrages of South Carroll
ma, was as follows:
In the first place l stand for the
education of the youth Of our beloved
state. would not take one cent from
any of our institutions of higher edu-
cation in this state, but bic. them God
speed in the great work that they are
doing in preparing the young men and
women Of our commonwealth to fit
themselves for their life work. Still
1 stand for the advancement Of the
common schools Of the state. 1t Is In
these schools that 80 per cent Of the
boys and girls Of the state will re-
ceive all the schooling that they will
ever get, and as most Of the burdens
Of life will fall on this ninety per cent
let us prepare them, as best we can
for the battle Of life. Let us see to
II that the common schools are provid-
ed with the best teachers, the best
school houses and equipments and the
longest terms possible.
| In the second place, 1 advocate the
making of better roads in our state
the highways that 50 many Of oul
people are obliged to use to go tc
market, to church, to school and 9TH
er places. I maintain that the gener.
al government should appropriate
large sums Of money for this pur'
pose; with this and our convict labor
before many years. most of our road.
could be macadamized, and wher
this is done, the high tax that the
farmer now pays in the wear and
tear of his stock, his vehicles and
himself, in travelling over the pres
ent bad roads would be very much
lessened. 1 am glad to know tha'
some of the counties are doing
| oood u,orL olopp tbis line hut much