The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-03-27
He tiled every position to which

1Ic Allcu V'oAS Po''ASA'Aa ~ "AA>A1
he vas called with such efficiency and
intelligent devotion that he seemed
exactly iitte] for eac|: particular
duty which the office Imposed upon
him.
is governors private secretary he
won the good will and commentator
of all whose business brought them
in touch with the chief executive s
office during Governor Evans term,
and he retained to the hour Of his
death the respect and admiration Of
his chief, whose opportunities for IN
innate knowledge Of him extended
through the years Of early manhood.
lie gave to the office Of magistrate
All air of dignity and impartial JUS
tice that earned and received the con-
tidcncc Of both races and men Of all
conditions within the limits Of his ju-
risdiction. The demands for juries
to try issues before him became few
er as the days Of his incumbency in
creased: for the innocent he had no
terrors. from the guilty came no re-
proach Of unfairness or injustice. He
left Spartanbure, after a compara-
lively brief term. with the confidence
Of al its Voo6 ritiZcnS
In the position Of secretary Of the
state executive committee he showed
extraordinary political sagacity and
the chairman Of the committee has
continuously borne testimony to his
invaluable ala rendered at times when
hard and skillful handling Of delicate
situations were demanded. In smooth
ing rough ways, in preventing threat
enel arrangements among friends
with developing rival aspirations, III
discouraging contests, in distinguish
inc the shadow from the substance
when the fire Of fractional passion
gave Pickering evidence Of breaking
into flame, in converting blind preju-
dice into enlightened friendship, he
proved himself, in the highest and
best sense, politician much beyond
his years.
When assistant attorney general,
which position was rendered to, and
never sought by him, he developed
unsupported legal ability. The official
opinions rendered by him, as assist
ant, fortunately permanently preserv-
ed among the states records, have
met the concurrence Of the bar OF the
state and are accepted by the officers
of the commonwealth as safe guide
and as settling the questions upon
which they we're given. The current
supreme court reports bear abundant
evidence Of his energy, research and
ability as lawyer The lanrented
Chief Justice McIver, on meeting the
then attorney general at the door OF
the supreme court immediately after
an argument by Mr., Gumter, said with
much warm sincerity, Mr.. Belllnger,
I wish to congratulate you and the
state upon your selection of assistant
attorney general. He shows wonder
full capacity for discriminating work
and is a man Of great promise. He
always has the attention OF the court
and we listen to him with great pleas
ure." Extraordinary the man to
earn such opinion, happy to win such
praise. +:
From the time he assumed the du-
ties Of the Office Of attorney general
until disease dragged him from his
desk, he was faithfully, cheerfu}ly, ad-
mirably doing his work and his duty
to the state, growing daily in moral
force and mental strength. His fel-
low-state officers had Implicit conn.,
dence in his legal knowledge and IN
(that rare quality his intellectual
honesty, and acted always unheslta!:
tingly upon his advice, however at va
rance with their preconceived opin:::! :!
ions: 1t is not partiality that prompts
the statement that in the death OF
I. X: Gunter, Jr., the state will suf-
fer distincsaoss. He was ambitious,
but not selfshly so: for his. state. his
heart beat with loving pride; in ev-
cry impulse he was a citizen first ana
a partizan only when consistent With
the highest sense. Of citizenship with
quiet dignity clothed an unalterable
purpose along right lines. This state
has never had too many such men at
anv one time, and there is always