Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-02-26
NOT A JOB HUNTER.
To Neiis Christensen Virtue Carries
Its Own Reward.

Its Own Reward.
Several days ago. says the Columbia
correspondent Of the News and Cou-
rier. the Columbia Record, which Is
the chief mourner at the funeral Of the
state dispensary, published local ar
ticle and also an editorial, intimating
that Governor Ansel would appoint and
should appoint as dispensary auditor,
under the Carey Cothran act, Senator
Neils Christensen, Jr., Of Beaufort, who
was one Of the hardest workers Tor the
Carey Cothran bill and one OF the
most determined opponents OF the state
dispensary system, one who has done
as much as any one else to bring
about it's downfall. \
The friends of Senator Christensen
were very much surprised by these ar
ticles. and none more so than Cover
nor Ansel. The first suggestion Of Mr..
Christensen in this connection. which
had been made to the governor, was
the query Of the Record the day the
articles were published. This corre-
spondent wired Senator Christensen for
his reply to the articles and the fol-
lowing has been received:
Senator Christensen's Letter.
Beaufort, S. c., February %, 1907.
The use Of my name by the Record
In connection with the dispensary au-
ditorship is unauthorized, unwarranted
and preposterous. have not had
training as an auditor.
1t has been permitted to me by an
overruling Providence to be one OF the
instruments in the overturning OF the
former state dispensary for which l
am deeply grateful, but the satisfac-
ton in the task springs largely from
the fact that It was undertaken and
finished at a personal sacrifice and
without hope Of reward.
For two years I have given most or
my time and energy to the investlga-
tion of the former state dispensary.
The compensation allowed was "a per
day and five cents per mileage, all or
which barely covered travelling and llv-
ing expenses. Moreover the appropri-
ations made by the Legislature to car
ry on these Investigations were so In
adequate that they would have failed.
in very large measure. If I had not
guaranteed. over the signature OF the
firm Of which I am a member. 10 be
responsible for the payment OF bills
aggregating several thousands or dol
lars
I cannot bring myself now to accept
any office that might be construed TO
be a reward. If / were peculiarly mt
ted for this work and the SITUATION
seemed to demand my services. as an
other situation plainly demanded the
services Of my co-worker, I would ac-
cept despite the fact that 1t Is dis
tasteful. There are many skilled audi
tors in this state. I am not one.
Worked Unselfishly.
Mr.. Christensen is a member OF the
firm Of Neils Christensen & Sons, OF
Beaufort, who are among the largest
concerns in that portion Of the state,
and Mr.. Christensen neglected his per-
sonal business to spend large portion
of his time on the work Of the invest1-
eating committee. Not only that, but
he obligated himself and his firm for
the payment Of the bills of the Pinker-
ton detective agency for service rem
dered to the committee and a sworn
statement to this effect appears In the
report to the legislature. Mr.. Christen-
sen has good nerve, as was shown In
his work on that committee, and his
friends remarked on it again when he
was told one night few weeks ago
that his firm had lost about 100000 In
the big fire at Beaufort, and he never
changed countenance; he kept at his
work in the senate and did not go home
until the legislature had adjourned, af-
ter killing the dispensary. He Is not
a job hunter and does not need to be.