The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-10-15
TWICE A WEEK. 81. so A YEAR
Ansel and His Work.
News and Courier.

news anu CCuileT.
eff Governor Ansel desires to suc-
ceed himself, he can do so without
doubt, and he would then receive
any increase (in salary provided by
the legislature,) but if he prefers to
heed the request Of some Of his
friends there will be plenty Of
candidates for governor, even with
the salary at $4,000 as at present"
The quotation is from Mr.. Hoyt's
Columbia letter printed in the News
and Courier yesterday.
An excellent compliment to gover-
nor Ansel that friends urge him to be
a candidate for the United States
Senate; but the work Of Governor
Ansel in his present Office is not yet
; done and will not be done in another
year. Governor Ansel's election was
a vindication Of the local option prin-
eiple and that principle is now
threatened. ''I am in favor Of Local
County Option, between County Pro-
hibition and county dispensaries.'' -
So reads the platform on which he
went into Office and holds the Office
now; and "let each county say for it.
self whether it desires that liquor
shall be sold in that county, or that
it shall not be sold therein" it con-
tinues. At the moment Prohibition
leaders are forming in column to
press for state prohibition, the de-
struction of the local county option
principle, the overriding Of the wish
es Of the people Of Bamberg, Aiken,
Charleston, Beaufort, Barnwell and
! other counties that voted for Ansel
and which look to him for leader
ship in resisting the new assault that
menaces them.
In his message to the General As
sembly Governor Ansel is expected
to speak plainly and strongly, advis-
ing that the existing local option
plan be given fair trial. urging
taat another period Of upheayal be
not forced upon the state, that there
be no early renewal Of the whiskey
pandemonium in South Carolina. For
the Governor to retire now would be
to retire under fire, abandoning his
principles diseredited to the enemy.
Local option is one thing, state pro-
hibition is another and the two are
no more reconcilable than are prohi-
bition and nigh license. If the Gen.
eral Assembly should enact 4 prohi.
bition law, it would be reputation
and defeat for the Ansel plan; if it
do not enact it, the struggle Will go
on and Governor Ansel must stand
to his guns in the next campaign. In
such circumstances to whom and up
on what could he appealfor election
to any other Office than that Of gov
ernor, having served single term
Of two years? There are times when
! the acceptance Of second term IS
not so much pleasure as it is a duty:
This is one Of them.
Let US then hear no more Of the
governor as candidate for the SEN
ate. However intended, it is not
helpful to his usefulness or his repu-
tation. No necessity and no excuse
offer for a furious, disturbing and
upsetting campaign for governor in
1908. We do not believe for NOM
ent that Governor Ansel would bring
! it on. His administration so far has
been wise and beneficial. We may
not approve nis every individual act
or policy, some, indeed, we cannot
commend, but the people are salts
fed that a firm hand is at the helm
and that a prudent, honest and dis
interested man is in the executive Of
flee, determined to do his Hty. A
change next year would hurry the
state upon confusion and political
disorder.
Uncommon moral courage is dis
played by the governor in declaring
that the gubernatorial salary should
be increased. The truth Of what he
says every informed man knows, but
many a governor would fear to glva
it utterance. With salary Of S3,-
900, poor man with family is de.
barred from accepting the office OF
governor of South Carolina, unless
he be willing to choose between mig
gardly living or bankruptcy.