The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-02-12
State Dispensafy System
Has Passed AWay.
GOV. ANSEL REMOVES
DISPENSARY DIRECTORS
DECISION SOON AS
HEARING WAS ENDED.
Neglect of Duty and Incapacity Form
ed Basis for Charges and Cover
nor's Action Against Mem
bers Of the Board.

Columbia, Feb. Ex-Governor Ansel
today removed from office Messrs.
Jodie M. Rawlinson, Joe B. Wylie and
John Black. He did it without ado
and without waiting. 1t was suggest
ed that he wait and let the members
Of the board be removed by legisla-
tive enactment. 1t could have been
easily done in that way but Governor
Ansel took the bit in his teeth and
just the moment that the argument
was closed announced his decision re-
moving the members of the State
Board of Control for "neglect of
duty, incapacity, and the charges
Jade in the rule to show cause. -
There was no side-stepping by Cover
nor Ansel. He felt that it was his
duty to act and he used the official
axe without hesitation.
After his decision was announced
removing the members of the board
from office, memorandum was hand
ed him telling him that the senate had
passed the Carey-Cothran bill to its
third reading. He did not know what
the action of the senate would be
when he announced his decision.
1t was rather hard, bitter dose
for the state dispensary system iii a
single day, for the entire board Of
control to be removed from Office for
"official misconduct, and then for
the senate-always the bulwark of the
state dispensary, to vote for the
Carey Cothran bill, which in terms
abolishes the state dispensary system.
Messrs. w. r. Aycock and J. e. Me-
Donald made a hard fight for the
members Of the board. They wanted
time. but Governor Ansel was ready
to act, and 10 do 50 without delay. He
has carefully and patiently studied the
evidence brought out by the Gray
dolr-Rucker committee, and was ia
miliar with every turn of the argu-
ment. and in his final decision remov-
ing the members of the board he stat
ed that he had studied the testimony
taken by the legislative committee in
every detail and that while he did
not want to do anyone harm, that he
felt called uopn with due regard to
his oath of office to remove the men,
bers of the board.
At the conclusion of the arguments
the Governor announced his decision.
Governor Findings.
The following is Governor Ansel s
order removing the directors:
State Of South Carolina, County Of
Richland. In the matter of the pro-
ceeding to remove the board Of direc-
tors of the state dispensary.
Gentlemen: want to say I have
given this matter very serious con-
sideration. [ have this testimony in
my hands in my office and at my
home and have read it with great care
and great consideration. I feel the
Importance Of the matter and yet at
the same time I feel the Importance
Of the oath that I took when T as
sumed the Office I now hold.
Public office in South Carolina is
public trust, and it is the duty of ev-
cry officer to sec to it that the law is
carried out, which governs him in the
execution of the office to which he has
been elected, or appointed. I think it
is just as much the duty Of the gen.
tlemen of this board and each one Of
them to know exactly what liquors
are purchased, what prices are paid
and everything in connection with
their business that is done, and to
know it personally and to know it
themselves. The records of the Office
should show fully and conclusively
every transaction that is had, every
purchase that is made and everything
done connected with the business.
AS I have said have read the tes-
timony carefully. In obedience to the
resolution passed by the general as
sembly, heard arguments from the