The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-02-12
The Main Question in South CarOIina

The Atlanta Constitution says:
No one denies that the Winding up OF tht
state whiskey dispepsary in South Carolins
disclosed The IoI oIg.cCptipued operations o
graft that had diverted thousands upor
thousands OF dollars ilom the treasury Of tht
state.
It is. almost equally apparent, from ,h'
STANDPOINT OF inI er.onal observa alton, tina
the righteous effort 10 place responsibility fo
such corruption and 10 secure restitution, II
being block ed by succession of mapeuVeri
which either bear close resemblance Il
chiId's play, or which create an atmosphere
| OF acrinupy, not 10 say suspicion.
The situation was brought 10 q climax By
an editorial In the Manning Times, edited by
Louis Appelt, who Is a.so q member OF the
stale senate, Senator Editor Appelt charged
hat The appropriation sought by Attorney
General Lyon 10 further prosecute his graf
inquiries, was being fought In the legislature
win The very puerile argument that he had
sent outside OF the state for an attorney tc
assist him in his difficult, delicate and com
plicated missUn.
The lawyer In question is the Hon. T. B
Fielder, OF Atlanta, with whose legal and
intellectual ability the attorney general ol
South Cniolina was sufficiently familiar as 10
cause him 10 associate the well known Geor
gia attorney in The case.
Senator Appelt very properly made the
point that IL made no difference whether an
sssista nj prosecutor came from Georgia OF
kamschatka. The main point Was the ca
paclty 10 aid iu bringing results. faculty moi
sion. He further intImated that several sena'
tors, oveririendly TO the elements under fire
were making this paipaoo pretext blind tc
slifle additional revelations
We assume that in his duel capacity Mr.
Appelt has some ground for bis statements.
That Ia mol the issue, The ink had not dried
upon The accusing paper before senators
hnbbed up from every section OF the chamber
Under the personal privilege" rightof-way
they bitterly, aousivey End rapidly de.
nounced-nUt grau or The effort to track 1t Il
the liar: but the courageous senator v ho had
| called attention 10 y lew obvious taots which
| nad engendered suspicion in the minds OF the
people of South Carolina
From disiuterested viewpoint, 1t looks al
though the senators who participated In The
teToclons scramble for vlndication from an
Jfense Of which they had not been charged
| are occuying rather precarious and an en-.
bnr1asSlng altitude.
These protesting senators would be In q
much more tenaoIe position, and vastly less
'peu TO The attacks Of critics, had they turn ed
| IN vigorously 10 advance crusade the need
oi which Is self evident and the blocking o
| VIII ch IL matter OF common knowledge.
The iull responsibility for prosecuting anc
! advancing this most important luvestiga.
| lion devoives upon just one map-Attor.
| ney General Lyon. Already he has orough
| Onward evidence which indicates tua
| be state OF South Carolina was ulcteC
| + between S5OOOOO and SsOO,ONO dollars
That stake Is large enough not only to justify
nut 10 Gemanu huch assistance as will enable
him To subs,antiate his evidence with Iega
| proofs. 10 the end that justice may take III
| course and the huge sum involved be covered
| omck lniu The state treasury.
| be hess given ample demonstration of bill
| n ness Tor the task; he should be lett, un
| namperen, TO pursue 1t 10 Its urgent conclu
| sion. The mtars he employees 10 reach tina
md are immalerla. HIS success or his fall
| ure in obtaining results Is the main point.
| The progress he has already made, is an un
answer able argument for bis judgment II
selecting methods and his integrity TO use
| hem in securing the desired end.
Ii be fails, his methods are open 10 attack
| But II he Is TO be held responsible 1t seems u
| us bis hands should be left united.
II IL not question Of who is nr has beer
| 'slandefed." or whCse dignhed feet havl
| been trodden upon.
Ills WHO SIOLEHHE MONEY!" Anc
II Is not apparent mat the rather childlst
aud shitty policies OF which we have spoker
/ will turu the state from the scent of the tracE
on which 1t Is now running at full speed.