The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-02-14
ed iDdecency and it would be base
flattery to call him do@.'

cd in the senate an unexpected cpl
sodc whlch | am sure has not added
much glory TO the regulations of
some members who felt il incumbent
upon themselves to resent an article
published in the Manning Times
written by myself, and which was
based upon reliable information. that
is, so regard it, and what i has Icvcl-
opcd, the public can Judge whether
or not there was any justification for
The information given to me, and
which as Il newspaper man | furnish
cd the public. The article in uues-
ton was published in these columns.
and reproduced in other newspapers.
before there was. what has become
know:l as the "Ots rcsolution,n
which sought to endorse the State
commission and interpret the law re-
"ardlng lis powers enacted by the
former session of the legislature. and
which was intended for use at
hearing before JUl"e Pritchartl, but
carried with it no appropriation or
anything else. There was differ
cncc of opinion as to the propricty
Of the resolution. | had my own
doubts about it. but inasmuch as they
We're introduced | voted for tnam:
ct hers voted aainSt them. which
they had right to do. and still not
be aversc to other light throwing
propositions relating to the liquor
scandals. The offending article was
entirely foreign to the Otis resou-
tions, mad absolutely nothing to with
them, near orr cmote: ii Only dealt
with future legislation looking TO an
appropriation /" defray the expenses
Of prosecuting further invest tigations
was not only Informed there was
probability Of some lawyers who are
members OF lhc general aS>embly that
are retained by whiskty concerns who
have claims. and who are also retain
cd by parties charged with craft, us
ing gtheirinfMcncct Icfcat an appro-
pilatlGn [" Further prosecute the
claims and eases. but ,ha, navdencc
mas been obtained uf such efforts hav-
ING already been made. There is. in
my oplniul. considerable difference
between Il lawyer not a member of
the general assembly anl one who
is. The member Of tie general as
scmbly is Il State officer. sworn to
uphold the laws of the State, and it
does seem to me his position would
be inconsistent were he to be retain
ell to defend public officers charged
with crime aainst the State, and es-
pecially wrong did he in his capaci-
ty as Il legislator endeavor to pre-
vent Investigations or prosecutions
in which his clients are interested.
This is the way ii looks to me, but
from some If the speeches made up
on the iin"r Of the senate. my views
are not concurHcl in hy some Of lbt
membcrs-a very small minority
however. rs The majority nold views
similar to mine.
! was lhe subject Of considerable
acrimonious discussion. and those
who felt ag"ricvcl seemed to connect
the Times article with their action in
voting against the Otis reso!ution. IF
MT. then they would have fnred
much better had they remained iii
their seats, as did majority Of the
lawyer members of t Z senate. As
njnr ! ho /,
didn't hit me. and 7 have no occa-
sion to holcr.' The affair was
sprung upon me suddenly. and t. say
| was surprised would not describe
my Ceilings. Before could full V re-
r'vrr & an the surprise the Senator
rrmo O"olcc was prot e>iinr his in
notenrc Of the charge Of bcin" re-
tanned ~. any Of five viii ,icy houses,
or any of the persons charged with
graz. I Hm !.e fec!'y satisfied the
<'n"!or spoke ia. wh"lc ruth. and
while no names were furnished me,
at The time | received tn mfnrma
zion upon which ! writ., he article
tha, has since acted like carpet
tack in the chair Of The senators, I
am morally certain my informant
did not think of Senator Earle of
Oconec as a lawyer aad if he had
ever entered his thoughts at all, it
was as newspaper nan. but lawyer
never. Nevertheless this Oconee SEN
ator made it known that he is law