Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1908-02-19
AS TO HOLDING Two OFFICES
Mr.. Werner States His Position in the
Matter as Regards Mr.. Mann.

Columbia, Feb. i 1S.--Special: The
people of the State will be greatly
disappointed to learn that the Sem
ate failed to pass the bill to repeal
the lien law. It was thought that
after the bill passed the house by
such decisive vote It would go
through the Senate all right, but
there seemed to be too many Sena-
tors who did not know of the real.
conditions in the State, and the far
mer lacked only two votes OF being
able to carry the bill through. There
was great disappointment in the
house, and q good many members
say that the negroes are taking
charge of this part of the State by
means Of the lien law and literally
driving out the white men from the
country. The negro Is considered a
better customer by the merchant
because he will buy more and pay
higher prices on credit, and the land
lord cannot control him anyway.
1t Is said that the negro is respon-
sible, for the poor white people NOV
ing to the factories or going to the
towns, and the low-country people
claim that the situation is becoming
uncomfortable. Well, let MS have a
little more patience in this matter,
as on the liquor question, and prose=
bly, we will finally get what we want.
Let 1t be remembered that It took
10years to get lien law bill through
the house, and the Senate Is gen.
orally slower than the house in leg
islation. 1t is thought that one
more election will put that body in
line with the house.
II ho, ~
and never saw any such legisla-
tion as has been carried, on as that
of this session. / have stuck to the
year through thick and thin, day
and n'eht, and there were four other
members of that committee who OPP
There was a day and night rangle
for five weeks, but all to no pur-
pose. The appropriations We're
raised 100000 above last year, and
the State levy up to g. " mills. On
the floor of the house we opposed
this again and again, but the house
supported the majority of the COM
mittee and 1t went through
Then the Ways and Means Com
mittee brought in q bill to raise the
county salaries, and without consult
ing the county delegation--a thing
never heard of before--again the
house sustained them over tbo pro-
tests of number of memSers
doubt IL in the history of the State
such thing was ever done bsfore.
In writing about college trustees
last week / certainly never thought
of accusing Mr.. Mann OF holding
two offices or of thinking of get
ting ready to hold two Offices" In
truth, seconded his nomination in
the General Assembly and voted for
him, thinking that he would not quail
ify as a trustee until the present
Legislature adjourned, and of course
this would not be holding two Offices.
Furthermore I asked him what he
meant to do in this case If he should
be elected TO the Senate this year,
which he said he was thinking if
running for, and he said if he was
elected to the Senate he would re-
sign the trusteeship If the question
was raised and drawn against the
holding of the two places. Now,
knowing all this, / certainly did not
and could not have accused him of
holding two offices at the same time.
My reference to trustees on the floor
of the house, so far as Mr.. Mann
was concerned, was simply to show
that If rhere were not some ruling
on the matter, and trustees were
allowed to remain members of the
Legislature after they qualified as
trustees, that we would not have a
wholesome state of affairs in the
General Assembly, and that we would
have members holding two Offices at
the same time, which the Constitu-
ton plainly forbids. No one who
has not been here can have the
slightest idea of the influence one
college trustee can exert In this
body. Give the Legislature a few
strong menSwho are also trustees in
the collegesNof the State, and they
can well-nighNMn the tax department
OF the State government. 1t is hui
man nature to say, you help me and
/ will help YOU" That is largely
the way the colleges now get the
big appropriations. Certainly q
trustee can have more influence in
the Legislature in shaping legisla-
tion for a college in which he is an
officer than he could II he was not
a member of the Legislature. That
is where the moral wrong comes In,
and that is why no officer In State
college should be a member of the
Legislature. No matter how he be-
comes an officer in the college the
effect Is the san.
j was very much surprised at Mr..
Mann's little piece about me. ]
never even thought of accusing him
of holding two Offices at one time.
In truth, / seconded his nomination
In the General Assembly and voted
for him, thinking that he would not
qualify as trustee till the house adj
journed, and of course would not
be holding two offices. even went