The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-09-10

his choice by the same methods and
principles which he would follow
were he selecting a servant of any
kind. He does not permit himself to
be swept off his feet by sentiment,
but he makes his choice deliberately,
bearing ever In mind the chief du-
ties which the employee is expected
to perform and the qualifications
necessary for their satisfactory per-
formance.
What are the most important obli-
cations assumed by a Governor in
this State? Under the Constitution Of
South Carolina they are thus des-
cribed:
"He (the Governor) shall have
power to grant reprieves commuta-
tions and pardcns after conviction
Except in cases of impeachment,) IN
such manner. on such terms and un-
der such restrictions as he shall think
proper; and he shall have power to
remit fines and forfeitures, unless
otherwise directed by law.
''He shall take care that the laws
be faithfully executed in mercy"
Briefly put, yet of tremendous i'm
port. In these few words the CHIEF
Magistrate of South Carolina Is vest
ed with power to nullify the work Of
every criminal Court within the bor-
ders of the Commonwealth. the Fed
eral Courts alone excepted.
Is Cole l.. Blease the proper man
to intrust with powers such as these /?
For answer we must look to his rec
ord. What do we find?
Five years ago Mr.. Blease was the
foremost champion of the old State
Dispensary. He did everything in
his power to block the efforts of those
who were laboring to lay bare it's rot
tenness, to bring to light the graft
which 1t had fostered. Day after day
Mr.. Blease. although q member of
the Investigating Committee, charged
with the work of uncovering the cor
ruption whose stencil had become of
fensive beyond endurance, bent all
his energies to keeping that corrup-
ton hidden.
Four years ago. after the Investi-
eating Committee had completed its
task and had, in spite of Mr.. Blease,
adduced evidence amply sufficient to
damn that corrupt machine in the
eyes of all decent men. Mr.. Blease
took the stump In It's behalf. From
one end Of the State to the other he
opposed the county dispe nsary sys-
TEN to which he nov accords appro-
baton. proclaiming at every cam
paien meeting his alegiance to the
State plspeCsary just a 1t stood, de-
nying that il was in need Of the puri-
fcation for which Mr.. Manning. Mr.
McMahan, Col. Sloan and others
pleaded. and boasting of his friend
ship for men at this moment under
indictment charged with having made
corrupt use Of their offices under the
Dispensary. with being "grafters."
Six months later, on the floor Of the
Senate. he did all that he could to
prevent the abolition of the State
Dispensary and to shield certain Of
his vaunted friends whose connection
with that institution had brought re-
preach upon them.
These are matters ot public record.
They may not be refutcd They can
not, like other charges which have
been preferred against Mr.. Blea sc,
be denied.
Less than four years ago Mr..
Blease stood before the people Of
South Carolina as the unashamed
champion Of the old State Dispensary
at a time when this greatest single
source of corruption the State has
ever known had become a byword and
a kissing throughout the Common
wealth and far beyond its borders.
He has openly prided himself upon
the ties Of friendship which bound
him to men whose bold defiance of
law is not doubted.
Is Mr.. Blease the proper man to
whom to entrust the keys Of our pris-
ons?Upon what ground can we hope
that Mr.. Blease as Chief executive
would keep the other executive Of
hces OF South Carolina keyed up to
proper performance Of their duty?
There are worse things that State
wide prohibition.
Does anyone doubt that Mr.. Feathe
stone. on the other hand. would ex-
ert himself to the utmost to see that