Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-08-16

dOultlDn 10 l1eSe stated reasons l ndu
two others.
an editorial mildly endorsing Gov
ernor Ellerbe had been printed in
The State during my absence and 1t
seemed to tie my hands: and CD
was informed that Mr.. FeatherstOne
had pledged himself to general pro-
hibition and nothing but that. a cir
cumstance that made me even more
hopeless of the promotion Of my
locay option plan through him than
through Governor Ellerbe. because |
waS sure that Mr.. F'eatherstone would
do what he said and l was not sure
that Governor Ellerbe would.
That afternoon. September Sth,
when I went to The State office, I
found a note on my desk from the
cashier stating that Mr.. Weston and
Col Neal had been to the office to see
me, and. having failed to do so, asked
me to be sure to meet them that night
at Mr.. Weston's office. I kept the ap-
pointment.
We talked for nearly an hour on
indifferent topics. At last Col. Neal
said to me. slapping his knee: "Well
let's come down now to business.
Nearly every paper In the state Is
jumping on the governor: he's pretty
badly worried and is very anxious for
you to help him out. Can't you do
it,"
I replied that I had told Governor
Ellerbe all along that / would not
support him for denomination If he
stuck to the dispensary, and he had
stuck to it. Mr.. Weston said: "The
simple fact of the matter Is, that the
governor feels he Is obliged to have
the support Of The State. and we have
asked you here to find out on what
conditions YOU will support him"
Without hesitation and on the spur
Of the moment 7 replied: IF he will
pledge himself to me in writing to
urge the legislature to pass a local
option law allowing each county to
decided for itself between the high
license. prohibition and the dispen-
sary, I will support him" This idea
had been with me for a year: 1t had
been the object of all my efforts the
previous fall and winter. and 1t came
spontaneously to my lips. I did not
stop to consider the price I would have
to pay in public misunderstanding Of
my motives if he should accept my
terms
Mr.. Weston looked at Col. Neal and
then said: II do not think there will
be any trouble about that; do you,
Col. Neal?" and Col. Neal replied to
me. 'T think he'll do it; he's got to
do 1t If you insist"
Mr.. Weston then asked me If a ver-
bal assurance would satisfy me.
told him no: there had been too much
question about Governor Ellerbe's
verbal assurances already; I must
have 1t in black and white for my own
protection-but he could tell the gov
ernor that I would not show the
pledge to anybody unless he failed to
observe It, in which case I would.
Then Mr.. Weston asked: "Would you
object to having the letter addressed
to me? I am going to Charleston to
try and help the governor down there
and would like to be able to show 1t
to some Of the politicians" I an
swered that would not object to that,
but that after he had used 1t in
Charleston I must have the custody
Of the paper.
The conference broke up with their
assurances that they would see the
governor the next day and bring to
me his answer.
The next day, Friday, Sept. 9th,
Mr.. Weston came to my room and
handed me an envelope bearing the
familiar engraved lettering: "State Of
South Carolina, Executive Chamber"
and addressed to: Mr.. F. H. Wes-
ton, Columbia, S. c., Personal" Open
ing il 1 read:
State Of South Carolina,
Executive Chamber,
Columbia, S. c., Sept. 8, 1898.
Confidential.
Dear Frank: In reply to your in
quiry, I will say: 1 fully concur in
your view as to the best solution of
the liquor question. After minGling
with the people for three months and
thorough consideration, i have come
to the conclusion that the dispensary
act should be amended so as to allow
each county to settle the liquor ques-
tion for itself, and have determined to
make such recommendation to the
next general assembly.
Your friend,
w. H. Ellerbe.
To Mr.. F. H. Weston.
All of this except the printed cap
ton and date line was in Governor
Ellerbe's handwriting. The date was
wrong-one day behind.
1t was not as precise pledge as
would have dictated, but whatever of
vagueness there might be in the
phrase ALLOW each county to settle the
liquor question for ITSELF" was offset
by the initial statement, Il fully con-
cur in your view as to the best solu-
ton of the liquor question" l know,
and ii was n matter of public record,
that Mr.. Weston's view was the
same as my own; that he favored
county choice between the dispensary,
high license and prohibition. While
did not have any confidence in Gov
ernOr Ellerbe'S simple word, l did not
believe he would dare to incur the
obloquy of exposure for violating this
pledge. and l thought l had him fast
AS Mr.. Weston was going that after
noon to Charleston, and wished to use
the original to secure votes for the
governor there, L took a copy of the
letter on his promise to hand me the
original on his return. He did it, and
| have kept it in my pocket most of
the time since.
/ must confess that the governors
prompt compliance with my ultimatum
was not altogether gratifying, for
had thought the matter over and con-
cluded that to carry out my part of the
agreement would subject me to much
criticism and perhaps suspicion of my
motives and that l would have to with
hold my justification until the legis-
lature met. On this account | half re-
GREETED my impulsiveness, which had
entailed upon me a severe ordeal. But
the thing was done, and l went to
work i'm good faith to carry out my
part of the compact, having the salts
faction of feeling that l had acted
wholly for the public good. The next
morning The State contained signed
editorial urging high license voters to
support Governor Ellerbe, and each
day until the election the paper did
it's best for him. If it changed as
many as $500 votes which would
otherwise have gone to Featherstone,
it is responsible, | regret to say, for
his nomination.
| did not see Governor Ellerbe
from the time l returned from Cuba
until some three weeks after his NOM
inatiOn by the second primary. He
had called at my office when | was
out. and had sent messages asking me
to visit him: so | went one day to his
Office at the state house. After an
exchange of civilities he asked my
opinion of the clause in the state con-
stitution permitting the issue of
licenses for the sale of liquor, saying