The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1911-02-01
WANTS LIGHT
Governor Blease AsAs Eh0s an lnvesti-
gst:on Be- Made Ia:e The
-rcDrsrcsnv aeS TTEDG
DISpENSAAS IlaS:EN

Wants the Legislature TO Seek Out
Every Transaction OF the WiuainS
Up Commission. and Hints at 'r-
resularitieS on the Part OF Mem
bers and the Htto-ney-General.
Governor Blease sent to the gen
eral assembly Tuesday afternoon a;
message which startled the legisla-
tors with an urgent demand for a
thorough investigation of the dis
pensary winding9up commission.
Numbers Of specific Transactions sup
posed by the governor to have been
made by the commission are meu-
toned, with the insistent recommen-
: dation that each be carefully looked
into. The message IN full follows:
To the General Assembly: JHst
after my nomination as governor, /
noticed in the papers (and as / have
noticed no correction. l take It 10
be true) that the commission for
winding-up the affairs Of the State
dispensarv had a meeting at Wb!cn |
was freely discussed. and expressed
fears as 20 themselves, when I be-
came governor. If they had done
no wrong see 10 reason way they
should fear any harm from me. II
they are guilty OF wrong-dcirs. it is
up to you to investigate them.
I would like for YOU to investi-
gate them fully and find out for the
people of South Carolina what die
become of the large amount Of a!co-
hol that was or hand at the time
this committee took charge: to whom
it was sold, at what price. and what
was the regular price at that time,
so as to see if the State was not a
heavy loser in that transaction.
Also, what salary. or how much fees
each member Of that commission
has received. since ne has served on
the board, and how much per diem
they have received Eor their services
on that day; if car fares. railroad
fares and other expenses have been
charged against the State which were
not incurred by the member receiv-
ing payment therefor.
Also how much actual cash has
been turned over to the State treas
urer;; how much has been paid out
and how much is left as profit to the
taxpayers. What criminal cases have
been compromised and what were the
conditions of the compromise? Has
the attorney general received any
money. and II so by whom was it
paid and for what? Why the COM
mission kept the Clark lot Of wis
key after Governor Ansel had dis
missed the former members Of the
board of control for buying this
same whiskey? Did Clark rebate
the present commission? # so, where
is Ge rebate money? How much
more T1an $, ,132ac die Farnnm pay
and where is it? What We're the
conditions Of the Goodman compro-
mise9 What were the conditions OF
the Fleischmann compromise? If
mc~ev was paid IN these transac-
ticSse where IS t? What was the
agreeSSsSI a had with Ex-Governor
John Gary Evans and eS-State Chair
man II. II. Evans, for information
given by them at conference held in
Atlanta, between these gentlemen.
Attorney General Lyon and Attor-
ney Fielder? Why we're other men,
bers Of the various boards Of con-
\ troll not indicted? What became Of
he report of the DETECTIVES to the
committee 0fccee=-tain- Certain members Of the
house and senate and why was this
report not made public? What were
Fel6er's fees. ard why was he not
prosecuted. when it was known that
he was attorney for liquor house
and was favored with purchases from,
disnensary boards and rebates were
paid for these purchases? What
criminal prosecutions have been
brought, who has been convicted and
what has it cost the State?
A thorough investigation Of this
entire matter, gentlemen. will give
great deal CT satisfaction to your
constituents. There are those who
believe that the State has lost more
4L..~- 49, 49,, J;,,,,n c1,,, nv IN
than it has ever lost through the
State dispensary system. Whether
this be true or not. il is not for me
to say I hold my belief as to cor
ruption, but the people OF South
Carolina are entitled to the fullest
and freest investigation on your part,
before the report OF these men is
received md Ihr. are discharged as
public officials.
South Carolina is paying bonds to-
day for debts made by scalawags ana
carpetbaggers, for things which her
citizenship never received the benefit
therefor Under her Democratic gov
ernment, she bought whiskey at a
price and sold it, made profit on it
and now repudiates the debt made by
her sons, white men and Democrats.
If she can repu6iate this indebted
ness with irlpunity ard without g
scar upon her honor, why could she
not repudiate the debt Of thieves anc
scoundrels who were not her own
people?
I repeat, gentlemen, laying aside
political feeling, aygniliusxzfflffflffi
political feeling, laying aside person
al feelings and aninlosity, and as
true citizens as you are, who love
your State. love her. past traditions
and are proud Of her futrre pros