Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-01-27
Turn on the Light.

Governor Blease has a record as to
the dispensary and as to the work of
the winding-up commission, and that
record is of such common and general
knowledge that it is hardly worth while
to take the trouble to review it.
AS a state senator and as a private
citizen, Governor Blease was for the
dispensary as it was operated, and he
disapproved Of all the acts of the wind
ing-up commission; but as we see It,,
this has nothing to do with the grave
charges expressed or implied in his
message recommending investigation,
and there is nothing for the general
assembly to do, but to investigate.
Although all the acts and operations
of the winding-up commission have
not been in accordance with our idea
of what should have been done, we
have entertained no suspicion of dis
honesty. and we entertain no such sus-
picion now. On the contrary, we be-
lieve this commission has been dis
charging its duties in accordance with
its own best judgment, and In that
judgment we think it has been honest
and conscientious.
It has seemed to us all along and we
have said so time and again, that 1t
would have been better If the commits
sion, instead Of giving so much atten-
ton to the matter of recovering money
should have devoted more time and at
tention to the punishment Of the state
officials, who have abused the conf
dence reposed in them and who have
been guilty of corruption. We have
thought and still think that the ferret
ing out and punishment of such crimes
as may have been committed, would be
worth more to the state than would be
the recovery of any amount Of money
even though there was no question Of
the fact that the money recovered came
only from those who actually stole it.
But this is not the issue that has
been raised by the governors message.
Governor Blease is evidently of opin-
ion that the winding-up commission
has not been exactly on the square. He
does not say so in so many words; but
the specific questions he asks leaves no
doubt of very strong suspicious. 1t is
difficult to put on the message any 9TH
er construction, and we do not think
many people will try to put any other
construction on it.
That the suggested investigation
will be made is to be taken as a mat
ter of course. The general assembly
could not escape the issue If it wanted
to. 1t owes it to the members of the
winding-up commission to do so, and
in view of the source of the demand, it
owes it to the people of the state.
There is nothing else to be done.
There have been whitewashing in
vestigations in South Carolina-more
than one in connection with this same
miserable dispensary; but there will
be no whitewashing in connection with
this investigation, for in the very ma
ture of the case there are two sides
to the matter and both sides are in
tensely earnest. The members of the
commission have their good reputa-
tions to preserve, and it is up to the
governor to make a showing that will
seem to give full warrant for the
charges expressed or implied in his
message.
Just how the general assembly is
going to meet the situation, has not
fully developed at this writing; but in
view of all the circumstances it is safe
to assume that there is going to be a
flooding on Of the light.