Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-12-29

Alleged Differences Between Governor
and Demonstration Agent.

ALLEGED Differences Between Governor
and Demonstration Agent.
Following is the Columbia States
story as to the alleged difference be-
tween Governor Blease and M Ira
w. Williams:
IF the next farm demonstration
agent Is not acceptable to the govern
or of South Carolina, then the gov
ernor will use his veto power and cut
off the state aid appropriation Of $1o.-
900.
Let 1t be remembered here that the
national government gives $4,000 to
assist in the work. This means that
the state farm demonstration agent,
who has charge Of the expenditure Of
$4,000, must be acceptable to the gov
ernor Of South Carolina.
IRA w. Williams was not acceptable
to the governor Of this state, and con-
sequently he is to be removed-trans-
ferred to Georgia and thus eliminated.
That Ira w. williams was not accepta-
BILE. to c. L. Blease was made known
to Bradford Knapp, the head Of the
UNITED States farm demonstration
work. Rather than cripple the work
in this state, DR.. Knapp consented to
the change with the understanding that
the appropriation for the work in this
state was to go through unmolested
lat the approaching session sof the gen.
leral assembly. An announcement will
soon come from Washington to the ef-
feet that Ira w. Williams Is to be
located in Georgia. That he is to have
lcharge Of the cotton movement In the
south.
why the antagonism Of the gov
lernor against Ira w. Williams?
1T Is long story and started q year
lducted into office.
Incidentally It might be well to
mention the fact that It was at that
time that the friendship between A.
I'D. Hudson and the governor sprung
up, finally eliminating In the offer Of
the commissionership Of agriculture to
Mr.. Hudson.
ITO get back to the antagonism Of
the governor toward Ira w. VIII
lliams. -
THE ways and means committee Of
Browning is a member, finished con-
sideration Of the appropriation bill In
Ia remarkably short time.
Among the various items was the
one giving $1,000 to the South Caro-
lima Corn Breeders association for
corn breeding work I'm this state and
for the exposition. When the meas
ure came before the committee for
final consideration, A. D. Hudson was
out of the state, together with others
Associated with the exposition. Mem
rf hn
tee were adverse In their opinion to the
exposition, contending that no ma
terial results had been obtained. Ira
w. Williams being an expert agri-
culturist, was called in by members
of the committee and, as an Official
OF the national department Of agris
culture. was asked to give his opinion
as to the results secured from the corn
Exposition and the Corn Breeders as
sociation. He gave his opinion, the ex-
act nature Of which Is not known.
However, 1t is said that he gave a
fair and impartial criticism to the ef-
feet that few results had been obtain
ed from the work, in that to obtain re-
suits from corn breeding work re-
lquired several years.
Following this conference the COM
mittee cut out the appropriation for
corn breeding work. Just before final
adoption and when the measure was
before the finance committees Of the
senate, an appropriation Of $4,000 was
inserted through the efforts Of A. d.
Hudson and others. Here Ira W. VII
liams incurred the enmity Of A. d.
Hudson, and the war has continued
from that date.
Now, this part Of the history Of
the row Is from the lips Of the gov
ernor. A. d. Hudson, according to the
governor, went to him and stated that
Ira w. Williams was his enemy and
that he had worked against him.
This aroused the anger Of the govern
or.
According to c. L. Blease, A. d.
DR.. Seaman A. Knapp and request that
Williams be removed or the appropria-
ton Of $4,000 for farm demonstra-
/ ton work would be vetoed. Whether
such a telegram was sent Is not def
nitely known. Ira w. Williams, to-
gether with several friends. explained
to the governor that he was not mixed
in politics and that he had never
waged a campaign against the gov
ernor.
"The appropriation of $4,000 for
| o. K, and nothing more was heard
until a few weeks ago. The rumors
commenced to fly thick and fast and
| soon Il was learned that the governor
was very much displeased with Mr..
williams. The rest has been related.
1T Is said that L. L. Baker Of Bish-
lopville, district agent Of the work, Is
slated for the position Of state agent"
Not So, Says BIease.
Newberry, December %: When
asked while here today as to the re-
port that Ira w. Williams, Of the gov
ernment farm demonstration work,
has been transferred from this state to
Georgia, supposedly because Of op-
position of the governor" and Com
missioner Watson Is to be displaced
when his term expires, and that the
place had been offered to A. d. Hud-
son, Of Newberry, Governor Blease
said:
II have seen the articles In today's
State to which I suppose you refer. !
was informed some time since that
Ira w. williams was to be transferred
from this state. To what point I do
not know. Mr. Williams supported me
h in the campaign of 1910, so / have
been reliably informed, and he and I
are the best Of friends, and / am sor-
ry that he Is going to leave this state.
The statement that he and I are at en-
nifty, or that he is leaving on account
Of any feeling between himself and
myself, is absolutely and unqualified
ly false. would be glad IL Mr.. Will
liams would stay in the state. and II
he will stay will ask the legislature
to keep up the appropriation for. his
department, and do next year, as
have done this year, all in my power
to assist him in his demonstration
work. l have never offered Mr.. Wat
sons position to anybody, but merely
stated on one occasion to John Rich
ards that was sorry he accepted the
railroad commission position, because
I expected to appoint him commits
sioner of agriculture. and the report
that I have offered Mr.. Watson's posi-
ton to one or two others Is absolutely
false. AS to Mr.. Hudson, ne told me
Iemphatically on two occasions that he
did not want Watson's position. ! am
informed, however that he would ac-
cept the position held by Williams.