The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-08-08
BLEASE AND EXTRA CONSTABLES.
Governor Forcibly Comments on Re
, fusal of Officials in 'Dry" COun-
ties to Stand Expense. =

Columbia, Aug. Ex-Governor Blease
made today a statement as to. his at
titude in regard to the action Of the
boards of county commissioners in
Greenville, Darlington, Edgefeld,
Barnwell and Union counties, in re-
fusing to pay the salaries Of SPECIAL
or detectives, detailed by
the governor for service on those
dry" counties, to aid local peace au-
thorities in enforcing the liquor laws.
Gov. Blease said: ''The county COM
missioners in Greenville, Darlington,
Edgefeld, Barnwell and Union coun-
ties have refused to pay the constables
or detectives detailed by me to help
enforce the liquor laws. Detective
Kitchins, of Union, wrote me about
the first of the month that the, county
attorney, Mr.. P. D. Barron, had been
retained to defend the persons ar
rested there for selling "near-beer'
and had also advised the county COM
missioners to refuse to pay Detective
Kitchins any salary. The detective
asked me what he should do. I told
him he had been doing good work and
I would be glad to see him continue,
but if, the commissioners would not
pay his salary, I saw nothing for him
to do but quit.
Barnwell and Edgefeld.
Sheriff Creech, Of Barnwtll, asked
me to appoint detective to help him
enforce the liquor laws, but the coun-
tv commissioners, whom I directed
him to consult in regard to his CON-
pensation, refused to pay the officer 5
salary. so Detective Nunnamaker,
who had started to work, there, had
to quit. In Edgefeld county, Judge
DeVore, who is resident of that
county, ruled that the county board
did not rave to pay the detective l
had sent there, so I I'm inforaled; anu
if lie decided so in his home county
would be likely to decide likewise IN
other counties. >'~-...
"J regret that this condition exists
IL the State. and that the county ST.
supervisors and county commissioners
a1e taking the position that they are,
in reference to the pay OF these oh-
GERS, for it ties my: hands and l can
20 no further, except to appeal to the
regular officers and beg them to do
their duty. 49,. -..-. y
Thinks Hurting Prohibition.
Their position is forever running
prohibition and damning the political
prohfbitionists, yet it seems, and they
think, their fight is to injure me: How
ever, I am, not a prohibitionist; l
have fought prohibition all my life
and my predictions for the past TWEEN
.v years, on the stump, in NeWberry
county. and throughout the State, that
it would prove a farce, are being
strongly verified every day, and l be-
Iieve the position these county Of
icers are taking, namely, that OF try
ing to keep me from enforcing the
aw, will give the people just what L
want and have wanted and what !
nave been fighting for and am now
lighting for, to wit, dispensaries in
9very county in South Carolina. And
+ the people will look at the deplor-
able financial condition Of many of the
;o-called prohibition counties and then
ook at the financial balance sheets
If the counties which have dispen-
,aries, they will see that those coun-
les which have dispensaries are out
# debt, prosperous, with money in
heir treasures and having less crime
committed within their borders than
he socalled prohibition counties,
which are poor, in debt, tax-burdened,
With blind tigers all over them and
;rime on the increase. And when l,
IS governor, receive these COM
,laints and try to enforce the law, 9TH
r officials refuse to obey the Carey
1othran act and leave the tiger to
oam at will. However, I have spoken
O more people this summer than l
poke to during the entire campaign
ast summer, and they understand the
ituation and I am satisfied my ad-
is pleasing, not only to
hose who put me into Office, but also