The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-03-11
STILL AN ISSUE
The State Supreme Court Insists on its
Constitutional Rights
I'M JUDGESHIP MATTER

m JUDGESHIP MATTER
Governor Blease Wants the Newspa-
pers to Give Publicity to an the
Correspondence in the Several
Gases That Have Arisen Between
Him and the Supreme Court.
The Issue between the supreme
court and Gov. Blease is no nearer a
final solution than on the first day
when the chief executive sent note
to the judicial department Of the
State stating that he would appoint
special judges who were his friends,
regardless Of the recommendation OF
any one.
Gov. Blease has received letter
from Chief Justice Jones appointing
{ F. L. Wilcox Of Florence as special
Judge for that county to take the
place of Judge ]. C.. Klugh, who is
i'll. Gov. Blease said that he did not
know what disposition he would
make of the matter.
He did 81 however, that che
hoped that the newspaper men would
be honorable enough to publish the
letter from the chief justice.
A letter which was not given out
by the chief executive from the chief
justice, which stated concluslve:s
that the governor had gone beyond
his jurisdiction in making up a list
Of "eligibles" was several days ago
sent to Gov. Elease.
The following is the letter received
by Gov. B1G1lse Wednesday from.
Chief Justice Jones:
g "Being advised that Judge J. c.
Klugh, because Of Illness, is unable
to hold the cpurt Of general sessions
Tor Florence county, commencing on
Monday, March 13, 1911. to which ne
was regularly assigned, and there be-
ing no other circuit judge disengaged, !,
pow, pursuant to section 2,743, l
code of law, respectfully recon-
mend that ,ycu issue a commission TO
F. l.. WILCOX or Florence, S. c,
learned in the law, as special Judge,
to hold said court"
The following copy of a tesel;ran,
received from the Florence bsT by
the chief Justice, was also sent TO
Gov. .Blease:
aHun- Ira B. Jpnss, Chief Justice
supreme court OF South Carolina: I
am directed by Florence Bar Asso-
citation at special meeting today to
say that deeaning it necessary that
the regular spring term criminal
court be held here next week, the. {
being 16 prisoners IN jail, rrnani-
mous7y recommend F. L. Wiffcux as
special Judge to preside this court.
E. G. Oliver, secretary"
There was no court in Conway last
week because Gov. Blease refused to
commission a special judge. The
docket was crowded, there being over
20 prisoners in the Horny county Jail
awaiting trial, and the law requires
that the governor of the State shall
commission special judge upon the
Recommendation of the supreme
court. There were no circuit judges
disengaged that might have been as
signed by the supreme court.
These facts were presented to Gov.
Blease and he refused to appoint a
special judge.
On three occasions Chief Justice
Jones recommended, according to
law, the commission of G. P. Quat-
tlebaum for special judge.
Every request of the chief justice
for the appointment of special
judge was ignored by Gov. Blease.
The following kilograms which
were exchanged in the controversy
are given:
Twenty prisoners in Jail. heavy
docket, how shall we proceed.
".H. w. Wait, Secretary"
To which following response was
made:
"B. w. Wait, Secretary, Conway, S.
c."
Telegram received. can do
nothing but urge governor to appoint
special judge as recommended, which
/ am doing. Judge Copes assigned
to Richland court, Judge Memninger
too i'll to serve.
era 3. Jones, c. J."
The telegram to the governor vas
as follows:
"Gov. Cole L. Blease, Columbia, S. c..
Received following telegram from
Horny bar: Twenty prisoners in jail,
heavy docket, how shall we proceed
L urge yon to Immediately commits
sion c. p. Quattlebaum as special
judge as recommended by NE at the
request of Horny bar. No circuit judge
being available.
"Ira B. Jones, C.. j."
Gov. Blease, in refusing to commits
sion a special judge for the Conway
court, took the position that there
were two disengaged circuit judges.
He thought that Judge Copes and
Judge Memminger were disengased.
It afterwards developed that the two
judges were not disengaged. ard