The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-04-01
Representative Smith Says Governor
BIease Changed the Names.
MATTER is In A MIDDLE
The Members of the Greenville DEL
egation Reopens the Question Of
Appointing County Assessors, and
Endeavor to Straighten Out the
Matter II They Can Do So.

A dispatch from Greenville In
speaking of the recent discussions
that arose over the action of Gov.
;Blease in revoking the commissions
of L. G. Drake and j. L. Campbell ag
members of the county board Of as
SCISSORS, and the subsequent alleged
statements OF the governors stenog-
| rapher that the names of Bearden
Jennings and Mr.. Acker had been
erased by Representative C. D.
Smith, member of the Green siiie
county delegation, says MT. Smith
went before B. NJ. Shuman, an attor.-
ney, and made affidavit, the substan-
iial statements of which are given IN
/ the following extracts:
Senator Mauldin stated that the
stenograDher in the governors Of
flee told him that / had erased the
name of Mr.. Acker and substituted
that of Mr. Campbell on the board Of
assessors of Dunklin township and
also had erased the name of Bearden
Jennings and substituted that of C.
G.. Drake in Cleveland township.
81 erased no names, nor were they
erased under my directions, but these
changes were made under the direc-
tion Of the governor.
being the only m~mber Of the
Greenville delegation That was es-
pecially friendly to the governor, the
governor stated to me on several oc-
casions while in Columbia during the
session of the general assembly that
he would make appointments on my
recommendation.
He told me to make my fight in
the Greenville delegation and II I was
downed to come to him and he would
take care Of rae.
I'm the delegation meetings tne
delegation appeared to be controlled
by Senator Mauldin, and all the men
recommended by me were promptly
voted down by the members. In
Dunklin township, which was my
home township, especially requested
the delegation to recommend The
name OF J. l.. Campbell in the place
Of J. D. Wood. The delegation, how
ever, recommended the names Of
Traynham, Cothran and Acker, my
recomm endation being Cothrar and
Traynham. In Cleveland township
there was no delegation meeting. I
was Informed that the majority OF
the delegation recommended Morgan,
Hagood and Jennings. The minority,
which were Mr.. Earle and myself.
recommended Hagood, Morgan and
Drake. 1 carried the papers to the
governor, who had told me he would
appoint my appointees, and there
upon Gov. Blease told mis- secretary
to make any changes that I desired.
"The appointments made were OF
the governors own orders and the
governor knew that he was appoint
ing on my recommendation and not
on that of Z. majority Of the Green-
Vile delegation"
Smith is one Of the leaders Of the
Cotton Farmers union and has been
organizing the union. He has also
organized the farmers in the legisla-
ture so that they may legislate In
telligently on matters pertaining to
farms.
What Gov. Blease Says.
Gov. Blease said Thursday chat he
did not remember the details in con-
nection with the appointment Of the
Greenville county board Of assessors.
He said that the matter had been
handled by stenographer employed
by him for several weeks and that
she would make statement Friday.
"I will stand by whatever statement
she makes" said Gov. Blease.