Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-01-27
Mistsllaasuus &raains.
TURN ON THE LIGHT!
Governor BIease Wants to Investigate
Windinq-Up Commission.

Windins-Up Commission.
Governor Blease sent to the genera
assembly Tuesday afternoon a mes
sage which startled the legislator:
with an urgent demand for a thorough
investigation of the dispensary wind.
ing-up commission. Numbers of spe'
cifc transactions supposed by the gov
ernor to have been made by the com.
mission are mentioned, with the in
sistent recommendation that each bt
carefully looked into.
The message in full follows:
To the General Assembly: Just after
my nomination as governor, noticed
in the papers (and as I have noticed
no correction, take 1t to be true)
that the commission for winding VI
the affairs of the state dispensary hat
meeting at which I was freely dis
cussed, and expressed fears as tc
themselves, when I became governor
If they had done no wrong, I see ne
reason why they should fear any harm
from me. If they are guilty Of wrong
doing, 1t Is up to you to investigate
them.
would like for you to investigate
them fully and find out for the people
Of South Carolina what did become Of
the large amount Of alcohol that wa:
on hand at the time this committee
took charge, to whom 1t was sold. al
what price, and what was the regular
price at that time, so as to see II the
state was not a heavy loser In thai
transaction. Also, what salary, or how
much fees each member Of that com
mission has received, since he has
served on the board, and how mucf
per diem they have received for theil
services on the Sabbath day, particu.
larly the chairman, and If he rendered
any service on that day; If carfares
railroad fares and other expenses have
been charged against the state which
were not incurred by the member re-
ceiving payment therefor.
Also how much actual cash has beer
turned over to the state treasurer
how much has been paid out and how
much is left as profit to the taxpayers
What criminal cases have been com.
promised and what were the condi.
tions of the compromise? Has the at
torney general received any money
and If so by whom was 1t paid and fol
what? Why the commission kept tht
Clark lot Of whisky after Governor
Ansel had dismissed the former mem
bers of the board of control for buy
ing this same whisky? Did Clark re.
bate the present commission? If so
where is the rebate money? How
much more than $4,000 did Farnun
pay and where Is 1t? What were the
conditions of the Goodman compro.
mise? What were the conditions Of
the F1eischmann compromise? Il
money was paid in these transactions
where is it? What was the agreement
had with Ex-Governor John Gary Ev.
ans and ex-State Chairman H. H. Ev.
ans. for information given by them a.
conference held in Atlanta, between
these gentlemen, Attorney Genera
Lyon and Attorney Fielder? Why were
other members Of the various boards
of control not indicted? What be-
came of the report Of the detectives
to the committee Of certain members
of the house and senate and why was
this report not made public? What
were Felder's fees, and why was ht
not prosecuted, when 1t was known
that he was attorney for a liquor
house and was favored with purchase:
from dispensary boards and rebates
were paid for these purchases? Wha'
criminal prosecutions have beer
brought, who has been convicted ant
what has it cost the state?
A thorough investigation Of this en-
tire matter. gentlemen, will give
great deal of satisfaction to your con-
stituents. There are those who be-
lieve that the state has lost more
through the winding-up commission
that it has ever lost through the state
dispensary system. Whether this bt
true or not, it Is not for me to say
hold my belief as to corruption, bu
the people of South Carolina are en-
titled to the fullest and freest inves
tigation on your part, before the re-
port of these men is received and they
are discharged as public officials.
South Carolina Is paying bonds to-
day for debts made by scalawags ant
carpetbaggers, for things which hel
citizenship never received the beneh
therefor. Under her Democratic gov
ernment, she bought whisky at
price and sold it, made profit on Il
and now repudiates the debt made by
her sons, white men and Democrats
If she can repudiate this indebtedness:
with impunity and without scar upor
her honor, why could she not repudl'
ate the debt of thieves and scoundrel:
who were not her own people?
repeat, gentlemen, laying aside
political feeling, laying aside persona
feelings and animosity, and as true
citizens as you are, who love your
state, love her past traditions and are
proud Of her future prospects, should
thoroughly investigate this entire
matter, clear up suspicion against
those who are innocent and prosecute
those who are guilty, whether they be
members of past boards Or present.
Very respectfully,
Cole L. Blease, Governor.
Columbia, Jan. "a.
E.praeiLanfc In Pnlitics