The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-03-30
FACTORY INSPECTION MATTER.
Col. l.. Nj. Green Sets Himself Clear
Before the Public.

Editor The Yorkville Enquirer:
The editorial appearing in the York
vile Enquirer of March 90 with refer
ence to my work as factory inspector
last year and with regard to nv re-
cent appointment, affords me the first
real opportunity of making public
any statement as to these matters.
The Enquirer has always been regard
ed a paper that seeks the truth and,
Notwithstanding my previous inten-
tion to ignore the unjust newspaper
attacks that have been made upon
me. the following language used in
The Enquirer's editorial has caused
me TO make this statement: 1T is a
fact that Mr.. Green used in his re-
port quite lot Of matter that had
been prepared by Mr.. Watson, and to
this extent Mr.. Green was being paid
for work that had already been
done. AS to what original work Mr..
Green may have done We do not
know, but somehow we have never
been very much impressed with all
this talk that has been going on about
Green. He used to be regarded as
bright able, high -principled young
man, and We are not inclined to think
that he has undergone any change Of
character"
1t Is not The Enquirer's kind refer
ence to me that leads me to have
something to say at this time, but it
Is your evident desire to know the
whole truth about the matter and
your Offering of this opportunity of
making reply to your editorial that
presented upon reading, an opening
to me Of which am glad to take al
vantage.
At the outset I wish to impress
that I have never been asked for a
statement by the morning paper in
Columbia that printed the first story
Of the factory inspection matter. I
have been in the newspaper work for
number Of years and not once have
/ ever written an article about a man
without Offering him the opportunity
Of making reply to- anything that he
desired. Even prisoners taken to the
peAft0ntiavy~ under-life sentence, have
been asked whether they wished, to
say anything for publication. This is
rule among newspapers Of the right
kind. Throughout the range Of criti-
cism that I have received from the
press of this State-biased as it is in
large majority OF cases--I have been
asked only once for a statement Of
any kind and that request-rather
offer OF the columns Of his paper
came from Col. William Banks of the
Daily Mail Of Anderhon, with refer
ence to the published statement in
an upstate newspaper that / was the
campaign manager for Governor
Blease. OF course, when I say that
the offer Is made to men about whom
articles are written for them to make
replies. / mean in cases where some
reflection Is cast. However 1t is usu-
ally the custom in all cases to per-
NIT public statement to be made in
the paper publishing the original
article. The people Of South Caro-
lima may get just little glimpse from
this Of what Governor Blease has
been up against. So far as the gen
eral public is concerned only one side
OF the picture has been held up to the
light. Except for those who have
seen the official record Of pardons
that has been printed, in accordance
with law, / wonder how many people
have been permitted to know the rea-
sons for the governors pardons in
large majority Of the cases, partcu-
larly since last summer. But, this is
Just "by the way"
Those Statistics.
Now with reference to the factory
inspection: l was appointed factory
Inspector last summer, my commits
sion bearing the date: First day of
August" 1911.
The commission gave me the fol-
lowing powers: "A SPECIAL agent and
hereby empower you to make arrests;
10 enter buildings; to interview per-
sons; to call upon any officer or Of
assistance, and. if necessary. to sum
mon a posse comitatus to assist you
in the discharge Of your duties" etc.
shall add the following section of
Ceive a salary Of two hundred (s2OO)
dollars nor month navnh hlo tnnnthlA.