The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1912-08-23

the House and cimmittee had acted
wrong from personal and political
motives. Up to that time the major
ity of the House were his political
friends. Probably more than half of
them had voted for him and all were
trying to treat him right, but because
he didn't get the decision he wanted
he insulted, first, the committee to
whom it was referred at his request,
and then the whole House who stood
by the report of the. committee.
again, on February Is (page TOT
of the JournaD he sent message to
the House which covers twelve close
ly printed pages, and took half an
hour to read, in which he endeavored
to drive the Legislature to his view.
During the reading one of his strong
political friends in the election moved
to print without reading, which mo-
tion was opposed by Mr.. Stevenson as
discourteous to the Governor, and
withdrawn on that ground, and it
was ordered printed in the Journal
after being read, on motion of Mr..
Osborne, and thus the two members
of the subcommittee who had been
insulted by the interview intery>osed
and prevented discourtesy to his Ex-
cellency. (See .Journal)
"Then came his veto of many items
in the appropriation bill, including
the salary of the stenographer in the
State Treasurer's office, an absolutely
necessary expense, and the pay for
factory inspection, which he called a
useless expense" Then he appointed
his press agent, L. M. Green, to make
the factory inspection at 5000 a
month, though the regular inspectors
got only $100 and expenses. Green
made his report up from statistics
gotten from the department of agri-
culture, and made no effective inspec-
ton, but collected his pay from the
Governors fund for the enforcement
Of law. All these matters CALLED the
Legislature, as the fund set aside by
1T was not for such purpose AS
result he did not have as many politi-
cal friends in the house as formerly,
at the beginning of the session of
1912.
Conduct Toward the Senate.
"In the Senate he had been even
more offensive. The Constitution re-
quires magistrates to be appointed by
and with the consent and advice of the
Senate. In certain counties where the
magistrates and certain other officers
recommended as usual were men who
had not voted for him, he refused to
appoint them or any one else until the
Senate adjourned and then appointed
his friends instead of the men regu-
larly recommended. This was, of
course, resented by the Senate and
has caused great confusion and much
litigation. ~
consequently his message of 1912
was expected to be of dictatorial
tone, was found so, to be, and was re-
ceived with disfavor, and his cfafac
terization of a report made about the
State loan by R. H. jennings, State
Treasurer, and gallant soldier,
whose empty sleeve and spotless
character give him the respect and
esteem of all who knew him, as "ma-
licious falsehood," caused a further
feeling between him and the Legis-
lature and all other State. officers.
Then came on January 10 message
on the Libel Bill so-called, which
starts out as follows: Il return this
Act to you without my signature, be-
cause in my opinion it is the most
lnlqultious measure that has ever
passed Democratic legislative body
The message then for seven pages
dealt in language and illustrations
that the House deemed unfit to print
in the permanent Journal, and it was
expunged. The House in self-respect
could do nothing else.
"Then came many other vetoes
among them bill to give the dis
pensary funds to the common schools,
and bill to investigate the State dis
pensary commission. He had explicit
lily asked the Legislature to pass this
Hast bill and then vetoed it and did
his best to kill it. His position was
arbitrary and his course offensive to
both houses, unless they would accede
to his demands in every respect. For
instance, he sends message No. 20
(page 274, House JournaD to cor
rect the spelling of explanatory He
says, Il presume there will be some
objection to correcting your Journal
etc. Il understand who prints
your House Journals, and I am not at