The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-03-19
GOVERNOR BLEASE ON
SEVERAL LIVE ISSUES
INTERVIEWED WHILE IN NEW
BERRY ON MONDAY.
The Creighton EmplOyment-COm-
ments Oh DiSpensary InVeStiga-
tors.

Governor Cole. L. Blease came to
Newberry on Sunday to spend a few
hours at his home here. This being
court week, he stayed over in New
berry Monday morning to shake hands
with his friends who were here from
various parts Of the county.
Governor Blease was asked this
morning for a statement as to several
matters of general interest, with which
he and his administration are now be-
ing connected in the newspaper and
in the dispensary investigation now
in progress. His attention was first
directed by The Herald and News to
the comments and inquiries Of several
newspapers as to the 5000 paid Rev. G.
w. Creighton, of Greenwood, out OF
the public funds.
"Well," said Governor Blease, Gin
stead of Mr.. Creighton getting nine
hundred dollars, I presume that by
now he has been paid twelve hundred
dollars. Along during the first of my
administration secured the services
of Mr.. Creighton for the purpose OF
giving me general information in re-
gard to how the officers in different
counties of the State were enforcing
the law, and as to violations OF the
dispensary law and other laws
throughout the State. Mr.. Creighton
has made his regular reports to my
Office from different parts Of the State,
and in those reports l have received
very valuable information, and from
them l have gained information which
I have transmitted by letter or other
wise to the sheriffs of the dieffrent
counties, to my detectives, which l
have had working in the various coun-
ties. and to other officials whose duty
it was ITO enforce the law, and in this
way I have been enabled to have a
better enforcement of the law than
would have otherwise had. Mr..
Creighton's services have been very
valuable in the assistance he has rem
dered nv administration by securing
this information, and thus enabling
me to keep in touch with the situa-
ton throughout the State. His re-
ports are On file in the Office, and are
public property, and can be investigat-
ed at any time by any one who wishes
to see them. His vouchers were made
out regularly and sent to the comp
troller generals Office. The amounts
were deducted from the law and order
fund, and not from the contingent
fund, as was falsely stated by the
newspaper reports. They are on file
in the comptroller generals office.
The comptroller general then furnish
ed him a check, which he endorsed,
and these checks are filed in the treas
urer's office. They are all public
property. Nothing has been secret or
under cover, and the public is entire
lv welcome to the whole transaction.
Mr.. Creighton is still in my service in
this particular line of work, and will
so remain, at the salary of $10O per
month, if he desires to hold the posi-
ton, until his services become unnec-
essary, or he tenders his resignation,
regardless of what any newspapers or
others may think or say or do. OF
course, his usefulness, to some ex-
tent, will be impaired by its now be
coming public property that he is do
ing the line of work, because, until it
was so made public, he could gather
much information which, of course,
now, the world knowing his business,
will be a little more cautious in al
lowing him to catch on to.
con Saturday I gave like commits
sion to Col. Leon NJ. Green, who will
perform a like service throughout the
different parts of the State. presume
the newspapers would like to have
this, in order that they may know that
Col. Leon Green is not starving, not
withstanding the fact the News and
Courier beheaded him. 1t is true, l
am cursed for standing by my friends,
but I am continuing to do so, and am
doing business at the same old stand
Room No. l, State House building,