The Washington times., 1912-01-22
STATESMAN TAKEN AT HIS WORD.

There is rustling of the palmetto fronds in
South Carolina and the sand dunes are eddying un-
der the hot breath of His Excellency, Governor Cole
Blease, who is panied and surprised to find that the
State Legislature has taken him at his word Fever
heat is the normal temperature Of the State when
the governor is feeling particularly active, but it is
not often that he places himself so directly in the
path of simeon of his own raising.
Of course the head and front of it all is the old
dispensary commission, from the creation Of which
modern history is dated in the Palmetto State. That
the state of Denmark was wholesome and fragrant
compared to the old regime has become a common
place. But when there we're intimations last year
that Cole Blease should be requested to explain
some of his former relations to that institution, he
waxed more righteously and picturesquey indignant
than he has been since the year Of the Charleston
earthquake
He sent special message to the General AS
sembly demanding that committee be appointed to
investigate his record private citizen, as a State
senator, and finally as chief executive, in which ca
pacity he serves.
And the crude, Grass unimaginative Legislature
took him at his word. The lieutenant governor as
ex oficio president of the senate, appointed three
members of that body on the committee. When the
governor that he had been taken literally and
to be inspected he seemed to realize that there
was time to lose. He took the ground that the
senate members of the committee were his personal
| enemies and would probably pour pepper into the
whitewash. He solved delicate problem by bold
stroke He vetoed the measure creating the invest-
CATION committee which he himself had demanded,
and never turned hair of his ambrosial hyperions
Instead of ending the matter it has merely started
this the latest emeute in South Carolina. The senate
has overrdden his veto and the house has done the
same thing, naming at the same time its quota on
the committee
There seems nothing left Mr. Cole Blease, SEN
| ator Cole Blease, and Governor Cole Blease but to
| stand up and be searched.
But behind the bastions and turrets OF the execu-
tive mansion he is meditating deeply on the embar-
RAISING uncertainty as to when statesman may be
| taken at his word.
1t is a matter of regret that the Duke and
| Duchess of Connaught will not include Washington
in their itinerary Our theoretical disregard Of roy
atty and nobility is probably not very deep, after all,
and the most democratic American, as Byron re-
marked of Tommy Moore, dearly loves lord" 1t
is only just to say that the present governor general
of Canada is very good Sort in spite of his royal
blood, and as the son of Queen Victoria and the
brother of the late King Edward, he would have re-
ceived sincere and honest welcome.
The critical illness of former Congressman Lon
Livingston of Georgia is matter of regret to his
many friends. During his long service in Congress
he became as we'll known here as any citizen of
Washington, and after his retirement he has con-
tnued to make this his home. 1t is hoped that, in
spite of his four score years. he may yet rally and
be spared for many years to come.
/ Now that Detective w. ]. Burns is in our midst
why doesn't Dorsey Foultz come on in and give him
self up?
The days are growing longer but the shortening
| is getting shorter.