Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-10-18
Lyon and Peoples.

Lyon and Peoples.
1t was the concensus of opinion
among the politically wise that full
vote last Tuesday would give the at
torney generalship to Thomas H. Pee
Piles, while light vote would result in
the reelection of ]. Fraser Lyon; but
it turns out that the vote was very
light and to the surprise of everybody
the choice Of the majority fell upon
Mr.. Peoples.
All kinds of comments are being
printed in the papers; but a reading Of
these comments in search of light
seems to lead rather to confusion. One
opinion has 1t that Mr. Lyon is victim
Of neglect Of duty on the part Of the
highest citizenship Of the state in fail
ing to turn out and give him that sup
port to which he was entitled. Another
opinion attributes the result to resent
ment on the part of the voters against
the executive committee for it's failure
to do it's duty under the law of the
party and call the second election with
in the time prescribed. Most of the
opinions that we have seen seem to
agree that Mr.. Lyon has discharged
the duties Of his position in loyal and
able manner, and that he has more
than earned the endorsement of a re-
election.
Probably some Of these opinions are
right, but to our view, none of them are
entirely satisfactory. AS we have al
ways seen it, Messrs. Lyon and Chris
tensen did some most excellent work
as members Of the first really earnest
dispensary investigating commission in
showing up the crookedness and cor
ruptlon in connection with the old state
dispensary, and for that work both
won high place in the estimation of
the people of the state. But later as
attorney general, Mr.. Lyon made mis-
takes, or was made responsible for
mistakes that lost him the approval
and backing Of the people. In brief
those mistakes included the going af-
ter dispensary money and graft instead
Of going after the people who had rob-
bed the state We believed then and
we believe now that If all efforts had
been devoted to the putting of stripes
on the grafters," instead Of the recov-
cry of large sums Of money out Of
which tremendous attorneys fees were
secured, the political history of the
state during the past four years would
have been very different from what 1t
has been. We have no reason whatever
to believe that Mr.. Lyon himself has
ever been benefited to the extent Of one
single questionable dollar in any of the
graft hunting in which he has been
engaged; but we have been unfavor-
ably impressed with the thousands of
dollars in fees that have gone to w. F.
Stevenson and otner lawyers. and we
believe this unfavorable impression
has gone to the public. AS to who was
responsible we do not know. Mr.. Lyon
said he was not and we believe the
commission said it was not, and while
the public has evidently been dissatis-
fed, it has been unable to fix the
blame.
From the standpoint Of pure specu-
lation, we are inclined to think that
Mr.. Lyon could not have been defeated
by any one of his opponents in man
to man race. Barney Evans could not
have defeated him. Mr. Earle could
not have done it, and although Tom
Peoples would have come nearer than
full as to whether he could have sue
ceeded. Barney Evans kept Mr.. Lyon
explaining. fighting and quarreling
most of the time, and when Barney
was not the agressor, Mr.. Earle stirred
things up little. Mr.. Peoples pursued
the policy Of hoeing his own row, left
the scrappers alone. and very natural
ly received the votes of those who had
doubts about the others.
Although a young man it must not
be assumed that Mr.. Peoples is a nom
entity, who Is not to be considered. He
has served in the house, and there es-
tablished a reputation for originality,
independence and general ability. His
experience as a lawyer is at least as
great as was that of Mr.. Lyon when
the latter became attorney general six
years ago, and those who know him
best, say that he can be depended upon
to serve the people faithfully without
fear or favor; but as to this time will
be better judge.
1t is very we'll understood that Mr..
Lyon and Governor Blease have been
bitter personal and political enemies
for at least six years if not longer, and
that has had much to do with the
friction between the governors office
and the office of the attorney general,
especially during the past two years.
There was good reason to believe that
If Mr.. Lyon had been reelected, this
friction would have continued during
had almost if not quite as much effect
on the next general assembly as 1t has
had on the general assembly now about
to step out. Mr.. Peoples and Governor
B.ease are personal as well as political
friends, and there is reason to believe
that the relations between the offices
will be entirely harmonious.