Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-03-22
Mistllaneoas Rsadina.
GOVERNOR BLEAsE ON ISSUES.
Gives Out Interesting Interview At
Newberry.

Gives Out Interesting Interview At
Newberry.
Newberry Herald and News.
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 Newber-
ry 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 newspapers and
in the dispensary investigation now in
progress. His attention was first d.
rected by the Herald and News to the
comments and inquiries Of several
newspapers as to the 5000 paid Rev. c.
w. Creighton of Greenwood, out of the
public funds.
WELL" said Governor Blease, "in-
stead of Mr.. Creighton getting 5000, I
presume that by now he has been paid
$1,000. Along during the first Of my
administration l 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 dispen-
sary law and other laws throughout the
state. Mr.. Creighton has made his
regular reports to my office from diff
ferent parts Of the state, and in those
reports I have received very valuable
information, and from them 1 have
gained information which have trans
mitted by letter or otherwise to the
sheriffs Of the different counties, to my
detectives, which have had working
in the various counties and to other
officials whose duty it was to enforce
the law, and in this way I have been
enabled to have a better enforcement
of the law than l would have other
wise had Mr.. Creighton's services
have been very valuable in the assist
ance he has rendered my administra-
tion by securing this information, and
thus enabling me to keep in touch with
the situation throughout the state. His
reports 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 furnished him
check, which he endorsed, and these
checks are filed in the treasurer's Of
flee. They are all public property.
Nothing has been secret or under COW
err and the public Is entirely welcome
to the whole transaction Mr. Creigh-,
ton is still in my service in this par
ticular line Of work, and will so re-
main, at the salary Of 500 per month,
IL he desires to hold the position, until
his services become unnecessary, or he
tenders his resignation, regardless OF
what any newspapers or others may
think or say or do. OF course, his USE
fulness, to some extent, will be I'M
paired by it's now becoming public
property that he is doing the line OF
work, because, until it was so made
public, he could gather much informa-
tion which, Of course, now, the world
knows his business will be little more
cautious in allowing him to catch on to.
ION Saturday I gave a like commits
sion to Colonel Leon M. Green, who
will perform a like service throughout
the differer parts of the state. / pre-
sumo the newspapers would like to
have this, In order that they may know
that Col Leon NJ. Green is not starving,
Notwithstanding the fact that the News
and Courier beheaded him. 1t Is true,
am cursed for standing by my friends,
but / am continuing to do so, and am
doing business at the same old stand
Room No. l, State House building,
Columbia, S. c. where l will be for the
balance Of this and the next two years,
unless Providence takes a hand by
bringing into play the all-powerful
DEATH"
What work is Colonel Green doing
just now?" was asked.
81 have sent him to Olar," replied
Governor Blease, ito make a thorough
examination of the lynching Of the
three negroes a few days ago His
thorough knowledge of newspaper
work, bringing him in close observa-
ton, and his knack of getting right
into things made him, in my opinion,
particularly we'll suited for this job.
also sent another party with him, who
will do some of the secret work, look
ing into the investigation.
II presume If | had not investigated
it l would have been criticised, and, OF
course, as | am investigating 1t, / Will
most assuredly he criticised"
Asked as to what he thought of the
supreme court decision granting new
trial to the two negroes In regard to
putting whom in the penitentiary for
safe-keeping Governor Blease's action
caused a great deal Of comment, the
governor said:
"I do not care to criticlse the su-
preme court as it is at present consti-
tuted I am we'll pleased with 1t, and
am sure that there will be no friction
between that department Of the gov
ernment and the executive. However,
l think the wisdom of my policy IN
having those negroes removed to the
penitentiary for safe-keeping has been
we'll demonstrated. The feeling that
was against them was most assuredly
very high and bitter. This has been
clearly shown by the fact that the su-
preme court takes cognizance of that
bitter feeling, and almost entirely up
on that ground granted the defendants
a new trial And I understood that
one of the supreme court justices SAID
that if the facts were as they were
ranresented he would most aSSuredly