The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1912-03-27
STANDS BY FRIENDS
CREIGHTON and GREEN ARE EN-.
PLgYED IN BLEASE'S
SECRET SERVICE SYSTEM

SECRET SERVICE SYSTEM
Governor Blease Tells Why He Gives
Goodly Sum of the Hard Earned
Money Of the Taxpayers to Rev. c.
W. Creighton and Col. Leon ".
Green.
While at New5erry Monday morn
ing Governor Blease was asked by
The News and Courier correspond
ent about the comments and en-
ouiries Of several newspapers as to
the 5000 paid the Rev. c. ". Creigh-
ton, Of Greenwood, out of the public
fund.
Well" said Governor Blease, 3'ir~
stead Of Mr.. Creighton getting 5000,
I presume that by now he has been
paid $1,000. Along during the first
OF my administration I secured the
services Of Nj Creighton for the
purpose Of giving me general infor-
nation in regard to how the officers
in different counties OF the State
were enforcing the law, and as to
violations Of the dispensary law ana
other laws throughout the State. Mr.
Creighton has made his regular re-
ports to my Office from different parts
Of the State, and in those reports l
have received valuable information,
AID from them I have gained infor-
nation which I have transmitted by
letter or otherwise to the sheciffs OF
the different counties, to my detec-
tiveS, which I have had working in
the various counties. and to other OF
fcials whose duty it was to enforce
the law, and in this way I have been
enabled 10 have better enforce
ment Of the law than I would have
otherwise had.
Creightcl's services have been
very valuable in the assistance be has
rendered by administration by secur-
ing this information, and thus enab-
ling me to teep in touch with the
situation throughout the State: His
reports are on file in the office, and
are public property, and can be in
vestigated at any time By any one
who wishes to see them. His vouch-
ers were made out regularly and
sent to the Comptroller General S
cfice. The amounts were deducted
from the law and order fund, and not
from the contingent fund, as was
falsely stated by the newspaper re-
ports. They are On fle n the Comp
troller Generals Office. The Comp
troller General then furnished him a
check, which he endorsed, and these
checks are fled in the Treasurer S
Office. They are all public property
Nothing has been secret or under
cover, and the public are entirely
welcome to the whole transaction.
sMr. Creighton is still in my SER
vice in this particular line of work,
and will so remain, at the salary OF
500 per month, until his services
become unnecessary. or he tenders
his resignation, regardless OF what
any newspaper o. others may think
OF say or do. OF course, his use
e..1.o.. ~ .o,,o aS+oo- will ba i'm
paired by it's now becoming public
property that he is doing this line Of
work, because, until it was so made
public. he could gather much intor-
nation which, Of course, now, the
world knowing his business, will be
little more cautious in allowing
him to catch on to.
"On Saturday I gave like COM
mission to Col. Leon NJ. Green, who
will perform like service through
out 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, Notwithstanding the fact
that The News and Courier beheaded
him. It is true I 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 I 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 Col. Green doing
just now" was asked. 'I have sent
him to Olar," replied Governor
Blease, ''to make thorough exam
ination Of the lynching Of the three
negroes a few days ago. His thor
ough knowledge of newspaper work,
bringing him in close observation,
and his knack Of getting right into
things, made him, in my opinion,
particularly we'll suited for this job.
I also sent another party with him,
who will do some OF the secret work,
looking into the Investigation. / pre-
sumo il had not Investigated it
would have been criticised, and, OF
course, as I am Investigating 1t,
will most assuredly be criticised.