Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-09-17
NO TIME FOR FIDDLING.
While Committee DiIIy- -DaiIies, lmpor-
tance Grows Greater.

tanee Grows Greater.
News and Courier, Monday.
The News and Courier is not dis
diary talk of certain of Governor
Blease's friends and supporters, some
Of it uttered in his immediate presence
and, as II was not rebuked by him,
presumably, therefore, with his ap-
proval. We ere not surprised that those
close to Governor Blease should enter
tain and express the resolve to see him
seated once more as governor even II
to do so they have to employ force and
ignore the courts; but we attach no
great importance to these revolution
ary declarations. We are quite sure
that we should hear few or none of
these threats of a resort to arms II
those who voice them had the least
idea that they would really be called
upon to display in sober earnest the
martial spirit which now causes them
so to fume and fret.
But while we regard as negligible the
wild fulminations to which we have re-
ferred, we are seriously concerned as
to the effect upon the public mind gen.
orally Of the long postponement Of any
definite action as to the first primary.
1t will be three weeks tomorrow since
the election now under investigation
was held: yet apparently, so far as the
public Is advised, the inquiry into the
allegations OF irregularity and fraud Is
only fairly begun. Mr.. w. F. Stevenson
chairman of the sub committee ap-
pointed to conduct this inquiry, has not
even been in the state, we believe, since
the investigation was ordered He
promiss to call q meeting of the COM
mittee, to be held in Greenville, or in
Spartanburg, not later than September
25. He says that at that time he will
lay before the committee such evidence,
documentary and otherwise, as the in
vestigators have been able to gather
bearing upon the charges that have
been preferred.
Just what the sub committee expects
to be able to accomplish in the mean
time we do not know. We are not ad-
vised as to the plans or the progress
Of those who have the investigation in
charge. One thing, however, the COM
mittee should bear in mind: the public,
irrespective Of factional lines, is be-
coming very restive under the delay
as nothing has been adduced giving
promise of substantial progress by the
committee in the conduct of the work
Of inquiry. or course we do not con-
tend that the committee should keep
the public advised as to what 1t is do
ing as the work goes along. That
might be and probably would be high
ly inadvisable. But as this Is an in
vestigation dealing with a matter Of
large public moment and an investiga-
tion concerning the outcoming Of which
the effect upon the temper Of the peo-
pie Is Of great Importance 1t Is only
right and proper that those who are
in charge should bear this latter phrase
of the situation in mind. Their posi-
tion Is not like that Of judges, whose
whole purpose 1t should be to deter
mine the law and the facts, regardless
Of consequences. 1t is their business to
use all diligence in getting at the facts,
but they are compelled to consider con-
ditions, and as to one Of these condi-
tions time Is Of the essence.
OF course the committee may appre-
ciate all this. It's members should do
so. But Atlantic City Is considerable
distance from South Carolina and we
are not sure that the chairman Is ad-
viscd as to the feeling which Is grow
ing among the Jones people as well as
among the Blease supporters that the
committee is not displaying as much
expedition as 1t should in matter Of
so much consequence.
We would not be understood, Of
course, as suggesting that there should
be any let down in the effort to uncov-
er and to punish corruption II corrup-
tion can be shown to have occurred In
connection with the election. For our
own part, we are satisfied from what
has already been brought to light that
the election was characterized at the
least by gross Irregularities. The state
executive committee could not have
done otherwise than to have ordered q
searching inquiry; and the inquiry
should be pressed with all diligence.
But in all the circumstances three
weeks and over would seem to be a
long time to devote to preliminary
work-unless the sub committee Is con-
vinced that the methods 1t has adopt
ed will be approved by the event.