The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-05-31
DIR. WALLACE AND GOV. BLEASE.
DR.. D. ID. Wallace Refers to RumOr as
to His appointment on Industrial
School Board and Cites
Correspondence.

To the Editor of the News and Cou-
rier: 1t recently came to my attention
that a report was circulating to the
effect that 1 had applied to Governor
Blease for reappointment on the board
of trustees of the South Carolina In
dustrial School and that 1 had asked
that he would not allow the opposition
of nv father to him to have any in
huence in the matter. This rumor is
false and groundless, utterly without
basis of truth in any aspect, degree or
particular. Since, however, it will
continue to circulate unless corrected
and might find credence with some
persons, I would thank you for plac-
ing the following correspondence be-
fore your readers:
Spartanburg, S. c., May Is, 1912.
Governor Cole. L. Blease, Columbia,
S. C.-Dear Sir: A few weeks ago
there came through the mail in an Of
fetal envelope of your Office to my
father, the editor of the Newberry OBJ
server, copy of a letter which 1 had
written to you, March IS last, on bust
ness connected with the South Caro-
lima Industrial School, At the bottom
of this copy, put there, presume by
you or some assistant at your dicta-
ton, was the following unsigned
note:
"(At the date of this letter, DR.. Wal
lace's term on the refornlatory board
had expired. Shortly after he was re-
commissioned by the governor to
serve for the period of six years.)"
Ny father forwarded the letter to me
with the comment that the sending of
it was evidently intended either as
compliment or as hint to him that he
was under somesort Of political obli-
cation to you in consequence. I chose
not to construe it in the offensive sense
as the bare face of the words made
possible harmless or even kindly in
tention, however inapt they might be
considered, and so let it pass. But it
has Just come to my knowledge that
political friend of yours in NeWberry
has remently made the statement that
I made application to you for reap
pointment on the Industrial School
board, and that in making such al
legged application I asked you not to
let the political opposition of my faith
er to you have any influence in the
matter.
You know, of course, that made no
application for reappointment, to say
nothing of the contemplate and cring-
ing terms which 1 am alleged to have
employed. I even hesitated to write
suggesting a board meeting, thinking
that any request from me would have
small weight; but after asking several
other gentlemen to write, decided
that a letter from me could at least
do no harm and might serve, so far as
minded cooperation could do so, to
one individuals assurance of fair
urevent the deliberations of our board, |
composed of men from opposite poll
tical factions, from being Influenced by
partisan feeling. You no doubt recall
the fact that at the first meeting of
the board which you attended you vol
unteered in open meeting the statement
that you intended to reappoint me and
two others whose commissions were
expired or soon to expire, mad that at
the next meeting you assigned to me as
chairman important committee work
to extend beyond the term l was then
serving. Thus there was no occasion
for me to ask for reappointment, had
l desired it ever so much, as your
statement, which 1 saw no reason to
doubt, had already settled the matter
in everything except form. l judged
that you intended, as is generally the
practice regarding such institutions
as the Industrial School, to select or
reappoint the trustees without any
reference to their political views.
7 do not attempt to say how the re-
port I have referred to originated, but
the fact that it exists admonishes me
os u-ha+ had nnf anticinated when !