The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-01-04
WATSON'S SUCCESSOR
NOT PICKED AS YET
Blease Denies Offering Job to Hudson or Others
Meant What He Said in Letter to Watson.
Hudson Makes Statement on Situation.

Eewberry, Dec. 2S.-When asked
while here to-day as to the report
that Ira w. Williams, of the govern
ment farm demonstration work, has
been transferred from this State to
Georgia, "supposedly because of op-
position to the governor, and that
Commissioner Watson is to be dis
placed when his term expires, and
that Mr.. Watson's place had been Of
fered to A. D. Hudson, of Newberry,
Gov. Blease said:
Sorry Williams to Leave.
81 have seen the article in to-day S
Columbia State, to which l suppose
YOU refer. | was informed some time
since that Ira w. Williams was to be
transferred from this State. To what
point / do not know. Mr.. Williams
supported me in the campaign OF
1910, so l have been reliably inform
ed, and he and l are the best OF
friends, and I am sorry that he IS
going to leave this State. The state
ment that he and l are at enmity, or
that he is leaving on account OF any
feeling between himself and myself,
is absolutely and unqualif1edly false
I would be glad if Mr.. Williams
would stay in the State, and If he
will stay l will ask the legislature to
keep up the appropriation for this
department and do next year, as l
have done this year, all in my power
to assist him in his demonstration
work.
AS to Watson's Job.
Il have never offered Mr.. Watson S
position to anybody, but merely stat
ed on one occasion to John Richards
that | was. sorry he accepted the rail-
road commission position, because
expected to appoint him commls-
sioner of agriculture, and the report
that l have offered Mr.. Watson's po-
sition to one or two others is abso-
lutely false.
LAS to Mr.. Hudson, he told me en-
phatically on two occasions that ne
did not want Watson's position. l
am informed, however, that ne
would accept the position held by
Williams.
Warning to Watson.
LAS to the letter to Commissioner
Watson, wrote him that my under
standing was that he was appointed
commissioner of agriculture Tor
South Carolina, and not the United
States, and that if be left the State
again without my PERMISSION
would declare his Office vacant and
put some one in it who would stay
at home and attend to it. l meant
that and shall carry it out to the let
ter. Copies of my letter and his re-
ply are on file in my office, to Wnlcn
the newspapers are welcome, as there
are no secrets in the governors OF
flee. Everything that is done there
is open and above board, is placed on
the public files, and there are no Sc
crets from the newspapers.
Not for Him to Say.
' LAS to the next State farm demon
stration agent being acceptable to
the governor, as l understand this,
it is a matter in the hands OF the
limited States department, with which
! have nothing to do. l know noun
ing of Mr.. Bakers candidacy for the
position. l shall uphold the depart
ment of agriculture and the 1arm
demonstration work, and do every
thing in nv power to make it sue
cess. And if l had been consulted
this year in regard to the depart
ments. | think could have given some
very valuable suggestions, and pos
siblv saved some people from putting
themselves in very awkward posi-
tons. But as l have not been con-
suited in regard to any matter,>.l am
in no manner, shape or form respon-
sible for the turn affairs have taken.
Rather Premature?
"When Mr.. Watson's term EXPIRES
it will be time enough for me to con-
slider whether 1 shall reappolnt MIN
or give the position to someone else.
! understand that the constitution
forbids life tenure OF Office, and l 90
not presume there is any exception
made in the case of the commissioner
of agriculture.
Asked as to the charge that his
communications and pardons were
slap in the faces of judges and Ju-
rore tho Governor said: