Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-02-16
A DAY IN COLUMBIA.

A DAY IN COLUMBIA.
Impressions of a Short Stay Among
the Lawmakers and Politicians.
Having occasion to go down to Co.
lumbia Tuesday night on account OF
some business that required only g
short time for its transaction, and be-
ing unable to get away until S.20 Wed
nesday afternoon, l put in the time
looking about and talking to various
people with whom came in contact
and learning what could about things
generally.
The weather was miserable. A cold
rain began to fall about IL o'clock
Tuesday night, later 1t began to freeze
la little, and afterward moderated
somewhat. Next day there was rain,
sleet and a little snow. There was no
Satisfaction in trying to go about, and
naturally I confined myself to the
places where I would likely run upon
the most people l knew-the Hotel
Jerome, the Skyscraper and the state
house.
While 1 would not have anybody
think I have any personal interest in
politics, as I certainly have not, ev-
erybody who knows is prepared to be-
lieve me, when I say that 1t is impos-
sible to circulate among the Columbia
people without being brought to q
realization of the fact that the very
atmosphere Is charged with political
feeling. You can see 1t, you can feel
1t, you can hear 1t, you can smell 1t,
you can almost taste 1t, and, 80 far as
am concerned, most Of the kind ]
saw, heard, smelled and felt was disa-
greeable.
Among the friends saw was man
whose name I shall not mention, be-
cause he Is not in politics, but who, In
my opinion, knows more about state
politics than any other man in South
ing views. I would be glad to mention
his name in order to add weight to
my estimate; but I am sure he would
not like 1t, and I do not feel called
upon to go out Of my way to offend
la friend that I regard so highly as
this friend. He told me several things,
but the most striking information i'm
parted was like this:
There has been more politics dur
ing this session Of the general assem-
bly, than during any session Of my ex-
perience. There has been politics In
almost every thing that has been done,
politics in the attitude Of the governor
and politics In the leaders Of the house
and senate. The governor has been
playing for advantage and the house
and senate leaders have been playing
to checkmate him. Good measures
have been killed because Of politics
and bad measures have been allowed
to 60 through for the same reason.
LAS the outcome Of 1t all the house
and senate are now arrayed against
the governor, and while l would not
pretend to say what Is going to happen
next summer, do give 1t as my opin-
ion that If an election were held any
time within the next five weeks Blease
would be defeated by 10000 majority.
But, mind you, recognize that many
things can come up to change all this.
am not trying to make allowances
for complications"
While not venturing to put my linn
tied knowledge Of the situation against
the broader knowledge and cooler
judgment of my friend, I was con-
strained to offer this observation:
But surely you do not mean to say
that because a majority Of the mem
bers Of the house and senate have beer
successful in antagonizing Governor
Blease in matters both good and bad,
and with very little discrimination as
between good and bad, the people of
South Carolina are going to uphold
the general assembly in such a pol
icy?"
mo, l do not say that" replied my
friend. II will have to admit that In
several particulars the house has over
ridden the governor just because 1t
II ole no hn a
lot of respect for the voters Of the
state, It Is my deliberate judgment
that Mr.. Blease received many thous-
ands of votes in which there was
neither Sympathy nor confidence. that
were merely votes Of protest. I do
not believe the people of South Caro-
lima have had an opportunity to ex-.
press their real sentiments for years.
and I do not believe the present situ-
alton furnishes such an opportunity.
But remember this. will you. Under
the guidance Of shrewd, insinuating
leaders, a majority of the members Of
the house have been swept off their
feet and unified In opposition to Blease
and when they go before the people
next summer II will be with their
political lives in their hands. They
have to fight, and they will have to
fight desperately or be buried, and I
believe the strength Of these anti
Blease legislators will be sufficient to
wipe Blease off the map. Now this, Of
course, IL there are no further compli-
cations. OF course, If there should
come into the field a new element
some man who comes nearer filling
the specifications for which q major
ity Of the people are looking, 1t may
all be different"
Later / went up to the state house,
strolled about the lobbies, on the floor
of the house. and into the senate
chamber. l was not looking for any
body especially, but / met a number
of people know, including Representa-
tive Don Mcqueen, father of the ware
house bill. Senator Alan tombstone,
Senator Christensen, Representatives
Beamguard and Sanders. DR.. Strait
and quite a number of others.
AS well as ! could judge. the house
is pretty we'll under the domination of
Representative Stevenson. He Is smart,
shrewd, and all things to all men, ex-
cept Mr. Blease, whom he hates as the
devil hates holy water. l was Impress
ed with the confidence and veneration
with which members looked up to this
Mr.. Stevenson. I gathered that when
a man had a pet bill that he wanted
to get through he applied to Steven
son, and if Stevenson promised him
help it was all right. I gathered, also,
that Stevenson was pretty liberal with
his promises, and l gathered a sus-
picion that he was not particular about
what he promised, so the beneficiary
would understand that he must return
the favor by helping to fight back at
Blease.
I am not so sure about this Mr..
Stevenson. He had my sympathy all
along until information developed
about that $4,000 fee as the at
torney for the winding-up commission.
But after that my opinion began to