Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-02-23
FRIDAY, FEBRUAnv ss, 1919.
J. STEELE SRlCE.
Interesting Appreciation by an Editor
Who Knows.


TheDaily Mail in reproducing today
the card Of ]. Steele Brice to The
Yorkville Enquirer does not wish to
have 1t appear that we take any pleas
ure in the personal slurs at the editor
of The Enquirer, for in this Mr.. Brioe
might not be acting commercially.
But the card is reprinted for the rea-
son that 1t is about the first express
sion of defense Of Col. T. B. Fielder
that we have seen.
During the campaign of 1910 a can
didate for a state Office went through
out the state making charges against
the commission and against the attor-
neys. The source of those charges
was such as to cause right thinking
people to pay no attention thereto,
and If anything but the disreputable
old dispensary had been involved the
charges would have been accepted as
false when the evidence to prove that
they were false was presented. But
because Of the deep resentment OF
those who were displeased when the
old dispensary was chased out OF the
state, bag and baggage, the charges
were taken by some as an excuse Tor
trying to get even" with the state Of
ficer who caused the downfall of the
dispensary.
The members of the winding-up
commission did not dignity the at
tacks with repeated denials, being con-
tent to make a simple statement OF
facts. But this Is the first time that
a member of the commission has
spoken out warmly in defense Of Col.
Fielder. AS the Daily Mail said some
time ago, Col Fielder was not employ
ed by the commission as chaplain
but as a graft hunter. And he did.
That's why some people are SO sore:
We do not know whether Col. Eel
der Is himself spotless or not-tne
Blease winding-up commission de-
clared In its report to the legislature
that Judge Gage prevented them from
getting a good whack at Fielder before
the grand jury. 1t Is now up to Col
onel Fielder to come before the people
of the state and tell what he knows.
1t will invite attack from the other
side. but II he Is right he can stand 1t.
AS we said In the outset. we think
Senator Brice was unkind In his ref
erences tor the editor Of The Enquirer,
but we believe that he Is telling the
truth in what he seys OF Col. Fielder.
J. Steele Brice Is q son Of the late
Rev. r. w. Brice. one Of the patriarchs
of the "Seceder" church, and for many
years has practiced law at Yorkville,
his partner at first being D. E. Finley,
now congressman. In 1890 Finley and
Brice were the Tillman leaders In
York county. Mr.. Finley went to the
legislature, where he made splendid
record, being commended by both
sides for his fairness and broadness
on all questions affecting the good of
he
Mr.. Brice was the Democratic county
chairman in York county for a num-
ber Of years. Outside Of being the
county attorney we do not know that
he ever held another political office
besides that Of senator. His record
in the senate was observed Of all men.
He went there determined to rid the
town of Tirzah of a dispensary, the
only one in York county. Opposed In
this by the state dispensary machine,
Senator Brice became aroused and
at first single handed made fight for
a county local option law. Public SEN
timent was awakened by his cour-
ageous fight. He was among the first
to attack the old state dispensary and
to tear away the cloak which was hid
ing its iniquities. The people of South
Carolina should have rewarded Steele
Brice. Such service as he rendered
deserves something. But republics are
ungrateful And Senator Brice, him.
self may be ungrateful, too. for we
believe that while he was fighting the
dispensary The Yorkville Enquirer
was inviting hostility by backing him
up "to the limit" Anderson
Daily Mail.