The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1912-03-15
REVIEW OF WORK
BY ANSEL BOARD.
Governor Invited but Did Not Attend.
Much Testimony Given-LegisIa
tive Committee to Continue to
Probe Into Dispensary To-
day-Charges Denied.

sary winding up commission worked
Tor four years and returned an ex-
pense account Of $4,000 During that
period the commission saved to the
State approximately $5OO,000 which
was turned into the State treasury.
The members Of the Ansel commits
sion We're all we'll known business
men of the State. The members were
DR.. w. J. Murray, Columbia: John
McSween, Timmonsville; Avery Pat
ton, Greenville; J. Steele Brice, York
vile, and A. N. Wood Of Gaffney.
The governor Of South Carolina was
inaugurated on January II of 1911
and several weeks later he sent a
special message to the general assem-
bly, charging graft and wrong doing
on the part Of the members of the
Ansel commission. The governor,
after making the charges and insinu-
atfons as to the members Of the COM
mission demanded the general assem-
bly, to name a special legislative COM
mittee through both houses as d.
rected by the chief executive. The
members Of the commission and Attor-
ney General Lyon, who was also at.
tackled by the governor, urged the in
vestigation. The governor also re-
quested that he be Investigated as
private citizen, State senator and
chief executive. The resolution was
d1rlu H.
governor for his approval. He did
not approve it but applied the veto.
Following the veto of the resolution
for the investigation, he dismissed the
members Of the commission on the
grounds Of incompetency." At the
last session of the general assembly
the vetoed resolution was returned.
1t was passed over the objection OF
the governor by an overwhelming ma
jority in both houses.
Committee Named.
AS result the following were
named to go on with the investiga-
ton: Senators Sullivan, Clifton and
Carlisle and Representatives Daniel
Cary and Evans.
The committee met in Columbia
last Thursday to begin the probe as
urged by the governor. first Of all
the governor was requested to appear
before the committee ami give testi-
mony. He refused to attend the ses-
sions and said that he did not wish
to be troubled with the committee.
He was asked to appear because wit !
nesses had been called to defend their
characters which had been attacked
by the governor. Some critical state
ments Wsre made by the witnesses as
to the acts of the governor In connec-
tion with the State dispensary. They
were made with the full knowledge
that the governor had the right to ap-I
pear and try to refute them.
Among the witnesses appearing last
week, during the two days the COM
mittee was in session we're Attorney
General Lyon, John Gary Evans and
DR.. w. J. Murray, j. Steel Brice and
John McSween and Avery Patton,
members of the old commission. A
N. Wood did not attend because Of
his serious physical condition, .hav-
ing undergone several operations.
These witnesses were questioned
closely by the committee as to every
question by the governor.
Attitude Of Governor.
The governor was charged with be-
ing in sympathy with the grafters
and the whiskey people. He was not
charged on hearsay evidence but upon
personal knowledge. Senator Brice
told OF watching the work of Cole L.
Blease in the senate and Of his state
ments with reference to those charged
with graft. He called attention to the
pardon granted one who was con-
victed on the charge of graft In n
nection with the State dispensary.
1t was shown time and again that
the governor had never offered any
cooperation in the settlement OF the
affairs Of the dispensary. He was
charged with trying to apply the
white wash" on several occasions 80
as to block an investigation of "his
friends" who were hcarged with graft.
To Resume Hearing.
The legislative committee will re-
sumo it's sessions in Columbia next
Thursday morning when number OF
witnesses will be called to testify. 1t
&c expected that T. B. Fielder. the At
lanta attorney, and James 8. Farnum
of Charleston will be called as wit
nesses. Members of the committee
stated that most searching investi-