Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-07-23

person or persons they may deem
proper, and to require such person or
persons to answer, upon oath, any ana
all questions that the committee may
deem relevant and may PROFOUND TO
him or them; and upon the failure or
refusal of such person or persons TO
obey such summons or notice, or to an
swer such question or questions, such
person or persons shall be deemed to
| be in contempt Of the authority Of said
committee and may be imprisoned
upon the order Of said committee In
| the common jail, to be there held un-
til he or they shall comply with the
order of the said committee; and, fur-
ther, that said committee shall nave
power to administer necessary oaths,
and any person who shall, after be-
| ing sworn before said committee,
swear falsely, shall be deemed guilty
of perjury, and, upon conviction, shall
| be punished as provided by law.
A careful reading Of the act will
show you that the title properly ex-
presses the powers given and the du,
| ties required of the committee, ana
this committee has not, and can not
have. any other powers save such
powers as are delegated to 1t by the
iaw-making body which gave 1t exist
ence.
Committees Acts Unlawful.
The committee. when it first took
up its duties. although listening to
much hearsay testimony and giving
much regard to mere rumors, conf1n'
ed it's work to matters connected with
the state dispensary, as specified In
the law under which the committee
was acting; but, later, and when the
campaign for the election Of state or
ficials was opening up, the committee
forgot the authority given to 1t and
assumed to itself powers which 1t did
not have. 1t began an investigation
4, of dispensary matters not connected
with the old state dispensary. 1t went
to Charleston and attempted to IN
yestigate matters connected with
the local dispensaries of that county
and the enforcement Of the present
dispensary law. Still later, when the
campaign for governor had begun to
wax warm, when the speech l had
delivered at Bishopville had been read
and was being read by the voters or
the state, the commission decided that
| Il had the power not only to investi-
gate all dispensary matters-past,
present and future-but it took up
on itself, without authority OF law,
the right, privilege and power to in
vestigate one certain public official and
all Of this officials conduct, past, pres
ent and future--that official Is the
governor Of South Carolina. The COM
mittee not only sought information In
regard to my alleged transactions with
the dispensary system; 1t has not on
ly made inquiries as to my conduct
as a state senator several years ago
but IL has gone further and has at
tempted, and Is attempting, to exam
| inc into my acts as governor or your
state. especially to matters OF my ap-
proving and vetoing legislation and
the matter Of granting and refusing
| to grant pardons, paroles and COM
mutations. Not only has this COM
mittee nothing to do with matters OF
executive clemency, but the general
assembly of this state, from which
| this committee was appointed, has
nothing to do with the matter of par
dons. paroles and combinations. I'm
der the constitution of this state, these
things are left exclusively with the
governor.
Unquestionably, could convince
you, and / believe every lawyer OF
ability in South Carolina will agree
with me, that the manner In which
this committee has acted towards me
is unlawful-and l could stop this
statement with that legal showing
] but the question of the jurisdiction of
the committee I shall waive, in order
that the people of the state may judge
as to the motives and purposes of such
unlawful investigation which has been
undertaken.
FeIder's Motives.
About fifteen months ago, informa-
| ton came to me that one T. B. Fielder
of Atlanta, Georgia, had attempted to
bribe certain officials Of this state,
and that he had endeavored to form
conspiracy to defraud the state and
her people. Letters written by this
man, were placed with me, showing
conclusively his guilt. AS your chief
executive, it was my duty, II 1t were
possible for me to do so. to have Fielder
placed on trial in your courts. Seek
| ing to carry out the law of the state,
attempted to have Fielder arrested
Being a man of some ability. possessed
of considerable wealth, connected with
certain influences and interests in the
state of Georgia, supported by some
men in South Carolina who hated me
more than they loved their state. be-
ing INSCRIPTIONS in his methods,
knowing that he was guilty Of the
charges, that l had brought against
him and fearing to face an honest
South Carolina jury. Fielder evaded ar
rest and has continuously since re-
manned a fugitive from the justice of
/ this state.
Thinking to justify the criminal
course he has pursued and was pur-
suing, at the same time endeavoring
/ m hin1Sa1f iSSna
If I ever succeeded in placing him in
the dock, from his office in Atlanta,
Fielder began to issue vituperation
against me- and the people of South
Carolina who had chosen me to the
high office / hold. His filthy ISLANDERS
were displayed with great glee by the
newspaper combination that has been,
and is yet, seeking to deprive me of
the place of leadership l occupy with
the citizens of this state.
Threats That Were Jokes.
Fielder knew, as the whole world
knew, that the majority of the men,
bers of your general assembly were
Iopposed to me and my administration,
this opposition mainly due to the fact
that attempted to stay the hand of
that legislature which was continu-
ously taking from the pockets of the
taxpayers of the state their money to
bestow il in an eXtravagant and waste
full manner. This creature threatened
loudly to have me impeached and pro-
Iclaimed that he would give to that
inimical legislature a book" revealing
what he termed to be "the crimes of
Gov. Blease." The legislature met
and remained in session for forty days
FEEDERS book" became a joke, and
those newspaper editors and my other
prejudiced political enemies. who were
waiting with impatience for me to be
driven from the office you entrusted to
lmy care. wore sore expressions on theii
faces and had to confess that their one
time hero was q liar and a buffer, and
that Gov. Blease was an honest and
upright official. But, the slanderous
eruptions from the impure mind. foul
mouth and slanderous pen of Tom Eel
der continued-and he announced that
he would appear before the legislative
committee i'm the state of South Car
olina and give the facts and letters to
show that / had had corrupt dealings
with the old state dispensary. This APP
pearance he put off from time to time
his action being sanctioned by the