Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-03-14

appear that Harrison Neeley" is the
alleged offender against the speed
limit, that idea Is absurd. Harrison
Neeley is only an employe Of the gov
ernor and as the governor himself was
In the car on both occasions, 1t Is the
governor who is the real offender II
there is a real offender. II Harrison
Neeley had been arrested for exceeding
the speed limit while driving the car
alone, and the case had been proved
against him, we do not believe the
governor would have interfered fur
ther than to pay the fine and take 1t
out Of the negro's wages, as any one
else would have done. But with the
governor in the car, If the speed limit
was being violated, the responsibility
lay not with Harrison Neeley; but with
the governor, and that responsibility
the governor Is assuming as he should
do.
It Is hardly to be assumed that Gov
ernor Blease would undertake to raise
a big row for 1915, and therefore there
must be something else behind 1t all.
What Is It? Frankly we do not know;
but under conditions as we understand
them to exist, we are not at much
loss for a reasonably plausible expla-
nation. w..
Every citizen of every town,that has
speed limit ordinances understands
that there are certain people who pay
no attention to such ordinances. They
go as they please. Stand on the streets
of Columbia If you will, with a stop
watch in your hand and wait, and
while you will find that most Of the
public automobiles and many Of the
private cars keep well within the speed
limit, many other private cars disre-,
gard such regulations entirely. And
they get away with it, for 1t is not the
rule of municipal officers to enforce
ordinances without fear or favor.
AS to whether Governor Biease was
violating the speed limit on either the
first or second occasion, we do not
know; but whether he was or not we
can very readily understand why in
view of the fact that the matter is
overlooked in the case Of other Co.
lumbia big bugs" the police should
have the gall to try to discriminate
against him. It was quite natural that
he should assume that the proceeding
was personal, and as a matter Of fact
1t 80 looks. tr. ..
There may be those who do not
agree with this reasoning; but II SO
1t is because they do not understand
the fact that the governor is not liable
to arrest-that no one can arrest him
on any charge; unless such charge has
been preferred by a majority Of the
house Of representatives.
If as a matter Of fact, the governor
had been driving his own automobile
and had been exceeding the speed limit
to the capacity Of his car, 1t Is certain
that he could not have been lawfully
arrested. and the arrest Of his chauf-
lCui luClclOiCp Whii6 IhC ShouiCui Ao'
operating under the instruction Of the
governor Is only a subterfuge.
We do not want to be understood as
suggesting that If the governor were
really violating the ordinances Of the
city Of Columbia wilfully and without
reason, he is to be upheld. On the con-
trary such conduct would be small and
contemplate beyond expression.
But If 1t be the purpose Of the gov
ernor to compel the city Of Columbia
to at least recognize him as entitled to
every privilege that any other individ-
ual in the city is allowed to enjoy, he
is engaged in a good work, and If his
purpose only be to settle the question
as to whether or not he has the right
and power to pardon municipal Of
tenders, that purpose is no less lauda-
BILE. a