The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1913-06-27

Columbia, June 24.-Taking UNI
bragg at the attitude of Governor
Blease, the United States war de-
partment has withdrawn all Federal
aid from the organized militia of
South Carolina and the plans for
encamping the three regiments this
summer may have to be abandoned.
Funds for this purpose come out of
the allotment of Federal aid to this
State, amounting to about $4,000
yearly, and the taking away of this
money leaves nothing for payment
of the encampment expenses.
Secretary of War Lindley M Gar
rison notified Governor Bleaseb let
ter of the withdrawal of Federal
funds from the South Carolina mill
tia, and Brig. Gen. Mills telegraphed
the same information to Adj. Gen.
Moore, saying this action was taken
because of the attitude of the Gov
ernor of your State toward enforce
ment of Federal militia law"
"This announcement is very pleas
ant to me-" replied Governor Blease
to Secretary Garrison. al fought the
Dick law when was in the Senate
and nothing gives me more pleasure
than to see South Carolina relieved
of its iniquitous provisions" In
dictated interview he said the Legis-
lature would probably repeal the
Dick law and he will sing "Hallelu-
jah, praise the Lord! South Carolina
is once again free from the domina-
tion of Yankee uniforms and once
more in control of her own State mi
litia." ,Ss.
Adj. Gen. Moore refused make
any comment on the matter
The following is copy of the tel
egram from Gen. Mills to Adjt. Gen.
Moore:
Wire from Gen. Mills.
Washington, d. c., June %, 1913.
"Adjutant General, South Carolina
Columbia, S. c.: In accordance with
action of war department this date,
taken in consequence of attitude of
Governor of your State toward en-
forcement of Federal militia law, as
expressed in his letters of May and
27 to you, and of June IL to Secre-
tary of War, no further Federal as
sistance, either in personnel or equip
ment, will be afforded the organized
militia of your State, nor will fur
ther expenditures of Federal funds
in hands of disbursing officer be au-
thorized by Secretary of War except
to cover such obligations as may
have been already incurred and ap-
proved by Secretary of War. Req
uisition for property now on hand in
militia division is disapproved and
no further requisition will be honor
ed. This information is telegraphed
to you in connection with plans for
encampment of South Carolina Or
ganized militia this summer in order
that you may be guided by such tel
egram and act accordingly. Dis
bursting officer has been informed of
action by war department.
Mills,
"Chief Division Militia Affairs"
Governor Blease's Comment.
Governor Blease was handed a
copy of the Mills telegram and ask
ed what he thought of it. The Gov
ernor said:
"This is what have been wanting
for some time. I fought the Dick
law in the Senate. l believed the
State was unwise in adopting it, and
believe the wisdom of my fight
against it has been shown. The law
is an Internal mess, and I have been
making continuous fight since its
adoption here to get it off my State.
I believe this will certainly opena the
eyes of the Legislature and that at
their next session they will repeal
the Dick law. When that shall have
been done I will have won a strug-
gle l have been making for several
years, and truly I shall sing, Halle
lujah, praise the Lord; South Caro-
lima is once again free from the DOM
ination of Yankee uniforms, and
| once more in control of her own
GAS to the matter of the encamp-
ments, I don't know whether this
will affect them or not, but if it does
l am satisfied the young militiamen
of South Carolina would rather not
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