The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-05-30

same party accepts a position as re-
gent of the Asylum he again forfeits
the position of commits ioner of elec-
tion-and certainly there is no pro-
fit and very little honor in the position
of regent of the Asylum.
cit is clearly to be seen by this de-
cision that these little, insignificant,
trifing positions are dragged into
court and decisions demanded upon
them, while we have in the very face
of it, as I called attention to in Mes
sage No. 49, men higher up violating
Section of Article of the Constitu-
ton, which prohibits the holding of
two Offices at the same time, and which
provision applies to all Offices, and,
more specifically, Section "a of Article
8 Of the Constitution, which says no
person shall be eligible to seat in
the general assembly while he holds
any office or position of profit or
trust under this State, the United
States of America, or any of them,
and provides further if any member
shall accept or exercise any of the
said disqualifying Offices or positions
he shall vacate his seat. We have
also another provision of our statu-
tory law, which l also called the at
tention of the general assembly to,
which says that none of these officers
shall serve without commissions, and
makes it an indictable offense so to
do.
"Yet these poor, Insignificant posi-
tions of supervisor of registration,
school trustee, commissioner of elec-
ton and regent OF the State Hospital
for the Insane are dragged into the
courts and the parties holding them
good, true citizens of our State-are
held up as law-breakers, while a
United States senator sits in his seat
and holds positions as trustee of two
of the greatest State institutions in
South Carolina, and is praised for his
violation of the law; while United
States Judge holds his seat-certainly
a position of honor and profit under
the United States government-and al
so a position under the State govern
ment, and is praised for his violation
of the law; and while State senator
holds his seat and also the chairman
ship of the board of trustees of one OF
the biggest educational institutions in
the State-and he is mighty CD
senator, and praised for his violation
the law. There are other
instances could mention OF
just such fragrant violations OF
the law by men who are
higher up-but they are great, honor
ed, law-abiding citizens, while the poor
little fellow who holds the position of
supervisor of registration, and is do
ing the best he can, in his humble
way, to serve his State, by keeping
negroes and others who are undes1r-
able from taking charge Of our govern
ment, even sometimes having to make
out he has to step aside or is sick, to
keep from registering some negro that
is qualified to register-he must be
jerked into court and held up in ridi-
cule as trying to steal salary.
"The supreme court decision yester-
day makes plain the law, but will
guarantee you will see no decisions
coming down as to any Of these people
higher up, and I further guarantee you
will see no legal steps taken against
them in any court like the steps taken
in these little minor cases.
"But so long as 1 am governor OF
South Carolina, and so long as the
courts convict the little man and let
the big one loose, I propose to pardon
the little man, as I have been doing.
I am sworn to see that the laws are
enforced equally among all mankind,
and so long as the officers of the law
sit and wink at the man higher up
violating the law, and try to make a
scapegoat out of the little man, pro-
pose as governor to see that the right
nrovails and that the little man is not