Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-05-23
Misesllaueuus 8eadins.
LIQUOR AT PORT ROYAL
Governor BIease Makes Hot Reply to
Secretary Daniels.

Governor BIease Makes Hot Reply te
Secretary Daniels.
Columbia, May 22.-WhGn asked II
he had anything to say in reply to the
Josephus Daniels, in regard to the al
legged sale of blind tiger liquor around
the navy yard at Port Royal, Govern
or Blease replied in a vigorous state
ment in which he recited the efforts tc
enforce the liquor laws in Beaufort
county, mentioning the recent murder
Of Constable Cooler and the appoint
meat and work of other constables;
charged that the statement Of Secre-
tary Daniels was inspired by politi-
cal enemy Of the governor, who ac-
companied the secretary on his Beau
fort trip, and said the United States
government had the right, in the terri
tory over which 1t had jurisdiction, In
cluding the naval station in question
to enact such laws, rules and regula-
tions as the grape Juice" administra-
ton, as characterized by Governor
Blease, of which Secretary Daniels is
E part, sees At. ~
The statement of Secretary Daniels
vas carried in a Washington dispatch
to the Columbia State. The following
ie s. quotation from the Washington
dispatch:
"rhe secretary said that he was most
hopeful OF making Of that place (Port
Royal station), the equal of what II
aad cnce been in its best days when
warkshOps were running full blast,
w.sen the island upon which 1t Is locat-
e3 was alive with officers and their
families, and when everything seemed
to indicate a long and prosperous fu-
tuTe. He depicted what once had been
done there and said that he saw little
reason why the same things or even
better things could not be accomplish
ed in the future. Then, turning sud-
denly to those who had called upon
him, he said that there was one thing
that would have to be done before he
would move a peg: Stop the sale of
blind tiger" liquor to the men at the
barracks, he said, and you will see
Port Royal blossom like the rose In
springtime.' The statement was fur
ther to the effect that the liquor laws
must be enforced before he would do
anything.
When asked for statement in re-
gard to the interview Of Secretary
Daniels, Of the navy, Governor Blease
said, in regard to the interview:
I'm my opinion 1t simply shows what
I have heard good many people say
some of them North Carolinians-
viz, that Josephus Daniels is q very
small man and Is not Of the mental
caliber to fill the position to which he
has been appointed. If he had gone
on little further and looked into the
matter he would have seen that the
United States government has control
of its own affairs and own territory
down there, and the state officials
would be very reluctant to go upon the
territory absolutely controlled by the
Federal government for naval pur-
poses, as 1t is presumed that the Unit
ed States marshal and his deputies and
the commissioners, along with those In
charge for the government and perma-
nently stationed at these places, will
do their duty and see that the laws Of
the United States and Of the state are
obeyed, where the Federal authorities
have full control and Jurisdiction. And
have no doubt II Mr.. Daniels had re-
ported the matter to United States
Marshal Adams, who is a true and
faithful official, he would Immediately
have had the matter looked into and
ordered his deputies there to see that
the laws were properly enforced, and
violators Of the law arrested and car
ried before the commissioner.
However. I am satisfied that Dapi-
els made this slap to please Ills friend
Gonzales, who was with him on the
Beaufort trip, to try to make 1t appear
that 1 was not doing my duty in the
enforcement Of the laws Of this state.
But the people Of my state know bet
ter, and Mr.. Daniels will find that II he
will attend to his own business and
try to make a success of his admins
tration he will have enough to do with
out trying to run the affairs Of the
state of South Carolina.
"As for his helping the port down
there, 80 far as am concerned want
him distinctly to understand that I am
not asking for any Of his Yankee mon
ey, never have pandered for 1t, and
would not bow to him or any other
man to get 1t, and If the condition OF
his giving 1t Is for me to beg for it, he
can keep 1t in the United States treas
ury, and I believe this is the sentiment
of the people Of this state-either keep
1t in the treasury. or stick 1t in his
ears, as may best suit him.
Beaufort county has one Of the best
sheriffs in the state. He is faithful in
the QlSCIldTSe VI ulS uulieS, dHu ho
does everything within his power to
enforce the law, but everybody In
South Carolina who is acquainted with
conditions knows that in Beaufort
county, where the negroes are about
ten to one, and with its listle islands
which are almost entirely inhabited by
negroes Il believe in Beaufort, though,
there are a few Yankee soldiers
around), that it Is a very difficult mat
ter to enforce the whisky laws, and
such criticisms as that Of Daniels will
not injure Sheriff White in the least,
in the eyes of -blooded Americans,
and for the Cuban mixed breeds we
care nothing.
"In addition to the sheriff, recently
had in the county one Of the best men
have ever had in the constabulary,
and he was ambushed and murdered
while irving to do his duty in this very