The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-08-02

ceive ray Tor EncampmentS as
"Wilfully and MaiiciOusly False"
Columbia, July 29.-"If the State
of South Carolina had not been so
very unfortunate in having such a
man as Governor Blease as it's Chief
Executive, all of this confusion and
strife. to say nothing Of the dis
grace which has been heaped upon
her fair name by his actions. would
not have existed. He, and he alone.
Is solely responsible for the present
conditions existing in military affairs,
as 1t is impossible to maintain mill
tary discipline under such conditions.
His efforts to relieve himself of the
responsibility and place it upon me
and my administration has failed ut
terly." This was the heated rejoinder
which Adjt Gen. w. w. Moore made
today, in a dictated statement in
which he excoriated Governor Cole l..
Blease.
II take this opportunity of de-
nouncing his statement that I intend
ed to draw pay as wilfully and malic-
iously false" said the Adjutant Gen
eral, In referring to the governors
charge of the extra pay. Gen. Moore
says that he will get affidavits from
several officers whom he names to
subs,antiate his statement that he
told them before any of Governor
Blease's criticism appeared that he
did not istend to take any extra pay.
His statement in full follows:
state of South Carolina, Adjutant
Generals office. Columbia, S. c.
Replying to Governor Blease's in
terview carried in The News and
Courier and several other daily papers
OF July 27, in which he states that I
had Special Orders No. GO issued in
order that might draw pay on these
encampments. ! have previously de-
MED this charge and by way of ex-
planation stated that 1 had told Col
Babb, the disbursing officer for South
Carolina, who called my attention to
the provision contained in circular
No. 2, which allowed the Adjutants
General pay during State encamp-
ments for 1913. that I could not con-
scienticusly accept this pay because
OF the shortage of funds belonging to
the National Guard of this State. This
conversation with Col. Babb took
place some ten days or two weeks be-
fore the encampecmnt and / also had
conversation with former Adjt.
Gen. John d. Frost, covering this
same subject and made the same state
ment to him, together with Major r.
Boyd Cole of the 3rd infantry, and
several officers Of this regiment at
the beginning of camp at Aiken, S.
c., oil OF which was previous to the
criticisms made by Governor Blease,
covering the purpOrt OF Special Or
ders No. 60. i will, as soon as can
get them prepared, furnish affidavits
substantiating the above conversations
had with these officers, which l am
sure will conclusively contradict his
contentious to all fair thinking peo-
pie and. as far as he Is concerned, i
take this opportunity of denouncing
his statement that intended to draw
pay as willfully and maliciously false.
my reasons for issuing Special
Orders No. 60 were simply to advise
the regimental commanders of my
intention to be present at these en-
campments for the purpose OF making
the annual field inspections for this
year and for no other reasons what
soever.
Answering his caustic criticisms
or me, my ability. etc, carried in The
News and Courier Of July 2S, have
only this to say that If the State OF
south Carolina had not been so very
unfortunate in having such q man as
Governor Blease as it's Chief Execu-
tive, all of this confusion and strife,
TO say nothing of the disgrace which
has been heaped upon her fair name
by his actions, would not have exist
ed. He. and he alone, is solely re-
sponsible for the present conditions
existing In military affairs, as it is
impossible to maintain military dis
cipiine under such conditions. HIS
Efforts to relieve himself of the re-
sponsibilities and place them upon