Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-04-21
STATE ENCAMPMENT MATTER
Governor and Secretary Of War Have
Tilt.
CORRESPONDENCE TELLS The STORY

Secretary Garrison Undertakes to Sc
Iect Eneampment Site in South Car
| oIina Without Showing the Cover
nor the Courtesy of Official Recos
! milton, and the Governor Resent.
ouch Diseourtesy.:
The following statements Of facts ii
connection with the militia muddle
together with the official correspond
ence between himself and Secretary OF
War Garrison, was given out by Gov
ernor Blease last Wednesday:
1T seems to me, and l feel that
am justified in presuming, that there
Is somebody in Washington connected
with the war department, who Is in
conjunction with somebody else en-
deavoring to injure me politically
And it further seems to me, with the
charge made day after day that have
no influence in the national admins
tration, and that Senators Tillman
and Smith have entire control OF
south Carolina matters, that they
most assuredly should have influence
enough to bring this encampment to
our state, and l would like to know
what part they have taken in this
matter, particularly the Junior SEN
ator.
In, of nf
/ have not been consulted at all in
reference to this matter by any one
in authority. The secretary Of war
has ignored me entirely in 1t, not
withstanding the fact that the con-
stitution provides that the governor
is commander-in-chie Of the mill
tary forces of his state, and most as
suredly, regardless Of what Mr.. Gar
rison or anybody else thinks Of me in
dividually, 1 was entitled to be prop
erly respected as the governor of
South Carolina, and this political at
tempt, through prejudice, to help
another by ignoring me, will prove no
benefit to that crowd. Mr.. Garrison
absolutely ignored my letter Of April
8, and has not in any manner or form
by wire, by letter or otherwise, indi-
Gated that he did not intend to ig-
more me in the matter, but his fail
ure to reply to my letter has indicated
that he intended to treat me with dis
courtesy, and therefore l am to pre-
sumo that he intended then and in
tends now to ignore me. I shall not
withdraw my letter Of April 8, until
Mr.. Garrison assures me that he did
not intend to be discourteous to the
governor of South Carolina, the COM
mander-in-chief of her state militia.
If the secretary Of war had taken this
matter up with me officially and prop
erly, there would never have been any
hitch, nor would there have been any
reason for this controversy, but his
absolute ignoring Of me demanded of
me, as 1 see it, to uphold the dignity
of my state, and l have no apologies
to make to Secretary of War Garri-
son, or anybody else, for having so
done.
In my opinion this attempted ma
neuver is but bluff, anyway. 1 be-
lieve it is simply mobilization OF
the troops to have them in Charles
ton under the pretense Of an encamp-
ment, where If they are needed they
can be hurried on to transports and
rushed to Mexico without further no
tice or preparation, and l would ad-
wise the South Carolina boys before
they go to Charleston to consider well
whether it Is their start to the battle
fields of Mexico. l know If war Is
had with Mexico that South Carolina
will gladly furnish her pro rata share
of as true and brave men as there
are anywhere in this nation, to up
hold the honor Of the American re-
public. But do not want them slip
ped off. l want fair, open call, so
that those who volunteer to go will
know what they are doing, can make
proper preparation to leave their busi-
ness, and bid goodbye in a proper
manner to their families and their low
ed ones l have already had several
kilograms and letters from individ-
uals, and some from companies, Of
fering their services If the call should
be made. Therefore 1 have no fears
as to South Carolina doing her part If
she is called upon, but do not pro-
pose to allow her to be insulted and
her men huddled up like cows and
driven into boats without the neces-
sary notice and preparation"
Copies of letters and kilograms are
appended:
Governor Blease received the fol-
lowing letter from the secretary of
war:
War Department,
Washington, April 4, 1914.
.,II r4la