The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-03-07
GOVERNOR ABUSES MEMBERS.
APPEARANCE OF CHIEF EXECU-
TIE ON FLOOR ALMOST TIE
SIGNAL FOR FIGHTS.
Stevenson ana Barnwcll Show Wrath
at Governors Words on Subject of
Asylum Investigation RcpOrt---NO
Casualties Mark Night, However.

Last night the governor of South
Carolina delivered orally to the house
OF representatives message which
was unusually impassioned even for
him, which set the body by the ears
and came near to provoking two fist
lights between members and himself
Remarks attributed to Representative
stevenson, in the debate Of the after
noon, and the adoption by the house
OF resolution not only declining to
order the further inquiry into the
state Hospital for the Insane which
had been asked by the governor, but
congratulating the committee of inves-
tigation upon its "statesmanlike" re-
port, were presumably the immediate
provocations of the outburst by the
chief executive.
This was said to be the first instance
in which governors message has
been delivered orally by it's author
TO either house of the South Caro-
lima general assembly.
The governor walked into the Eall
alone ut Sic o'clock.
The general attack OF the governor
was against w. f. Stevenson. member
OF the special committee that was ap-
pointed to investigate the conditions
at the State Hospital for the Insane
The governor took exception to GER
tain statements. attributed to Mr.
Stevenson. in his speech yesterday
morning in the house when the Kirby
resolution for a further investigation
into the asylum matter was under dis
cussion.
The governor charged that the
statements by Mr.. Stevenson were as
false as the hinges that swing the
gates of hell" He denounced Mr.
Stevenson in the bitterest of terms.
Then Mr.. Stevenson came back and
showed that the chief executive was
basing his statements on q report in
an afternoon paper published in Co.
lumbia. There was q sharp contro-
versy between the governor and Mr..
Stevenson.
The governor said that if the state
ments in the paper were true he
would fight it out personally; that he
would be dead or vindicated, and that
II he were killed Charlie Smith"
would be the governor Of South Car
olina tomorrow morning"
The governor grew fiercer as his
speech progressed. lie declared he
meant to fight" He invited some
ono out of the hall. He was ready
to annihilate some one for the state
ments.
Discussing the report Of the
speeches further in the same paper
the governor launched into q bitter
attack on n. Il. Barnwell, member
of the house from Charleston.
Mr.. Barnwell rose to point Of
order when the governor referred to
him as acting in cowardly manner.
1t took Mr.. Barnwell only q few
seconds to advance through the net
work of chairs to the speakers stand
where the governor was delivering his
address. Disorder reigned. There
was general uproar. 1t seemed as
If the entire legislative body would
be thrown into q fight Members
rushed between Mr.. Barnwell and the
governor and prevented fight on
the speakers stand.
When the governor had been called
TO answer personally for his rellec-
tions upon Mr.. Barnwell he ended
his speech with a few words, not re-
fcrring again to the Charleston mem-
ber.
The governor Immediately left the
speakers stand and proceeded to
leave the hall. There was rush Of
members To the rear OF the hall.
w. T.. Stevenson was among those
to move toward the door. Mr..
Stevenson went. he said. for the pur-
pose of telling the governor that he
had no apology to make for the state
ments contained in his speech. The
governor evidently thought Mr.
Stevenson was coming out to fight
The chief executive began to pull off
his coat. Members stepped between
the two and Mr.. Stevenson delivered
his statement. The governor thcr
proceeded To his office. accompanied
by a member Of the house.
IL demonstrated" said Mr. steven
son. on returning to the floor of the
house" that | based my speech OF
such matters AS were contained il
the record Of the asylum inquiry.
II did not apologize but | CON
Vinccd him that ne was mistaken.