The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-04-22
BLEASE CLASHES
WITH GARRISON

Dlfhcultiy.
Washington, April 16.-Secretarv of
war Garrison announced tonight that
ne was holding up the selection OF a
site for the annual summer maneu-
Vers OF the militias ur Florida, Geor-
gia, South Carolina and North Caro-
ina' pending the adjustment of the
latest clash between Gov. Cole l..
Blease, of South Carolina, and the
war department.
The Isle Of Palms, near Charleston,
>. e., had been selected by the mill
tia adjutants general and the war de-
partment, but was not approved be-
cause of vigorous objections from
"oVornor Blease. who complained
that he had not been consulted. La
ter the department received a tele-
gram from the governor urging the
selection of the site.
Gonplussed by this development,
secretary Garrison asked the COVER
uor to withdraw one or the other of
his communications but the governor
refused, insisting If the Isle of Palms
was chosen lie must be consulted.
Now Representative Whaley, Of South
Oarolina, has undertaken to straight
en- out the tangle
Still Up in the Air.
The matter of selecting the site
for the encampmcnt and mancuvers
OF the southern militia this summer
is still up in the air, but 1t is expected
that final decision will be announced
within the next day or so. Officials
at the war department are very reti-
cent, and it is hard to get anybody
else to talk.
AS was announced several weeks
ago, it was stated that Charleston
had been selected. Most people
thought that was the end Of 1t, but
there We're developments.
Congressman Ragsdale for some
reason was dissatisfied with Charles
ton, and favored Grccnville, and he
went to the war department and sue
ceedcd in getting the matter reopen
ed.
Then came the explanation that an
army officer had been sent to Char
lesion, Greenville and other cities that
wanted the encampmcnt to look over
the different sites offered and report
as to which seemed to be the best but
that the officer, instead OF submitting
report to the department for ap-
Woval, had gone ahead and decided
the matter for himself and had even
made some contracts IN connection
with the cncampment on behalf OF the
government. Mr.. Garrison, the secre-
tary OF war. was much surprised when
he learned what the army officer had
done, and he forthwith issued a per-
emptory order revoking the officers
decision. Upon further investigation,
however, 1t was found that the army
officer was acting within his legal
rights. that he had authoriy under
the law to make the selection, and to
make preliminary contracts for the
use Of land, supplies, etc. 1t looks now
as it may be decided that the govern
nnent Is bound by the army officers
action, and that the encampment
may go to Charleston after all. At
least this statement was made today
by a gentleman here who has been
Keeping in close touch with the mat
ter.
Whaley Surprised.
Congressman Whaley, who repre-
sents the Charleston district, was
much surprised when he learned what
had been done in rcgoking the order
for the encampmcnt to go to Charles
ton, and he has been working hard
to hold it for his town. Congress-
nlan Johnson, OF course, has been
anxious for 1t to go to Greenville, and
has worked hard for that town, but
he made his fight some time ago and
thought 1t had been lost when the an
aouncemcnt was made that Charles
ton had been selected. He was much
aurprised when he learned that Mr..
Htagsdale had succeeded in having the
anatter reopened but he has been
very earnest since then In urging the
claims Of Greenville. j. Thomas Arm
cid and other citizens of GreenVille
were here several days ago and went
90 the war department and make a
u e., I.