Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-01-13


he accepted the judgeship. appointed
a successor to him, but at meeting
held in the city of Columbia, on the
18th of December, this very distin-
guished gentleman not only held that
he was still a member Of the commits
sion, but defied the opinion Of the at
torney general, and stated that he
would be glad to take the matter to the
supreme court with the attorney gen.
eral. OF course Mr.. Smith is high
Judge, and should not be criticized for
violating the law, but l am simply
showing you still another open flaunt-
ing of the law by my enemies. If Mr..
Smith were little negro crap shooter
or some poor white man who happened
to sell little whisky, this same judge
would give him criminal sentence FOR
doing what he himself is now doing. in
my opinion. Next time he sentences
some one he should say, Il am a viola
tor of the law; you can't sentence me,
but will sentence you; you are a COM
mon citizen, but I am big CD judge;
l can violate the law and defy 1t, but
YOU little shrimp, I will teach you
lesson" 1 used to think Mr.. Smith
learned man, but / now conclude that
he is a little cheap, partisan politician
who thinks he knows all the law, while
the lawyer before him knows none. /
am not further surprised at his accept
ing a judgeship from a Republican
while claiming to be a Democrat.
Another instance is that Of Mr.. NC
Cullough, who also vacated his position
on the historical commission by serv-
ing several times as special judge
which has been held to be an office In
this state. Yet Mr.. Mccullough, like
Judge Smith, in open defiance Of the
law, holds to his position on this his
torical commission and continues to
act, and he and Mr.. Smith, with two
other members Of the commission
Messrs Kennedy and Snowden, set
themselves up as the historical com
mission, in open violation and defiance
of the Constitution of this state.
Yes. gentlemen, am criticized for
pardoning the little fellow who violates
the law and begs for mercy, while
these big men are above the law, and
cannot be reached, and Blease is cr1tl-
cized on the charge of creating polit-
ical disturbance, while these big men
and others like them, are causing the
turmoil by refusing to abide by the law.
I can't understand why these men
are so tenacious of this little job. There
is supposed to be no money in it-not
even the actual expenses Of attending
the meetings. Why is it that these two
distinguished gentlemen hold on like
bull dogs holding on to piece Of bone?
Doesn't it look as If there is somethil.
in the woodpile?
And why are men holding the high
offices Of United States senator and
state senator so tentacious in holding
on to college trusteeships in violation
of the Constitution Of their state which
they are sworn to uphold Doesn't 1t
look as if there Is something In the
woodpile?
/ care nothing for the little position
on the historical commission. 1t doesn't
interest me personally. I am satisfied
that whatever history is written as to
me, If 1t is written by my friends 1t Will
be fair, if written by my enemies 1t will
be an infamous lie, such as they have
been writing about me since l have
been governor and even before-ever
since my entrance into politics. There
fore, this little job doesn't make any
difference to me. / merely call 1t, and
the other matters, to your attention to
show you the open defiance Of the law
on the part Of certain people, and to
show you who is responsible for keep
ing political peace away.
recommend that, unless you are de-
sirous Of allowing these men whom i
have mentioned to continue in their
open violation and defiance OF the Con-
StitutiOn, that you aDOllSn tnlS nlStoTl-
cal commission, in order to get rid of
these men, and either create new
commission, or have none, as am sat
isfled the one we have is worthless,
useless, and will prove some day to be
more of a nuisance to people who de-
sire to secure the true history OF this
state than Of value.
Conclusion.
hope, gentlemen, that your session
will result in the passage Of only good
laws; that you will give to it your hon.
est and conscientious thought, and that
your best efforts will be put forward in
behalf of your state and her people;
that political strife and dissensions
will not appear, and that peace and
harmony will prevail among you.
trust that when you shall have adjourn
ed the people Of South Carolina can
truly say this was the most construc-
tive legislature we have ever had. If
they can not, it will be your own fault,
for you are the architects, the con-
tractors and the builders, and If the
building is faulty neither can blame
the other. You must all stand or fall
together.
May God guide and direct you, that
you may build wisely and well, and
may He bless each and every one OF
you in your work.
Very respectfully,
Cole L. Blease. Governor.