The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-05-05
MANNING IN CHARLESTON.
GOVERNOR SAYS THAT CITY
WILL NOT BE EXEMPT FROM
LAW ENFORCEMENT.
ASKS Cooperation of Citizens-Hold,
Conference with Dispensary Board
Tells of His Attitude Toward CITY
N County Officers, Who Fail tn
Perform Duties.
News and Courier.

News and Courier.
Gov. Manning has not relaxed in
the slightest his determination IN 600
that the laws Of the State are enforce
In Charleston, according to an in
terview he gave last night upon his
arrival in Charleston from Columbia.
He expressed a deep interest in the
city of Charleston, saying that hs
hoped that the people Of the city
would realize that no exceptions could
be made. even to Charleston, when it
came to his duty Of carrying out the
laws.
Gov. Manning is in Charleston to
speak this afternoon at the closing
service Of the Star Gospel Missions
celebration of it's eleventh anniversary.
which started last Sunday. While here
he is the guest of Mr.. and Mrs. Geo.
w. Williams at No. Is Meeting street.
Immediately upon his arrival Mr..
Manning was taken to the residence
OF Mr.. Williams by the latter in his
machine. The county ~dispensary
board had been asked to be present at
Mr.. Williams residence for a confer
ence with the chief executive of the
State.
Following the conference the gov
ernor stated: II have had a very sat-
isfactory talk with the members of
the county ~dispensary board The
nature of the matters discussed was
not disclosed. The conference lasted
about n hour.
When asked for a statement for
publication last night Mr.. Manning
at first declined, saying with a smile
that he had decided not to give any
interviews during his present visit to
Charleston. He later reconsidered
his decision and repeated his decla-
ration, made on former occasions,
that he was determined to lave the
laws Of h State enforced.
II have a warm telling in my
heart for Charleston and the people
Of the city," Mr.. Manning said, land
l have been patient in dealing with
conditions here. want the support
of the citizens here in the matter of
upholding the statutes of the State of
South Carolina. The law is being en-
forced in other cities and towns OF
the State, n there is no reason why
Charleston should be excepted in this
respect. Columbia is dry, with the
exception Of the hip pocket tigers "
When asked as to whether he in
tended to appoint constables for this
county the governor replied: You
know n my method has been in
dealing with other places. I have
first requested the municipal authori-
ties to enforce the law. When they
failed to comply with this request 1
put the matter in the hands of the
county authorities. If they failed, I
think my policy in regard to this sit
uation, too, is we'll known"
When asked if his removal of the
sheriff of Kershaw county from office
for failure to enforce the whiskey
laws was a case in point, the chief
executive replied in the affirmative.
He did not discuss his views on this
matter to any length.
Mr.. Manning stated that he had
written and mailed yesterday a letter
to the mayor Of Charleston in regard
to the situation here, and that this
letter was given to the Columbia cor.
respondent of The News and Courier.
Il intend to make public all corre-
s%pondence having to do with such
matters" he announced.
The letter had to do, he said. with
his request Of the mayor for definite
and specific information as to what
was being done toward enforcing the
laws in this city. He said that he
mentioned with his letter a number of
names and places and asked what had
been done in regard to each one.
Gov. Manning appeared to desire
the cooperation of the public of Char
lesion in his programme of law en-
forcement. but he also appeared most
determined that there should be no
unnecessary delay in taking steps to-
ward the desired result.
Il want to see closer relations and
a better feeling of kindship between
Charleston and the remainder of the
State" he said.
Interest in the commercial life and
improvements generally about Char
ieston was expressed by the governor.