The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1915-04-29
GRACE TELEGRAPHs MANNING.
Chief of Police Says Great Strides
Made in Enforcing Laws.

gram from Mayor Grace. of Charles
ton, regarding the progress Of law
enforcement in that city. The Mayor S
telegram. which is in answer to let
ter from the governor calling for
detailed statement within forty-eight
hours of the progress being made in
enforcing the laws in Charleston. is
as follows:
The Hon. Richard |. Manning, gov
ernor, Columbia. S. c.: | am reliably
advised by the chief Of police that
great strides have been made in the
direction of complete law enforce
ment. First, all forms of gambling.
including slot machines, lotteries and
regular gambling houses, have been
banished. so far as is possible to
Danish them from the city of Char
lesion, and whenever we hear in any
case Of any disposition by anyone to
peep out in violation of the law
against gambling we immediately
take steps to stop it. The liquor sit
uation, however, is different. You
ask me for a statement of what places
have been closed. Of course, you
know that the city of Charleston has
no power to close place up, except
by a refusal to issue license to do
business of any kind. Where busi-
ness, such as the liquor business, is
run in violation of law, the city has
no power by any process that | know
of to close place up, nor has any
law enforcing power in the State any
such power. Notwithstanding this,
the temper of the methods that We
have adopted have compelled many
places of prominence voluntarily to
close rather than risk the odium and
tumult attached to the constant raid
ing by the police mention particu-
larly both hotels. Many other places
that had been flagrantiy by hold
fronts and otherwise, violating the
law, have been driven at least to
cover until, on the whole, the sale of
liquor in Charleston, if carried on at
all now. is not being carried on with
any open defiance of law. l cannot
tell you conscientiously that in the
city of Charleston no liquor is being
sold against the law. If you have
been advised that anywhere outside
of the city of Charleston any better
efforts have been made, all things
considered, than we have made in
the city of Charleston, or that there
is a place where liquor is not being
sold, have nothing to say but to ex-
press my profound doubts. BY COM
parison, feel justified in saying that
within the city of Charleston we have
made greater relative strides to carry
out your wishes than anywhere that
l know of. When you consider that
We were ordered by you suddenly
to uproot something that was in
woven into the web of the life Of
community, l can honestly say that
We have accomplished a great deal.
(Signed) JOHN P. GRACE.
Mayor.
The governors letter to Mayor
Grace was as follows:
State of South Carolina, executive
chamber, Columbia, April 20, 1915.
The Hon. John P. Grace, mayor,
Charleston, S. C.-My Dear Mr..
Mayor: Following our recent tele-
phone conversation in which you
called me up and promised to give me
a statement Of what you had accom-
plished in Charleston, l beg to say
that l am very much disappointed at
not having heard from you.
l will be glad if you will let me
have within forty-eight hours a de-
tailed statement of what places have
been closed, with statement also if
they are still closed or if they have
resumed business. BY doing so you
will greatly oblige.
Very truly yours,
RICHARD I. MANNING,