The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-02-01
MANNING'S FIRST YEAR AS
SEEN BY LOWNDES BRO NNING

dressed to the editor OF the State and
published in The issue Of January 2S
OF that paper:
One year ago one OF the most pa
triotic and progressive addresses ever
delivered by one of our governors was
made by the present incumbent upon
his Inauguration into office. 1t is
speaking mildly to say that the heart
Of every patriotic citizen was filled
with gladness when they heard or read
the same We felt that factionalisn
was indeed dead and buried; We felt
that an era of progressive legislation,
so long and so badly needed by our
state, had downed, but above and be-
lond all e,se We felt that truly law and
order would reign supreme.
During the year that has since
passed, let US see what We find. AS
to factionalism any observer with Or
binary discernment will see that while
the declaration, Il stand by my friends"
has not been blatantly and yociferous-
ly proclaimed, still the effort to build
up personal political machine has
| been as unceasing. as before. l will
not take up space to cite instances,
but they have been apparent to the
most casual reader Of an extremely
friendly press.
In regard to constructive legislation
the present general assembly, with the
hearty approval Of the chief executive,
has made beginning along these
lines worthy of all commendation and
approval. Notably mignt be mentioned
the establishment of the state tax COM
mission and the state board of chari-
J ties and corrections. If the present
session will carry out the recommen-
dationS contained in the first report Of
the state tax commission, submitting
the constitutional questions to tine peo-.
pie at the next election, enacting into
law such changes as can be made by
legislation, I feel sure that in a very
few years We will have taxing sys-
tenn. just to all, and which will yield
ample revenue for all governmental
needs. None of these recommends
tions are new, all of them and others
equally as desirable have been dis
cussed time and again, both upon the
musings and through the press.
Through the work of the commis-
sion on charities and corrections much
good is sure to follow in the more
humane, sanitary and intelligent treat
ment of the unfortunates.
1 come now to that for which this
administration stands supremely
pIedged-law and order. AS no
stream can rise higher than its source,
so the great mass of the people feel
the same respect and reverence for
the law of the land as shown by those
placed in positions of high honor and
trust.
In its first year this administration
has attempted to violate the law in at
least three notable instances. Thanks
to a learned and patriotic judiciary,
two of these efforts have already been
frustrated. When the general assem-
bly,, in it's zeal to aid this administra-
ton in every way, attempted to usurp
the functions of constitutional state
officer by appropriating $4,000 to be
used by the governor for legal advice,
he, had he been true to his oath OF
Office and true to his battle cry OF
law and order, would have vetoed this
item, Informing the general assembly
that the law of the state placed this
duty upon the attorney general. II
comes with poor grace from his excel
lency to say in his annual message
that this fund has not been used, when
the facts are, he accepted it, and ii
your Laurens correspondent stated the
truth, he attempted to use it and was
only stopped by Justice R. c. Watts
sustaining the objection of the a.tor-
ney generals Office These being the
facts, it is amusing to see you edito-
. rally attempting to convey the i'm
preston that it was a voluntary act
upon the governors part in not using
this fund You even quote in your
column of "State Press" items from
sundry weeklies, patting Governor
Manning on the back because he has
j vindicated himself from accusations OF
his enemies by not using this fund.
Both yourself and these editors know
that he was stopped from using it by
| T,,c4;oo ThornfOrQ