The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-08-08

"Substantiall!" What he said at
BamGesg Meeting Given 0ut
50 Press.

Columbia, Aug. 3-SoLcitor r. A. {
Cooper gave ont the following state
ment to the press:
1t has been stated in some OF the
newspapers published in the State
that l said at Bamberg that in case
1 had been Governor Nould nave
acted as the present GovFnor has
with reference to the questions which
he propounded to me. The papers do
not undertake to publish just what
said. In order that the public may
have an opportunity OF Judging for
themselves as to the proper consuuc-
tion to put upon my remarks, the fol-
lowing is substantially what l said at
the Bamberg meeting:
"It has been my purpose to make
this race without criticising the public
or private record Of any competitor Of
mine, because if l am elected to the
I
did not try to win votes on account
of the mistakes or shortcomings of
others. But Governor Manning has
seen fit to ask me certain specific
questions and insists that I shall
answer them.
"His first question is, why is Mr..
Cooper in this race trying to defeat
me, when he made the race two years
ago on practically the same platform
that I did?' Now, my fellow-citizens,
this is free country, and any per-
son who is qualified, according to the
rules of the Democratic party, has the
right to offer his services for any Of
fee. I might ask the same question
of any candidate in this campaign.
For instance, why is Mr.. Dove run
ming for Secretary of State? Why
is Mr.. FAINT in the race for Railroad
Commissioner? Why does DR.. J. B.
Black offer for the State Senate from
Bamberg county? VINO gave them
permission to run for these Offices?
The question answers itself. When
tany man holding public Office dares
to question the right of another to
offer against him, and thereby asserts
title to the Office, it is time for some
on to oppose him. The Office belongs
to the people, and it is for them to
say who shall serve them.
''The Governor asks again, what i
would have done with reference to
the enforcement of law in Charleston.
1 am srprised that he should have
asked me this question. Two years
ago l stated on every stump in South
Carolina, and have repeated agian this
year, that if elected Governor I will
enforce the law in every section OF
South Carolina, from the mountain to
the sea. If jury, after a fair and
impartial trial, finds that one of your
citizens has violated the law. | Will
never disturb that finding unless l am
convinced that the verdict is wrong.
The pardoning power was not given
to the Governor to enable him to re-
ward his friends or punish his en-
emies, but for the purpose of cor
recting mistakes or preventing an in
justice.
"The Governor asks also if I favor
the Board of Charities and Correc-
tons. I can see no special objection
to the Board of Charities and Correc-
tions, but I do not see the necessity
of having so many boards as we now
have We have the State Board OF
Charities and Correctinons, the Board
of Regents of the State Hospital for
the Insane, Board of Visitors and Di-
recto srof the State Penitentiary. =
have stated on former occasions that
I think one board should be clothed
with ample authority and charged
with the management of our
penal ond charitable institutions.
The Board of Charities mnd Cor
rections, for instance, could do
all of this work, and we would .
thereby not only save money to
the taxpayers, but avoid conflict OF
authority between the different boards.
'I am next asked by the Governor if
I would have ordered out the militia
at Anderson at the time of the Bro
gon Mills strike How can l answer
this question? l was not the Cover
nor, and have not the information
which the Governor is supposed to