The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-02-02
MANNING'S FIRST YEAR.
LOwndcs Browning Discusses Admins
tratiOn's Progress.

To the Editor of The State:
One year ago one Of the most pa
triotic ant rOgressive addresses ever
delivered Dy one Of our governors was
made by the present incumbent upon
his inauguration into Office. It is
speaking mildly to say that the heart
lof every patriotic citizen was filled
with gladness when they heard or
read the same. We felt that fac
tionalism was indeed dead and buried;
we felt that an era of progressive leg
islation, SO long and so badly needed
by our State, had dawned, but above
and beyond all else 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
dinary discernment will see that while
the declaration. II stand by my
friends" has not been blatantly
and vociferously proclaimed, still
the effort to build up personal politi-
cal machine has been as unceasing
as before. I 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 legisla-
ton the present general assembly,
with the hearty approval of the chief
executive. has made beginning along
these lines worthy Of all commenda-
ton and approval. Notably might be
mentioned the establishment of the
State tax commission and the State
board of charities and corrections. If
the present session will carry out the
recommendations contained in the
first report of the State tax. commits
sion, submitting the constitutional
questions to the people at the next
election, enacting into law such
changes as can be made by legisla-
ton, feel sure that in very few
years we will have taxing system,
just to- all, and which will yield ample
revenue for all governmental needs.
None of these recommendations are
new. all of them and others equally
as desirable have been discussed time
and again, both upon the hustings
and through the press.
Through the work Of the commits
sion on charities and corrections
much good is sure to follow in the
more humane, sanitary and Intelligent
treatment of the unfortunates.
1 come now to that for which this
administration stands supremely
pledged-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 is 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 learned and patriotic
judiciary, two of these efforts have
already been frustrated. When the
general assembly, in it's zeal to aid
this administration in every way, at
tempted to usurp the functions of a
constitutional State officer by appro-
priating $4,000 to be used by the gov
ernor for legal advice, he, had he
been true to his oath of Office and
true to his battle cry Of law and or
der, would have vetoed this item, in
forming the general assembly that
the law Of the State placed this duty
upon the attorney general. It comes
with poor grace from his excellency
to say in his annual message that this
fund has not been used, when the
facts are he accepted, it. and if your
Laurens correspondent stated the
truth, he attempted to use it and was
only stopped by Justice r. G. Watts
sustaining the objection of the at
torney generals Office. These being
the facts, it is amusing to see you edi-
torially attempting to convey the
impression 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 Gov
Manning on the back because he
has vindicated himself from accusa-
tions Of his enemies by not using this
fund. Both yourself and these edi-
tors know that he was stopped from
using it by the ruling Of Justice