The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-08-05

"s MS .iiiie was snort. He had made
the statement in Orangeburg in his
campaign for the Office of governor
two years ago that the paramount is
sue In the campaign, as he saw it at
that time, was law enforcement. He
had promised If elected to see that the
law was enforced and that the verdicts
or Juries were not set aside by one
man. That issue was till as live as
1t was two years ago, when this COM
munity had not suffered as much as
other communities had from lax eu.
-fOrcement of the laws. He stated
that he had dismissed that State con-
stabulary which had not been doing
Its duty and he had endeavored to let
localities govern themselves, as he
believed In local elf-goveornment. In
Charleston the local officers had not
enforced the laws and he had appoint
ed constables for that city, with in
structions to see that the liquor law
was enforced and blind tigers closed
up. Instructions were to raid a place
as much as three times daily, IL rieces-
'sary and some places had been raided
every hour OF the night, quietly and
without violence. Charleston now was
better sthan 1t had been and the con-
stables and local officers were now en-
deavoring to see that4the law was en-
forced at.all times everywhere.
He had been given $4,000 by the
legislature to enforce the prohibition
law OF which he had used $40, 900, but
he would use the whole amount, il It
was necessary to enforce the law. The
reports Of the solicitors showed thAt
more violations OF sthe law had been
tried ana convictions secured than
ever before. He referred to the
executive clemency in forty five cases
during his administration, saying that
in only two cases had unconditional
pard0ns been given, and these were
where he 'thous41t injustice had been
done. THE pardon boafd had made
the recommendations. He said that
by allowing the verdicts. of juries To-
stand. the good people OF the State
have gained respect for the law caused
by the regard for it.
He referred to savings which had
been made for the State through the
sale OF State bonds and the putting of
these bonds on the tax books. where
they had never been before. The loss,
OF property by the militia had been
set aside and the State relieved of a
debt Of $4,000. The inequalities of
taxation We're so glaring that every
body could see them. He had rec
commended tax commission which
was now studying the inequalities and
collecting data with a view of recon-
mending changes which would re-
move them In the near future. He
stated that he would like to discuss
the State Board of Charities and Cor,
rections, education and the teaching!
of farming in the rural schols, the
Torrens land system, rural credits
and other issues. but he did not have
the time.
Il was elected on law enforce
ment platform Have I done it?" he
asked. Somebody in the audience re-.
piled. "You have done it." IT stood
for constructive legislation; have L
made good?" he asked.
Gov. Manning then entered into a
discussion Of the State hospital for the
insane. He showed the terrible con-
ditiOns which he had found there on
his personal Investigations at his In
as governor. Then of his
efforts to find a man who would as ;,
sumo the duties as superintendent at
the salary fixed by the legislature. He
showed the note and check which he
had given to pay the difference in
salary between that he had promised
to DR.. Fred c. Williams and the
amount paid by the State, saying that
he did not regret the money expended
and he would never receive cent of
1t back from the State Applause
greeted this statement. He said that
he had saved in the operation of the
asylum $4,000 a year while the ad-
ditional salary paid to DR.. Williams
was $1.70O, and asked his audience
IL this was good business. There We're
now more doctors and nurses, better
food. better clothes and better treat
ment than ever before. When he had
taken charge the inmates were treat
ed as worse than criminals. many Of
them were strapped down to their
couches and many confined in dark
1OathsOme cells from which thew wera