The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-05-11
GOTERAOR NAMING TAKES
MILITARY DICTATORSHIP or
SOUTH CAROLINA IN WAR

quest of Governor Manning, the Sc
lective conscription of South Caro-
linas quota for the new army Will be
conducted by the governor. During
the past few days members Of Coll
gress from that State have been re-
ceiving letters from their const1tu-
ents asking why it is that Governor
Manning has been naming his person
al friends in each county to conduct
the registration OF persons as soon as
the army bill has been passed when
the newspapers are daily declaring
that the registration will be conduct
ed by the sheriff, county physician
and the county clerk Of each county
in every State in the union
Stops Slaekers.
The American correspondent today
made inquiry at the war department
for the reason, and was informed that
when in Washington last week Cover
nor Manning told the department that
if county officials mentioned conduct
ed the registration, that "slackers'
might have their day, and that poll
tics would control the work in South
Carolina. The governor made out
his ex parte case so we'll that he was
told to go ahead with the registration
and is doing so
Members of congress are open IN
the opposition to any plan that puts
South Carolina on basis other than
that enjoyed by other States and al
ready there is talk of house resolu-
ton asking why there has been de-
parture from the rule in South caro-
lima and the governors friends are
TO be chosen to conduct the registra-
ton instead of the chosen representa-
tives of the people of the counties.
The smoldering embers that have been
apparent in the controversy between
Congressman Sam ]. Nichols, OF the
fourth district. and Governor Richard
Manning over the failure Of the gov
ernor to authorize new regiment
for South Carolina broke into an erup-
ton when Congressman Nichols re-
piled to the governors recent letter
saying that he did not think the peo-
ple of South Carolina should be de-
prived Of brigade and an addition
al regiment because Of the whims of
a few army officers"
No Authority.
Mr.. Nichols says in his letter that
he knows that the war department
issued an order restricting the organ
ization of additional units, and that
when he and other members OF the
military affairs committee called the
war departments attention to them
"the secretary of war and the judge
advocate agreed with US that the or
ders had been issued without author1-
ty of law"
Mr.. Nichols then proceeds:
"No order of the war department
could revoke the law or could set II
aside. Therefore, the war department
admits that you have perfect legal
right to raise a third regiment IN
South Carolina, and to recruit up to
full strength the regiments now in ex-
istencel
"I think it very unfortunate that
when the law is so plain, and the war
department comedies that there can
be no question about it, that South
Carolina should be deprived OF her
rights in this matter. It is simply
a question of whether you will carry
out the wishes of the war department
or whether you will proceed accord
ing to the law.
From General Staff.
"There is no question in my mind
that the opposition to a third regl-
ment in South Carolina is due purely
to the fact that the general stan
wants the power to officer the addl-
tional troops that will be brought Ill
under the conscription act, and tnat
if a third regiment should be raised
in South Carolina, we would then
have a brigade and the officers couid
be appointed by yourself, after tax
ing proper examinations.
"As | have above stated, the law
clearly gives you the right to have
this regiment organized. If the de-
partment does not agree with me as
to the law, I have not another word
to say. You will find the law in the
national defense act of 1916, known
as the Hay Bill. / wish to assure
you that l have no personal interest
in this matter whatever, further than
the interest of my State, but I do not
like to see the State deprived OF Its
legal rights merely On the request or
the war department. If it has come
to the point when all tAat the war
department has to do is Ito request
&c 0T "a u
forces htat he does not carry out the
law. I think it is time that the people
should know what is being done.
"I believe that the people OF South
Carolina are anxious to have bril-
gade in the State, organized and Off
cered under the law, and I do not
think they should be deprived of 1t
on account of the whims Of few
army officers.
uI o,o ;ndoa1 corrv that vnT can