The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-05-18
litical play and for the venting Of
personal and politlcaI spite.
Manning's Work.

'We learn that recently the gov
ernor of the State went to Washing
ton and at his request was given
charge Of the conscription in South
Carolina under the army bill which
is now about to be passed by con-
gress, South Carolina being made an
exception to the general rule in re-
gard to conscription boards, in order
that the governors political support
ers might control these boards, and
that no one of an opposite political
faith might have a voice in deciding
which of our men should be sent to
the fields of carnage, and which
should be kept at me in order that
the armies may fed and clothed
and the women ana children pro-
tected. WE have seen the result.
Evidently the governor must have
convinced the secretary ct war that
because a great many of the sheriffs
of the State were members Of the Re-
form party, that therefore they were
unworthy to act for the State and
its people in a matter connected with
the war, and a glance at the boards
which were appointed serves to show
how far political discrimination has
been carried in that particular.
Partisan Politics.
"In the appointment of military
officers the same discrimination has
been shown. Understand me, am
not criticising the personnel of any
appointment. But I do think in a
time like this, when the loyalty OF
every citizen is demanded, that PAL.
tisan polititics should be laid aside
for the public good, and think that
the representatives Of a party whose
faith is the faith of majority OF
the people of the truest State in the
American union should not sit quiet
under the falsehoods stated against
them, but should place themselves
properly before the country and le,
the people know that a majority o,
the soldiers now in the service Of the
State, as shown by the records, are
members of our party-a party
which is today furnishing the men
who are doing the real work of the
State, Loyalty and patriotically in
field and factory, and in the marts
of trade, which will carry South Car
olina safely through the severest Or
deal in all her history.
Some time back there was civic
preparedness commission appointed
ard speakers were selected to make
a. campaign for an enlarged food
crop and for the conservation OF our
resources. Had the appointments
been for a campaign purely politics.
the lineup could not have been more
distinct. Understand, I do not know
of member of our party who sought
such an appointment, or who wisnen
such an appointment. Certainly I 90
not wish any appointment within the
gift of the governor. But, notwRn-
standing the fact that the masses to
whom it was the effort to carry the
appeal for the salvation of the State
are members of the reform party the
discrimination in the appointment OF
speakers again hold out to the world
the implied charge that those OF an
opposite political faith to the COVER
1vr were not loyal no one knows
tetter than he himself how false such
a charge is.
List Whom to Ignore.
Later the governor sent for a
member of our party, Hon. John G.
Richards, and asked him to submit
certain names of members Of our
party for appointment on various
boards connected with the national
safety. Since that time the lists OF
the conscription boards and others
have been announced but if any of
you have seen a reformer in those
lists it has escaped my notice.
"Wilfully refusing to carry out the
national defense act, South Carolina
is today deprived Of third regiment
and therefore of brigade, in which
her soldiers could be held together
ior services as a unit. why? Why
require a South Carolina boy to be
conscripted probably into Maine or
a Vermont Of New York regiment
rather than allow him to serve with
his comrades under an officer whom
he knows? 1t is a pertinent question,
and surely we have the right to ask
it. Can it be possible that the gov
ernor would prefer squadron OF
cavalry, rather than a brigade OF
South Carolinians, forcing the boys
of this State tob scattered through
out a vast army with strangers IN
order that personal ends may De
served.
RefOrmers Are Patriots.
"The members of the reform party
have never failed to respond to am
call to duty. The party can point
with pardonable pride to the quota
which it furnished in the troops
which were sent to the Mexican bor-
der, and to the promotion in the
ranks Of South Carolina troops today.
And I see no reason why, with this
record of service, we should stand
idly by and see our boys conscripted
a. Grb% yrh