The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1917-02-22
Elected by Trick?

Columbia, Feb. ia charge that
Endorsement by the South Carolina
Audubon society of A. A. Richardson
for reelected game warden of the
State had been secured by political
maneuver that was worthy Of the
best traditions of this States politics
was made on the floor of the senate
by Senator Neils Christensen, of
Beaufort, chairman of the finance
committee. Senator Christensen S
allegation was made in the course
of debate on his bill providing that
the, appointment of the warden shall
be made without the recommends
tion of the society as the law now
provides.
Senator Christensen read from the
minutes of the meeting at which the
endorsement was given the incum-
bent, to prove his charge that care
fully planned political trick had been
worked.
At call meeting of the Audubon
society, held in Columbia some weeks
prior to the convention of the gen
eral assembly, said the Beaufort SEN
ator, attended by less than a dozen
OF it's members, there were present
as proxies of absent members more
than so citizens of Barnwell and
Orangeburg counties, who had been
gotten together and brought to the
meeting by friends of Mr.. Richard
SON. The proposition to endorse the
present game warden was sprung and
passed without discussion.
Asked by Senator J. F. Williams,
of Aiken, who charged that the bill
was presented in an effort to remove
the present officer, to whom he paid
a full tribute of praise, if the motion
to recommend Mr.. Richardson had
not been passed unanimously, Sena-
tor Christensen replied that he did
not know. But if it did, that does
not necessarily signify anything" he
said. What was the use for the few
regular members of the society to
say anything when there were four
times as many proxies present who
had come to vote for Richardson y
asked the chairman of the finance
committee.
When Senator Christensen's bill
was taken up, Senator Williams Of
fered the following amendment
which would insure the appointment
of Mr.. Richardson: 'Provided, That
if the Audubon Society of South Car
olina has already recommended for
the next term" After the matter
had been argued briefly vote was
taken. the senate voting 21 to 21 on
the question of tabling the Williams
amendment.
Lieutenant Governor Bethea for
the first time this session exercised
his privilege of voting in case of a
tie and voted to table the Williams
amendment, so that it was killed by
a majority of one vote.
The following voted to kill the
amendment: President Bethea, Sen
ators Banks, Beattie, Brice, Buck
Christensen, DuRant, burst, E. c.
Epps, Griffith, Johnstone, Ketchin
McCown, Nickels, Nicholson, Pad
gett, Ridgell, Robinson, Sherard
Stacy, Walker-22.
The following senators voted not
to kill the amendment: Beamguard
Black, Bonham, Friday, CHM, Gorss
Harvey, HARRISON, Johnson, Laney
Lee, Manning, O'Dell, Purdy, Rogers
Shelor, Spigner, Stuckey, Wharton
F. Williams, B. R. Williams-21.
The following senators did not
vote: Evans, Hughes and Sinkler.
Mr.. Richardson is an appointee OF
former Governor Blease. In the
speech of Senator Williams the first
tinge of factional politics of the ses'
sion crept in. the Aiken senator
charging freely that the motive be,
hind the bill was a political one.
Senator Williams has introduced
another amendment providing that
the game warden be elected by the
people and not appointed by the gov
ernor, as proposed by the Christen'
sen bill.