The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-05-04
ANTI-REFORMERS HEAVY
BLOW AGAINST LIBERTY

1nimical to Rule by People, the Doar-
bOns Wage Merciless War Against
All RefOrmers in South Carolina.
Charleston American.
Columbia, April 29.-War news
has relegated political news to the
background during the past several
weeks. but the war situation has not
eliminated political activities. The
play for position continues and even
in this time of stress and strain, the
anti-Reform newspapers profess 10
see in every utterance and every act
of Reform leaders in this State, IN
cluding the two members of that
party who are in congress. an unpa-
triotic motive The afternoon news
paper Of Columbia has been particu-
larly active in seizing upon every
opportunity to cast slurs upon Con-
gl essman Fred II. Dominick. Of the
Third district, who was formerly d
law partner Of Former Governor
Blease and who managed several OF
Mr.. Blease's gubernatorial campaigns.
The attacks upon Congressman Mich
oils have been little less vicious,
possibly, but OF the same general
character. Others who have taken
position similar to the attitude OF
Messrs. Dominick and Nichols upon
certain questions have been defend
ed against attacks upon their motives
but Dominick and Nichols have
been aligned with the Reform party
in South Carolina politics and the
anti-Reform newspapers see the acts
Of Reformers through a glass, dark
ly."
Prophetic words.
The party that has preached mon
factionalism" is carrying factionalism
to an extreme never before attempted
in the history of the State. On April
II, 1914, Governor Blease said, in the
course of a speech delivered at Wal
terboro: "Those of you who believe
in a government of the people, by tine
people and for the people should vote
only for man who will carry out
the principles and policies which the
majority of the people Of this State
endorsed by re-electing me in 1917.
This is no small matter, because all
of my friends will be kicked out OF
Office if the opposition wins. They
will treat you just exactly as if you
were Republicans, or as it you be-
longed to some other party. Marx
the prediction: If the anti-Blease
man is elected governor of South
Carolina every Blease officeholder IN
the State, whether he be high official
or low, whether be hold salarled
position or an honorary position, as
soon as the time comes ne will De
dismissed and one of the other faction
placed in his stead"
Remember Richardson.
Every word of that prophecy has
come true After a stubborn hgnt'
Col. Alfred A. Richardson has lost the
position Of chief game warden, be-
cause he was not suitable" to the
governor, who turned down the rec
ommendation of the Audubon society
and attempted to appoint man who
as president of that society. had four
wears ago recommended Col. Rich
ardson to Governor Blease for the
position. Col. Richardson was the
last of the Reformers to retain his
position. His term Of Office expired
in March. Since that time the mat
ter has been in the courts, upon the
action of the governor in appoint
ing a. successor to Col. Rlchardson'
without the recommendation of the
Audubon society. Under the decls-
ion of the State supreme court In de-
claring the law, Col Richardson must
60. Notwithstanding the fact that two
anti-reform legislatures have endors-
ed him-the legislature of 1916 haV-
:ng Dassed an act to take the appoint
ment out of the hands of the cover
nor and make the Office elective by
the general assembly, and the lesls-
lature of 1917 having passed an act
placing the election in the hands OF
the people. and providing that the
present chief game warden continue
in Office until the next general elec-
ton. Both these acts were stamped
with executive disapproval in the
nature of vetoes.
And it is not only as to the salaried
positions that factional lines have
been drawn more sharply than ever
before. Blackberries have been as
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