The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-04-03
DEFENSE COUNCIL MAY LOSE
MEMBERS.
sapp Defines Body as State Officers
Evenly Already Hold State Offices.

members of the State Council of De-
fcnse will be denied membership i'm
that body unless they surrender other
State offices, if the opinion of Claude
N. Sapp, assistant attorney general,
obtains
Mr.. Sapp holds that provisions of
the act creating the State Council OF
Defense clearly define the council
members as State officers. Member
ship to IL w, lid thus be denied, i'm
that that number already hold State
Offices.
The second loss is that women are
Ineligible to State offices and can not,
therefore be commissioned as MEM
| bers Of the State Council of Defense.
Mrs. +. Louise Mayes OF Greenville
and Miss Euphemia McClintock. form
erly president Of the College for Wo-
men, have been members of the coun-
Gil since its organization early last
year, long before the act creating
the council YVES passed. A third wo-
man is Mrs. r Otey Reed of st.
George, recommended by the delega-
ton of Dorchester County to Govern
or Manning for appointment under
the new act tEis week.
Among the III men who would be
disqualified under the act, without
| rpSiOnin,y tot
are David r. Coker, State chairman Of
the Council Cf Defense, since it's or
ganizatiOn, and John G.. Richards of
Liberty Hill, chairman of the State
railroad commission. Others disaual-
flied and the Offices held are: Christie
Benet, Columbia, board of regents,
State Hospit2 for the Insane: ]. F..
Shrine, Green Vile, board of regents
OF the State Hospital for the Insane;
b. Hart Moss, Orangeburg. chairman
OF the state insurance commissions;
DR.. r. l.. Hughes, Laurens, board of
trustees of the South Carolina Medi-
cal College; n. G. Evans, Edgefield.
member or the lower house of the
general assembly; DR.. w. NJ. Riggs,
president of Clemson College: DIR.
James A. Hayne. secretary of the
state board OF health; DR.. F. Fl. Nc
Leod, Florence, board of regents of
the State Hospital for the Insane.
and Charles @. Hearon, Spartanburg,
member of the State highway COM
mission.
The issue was raised when the gov
ernor Thursday afternoon added 19
new members to the council by the
provisions of the act and upon rec
ommendation by the various county
delegations. With these appointed,
the question OF commissioning a wo-.
man was presented. The opinion of
Mr. Sapp follows:
| am In receipt of your request by
your private secretary to be advised
as to whether or not a woman can he
commissioned ny ypu as a member of
the State Council of Defense. and fur
ther. whether Or not the members of
said council OF defense are required
to take the constitutional oath as is
required of other State officers.
In reply thereto beg to advise that
by the terms of the act creating the
State Council of Defense its members
are clearly made State officers, and
Section l of Article II of the con-
stitution in declaring the qualifications
OF officers provides that mo person
shall be elected or appointed to any
office in this State unless he possesses
Inc qualiiiations of an elector; pro-
vided, the provisions of this section
snail not apply to the offices of State
| librarian and departmental clerks. to
either of which offices any woman, a
resident of the State two years. who
has attained the age of 81 years shall
be eligible"
1t VIII therefore be seen that from
the provisions Of this section of the
constitution a woman would not be
ehgible to a position on the State
Council of Defense
Section 649 of Volume / code of
laws of 1912, makes it unlawful for
any person to assume the dufies of
any public Office until he has taken
the oath provided by the constitution.
IL VIII be seen, therefore. that in order
TO qualify for membership on the
State Council Cf Defense if will he
necessary for those persons commits
sloned by you To take the regular con-
stltutlonal oath, as required of other
State officers.
III th'3 connection / call your at
tentiOn to Section Of Article II of