The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-02-27

The Anderson Mail few days ago
printed lengthy review of the no
htical situation In South Carolina. IL,
which the men who have been cad
crs I'm seeking and winning Office in
the State during the last quarter of
century are generally and quite
severely criticised. There is consider
able truth and some justice i'm the
criticisms. but with all the assertions
and conclusions we cannot agree.
The men who have been leaders
and have won Office by virtue OF their
leadership are blamed for all the mis-
takes that have been made and all
the wrongs that have been committed
In the name of the State. That the
leaders have their full share of re-
sponsibility is patent. but a calm and
impartial survey OF the political rec
ord will convince all minds amen
able to reason that the legislature has
ocen more responsible for blocking
progressive and constructive legisla-
tion than the men who have held the
Office OF governor.
Even Gov. Blease, vicious as he
was. and lacking In almost every quail
iv that a public servant should have
recommended and sought to have en-
acted some measures OF constructive
nature. but which the legislature re-
FUSED or failed to adopt Other gov
ernors suffered moro at the hands of
unprogressive and politics ridden
legislatures than Gov. Blease: and
Gov. Manning has not been the least
oI the sufferers in this respect. He
has recommended and sought to in
huence the enactment of more meas
ures OF n constructive nature than
any Of his predecessors within the
past fifteen- Years or more. Some OF
these recommendations have been
enacted into law. but more of them
have been tracked. In spite OF
the evident unfriendliness of the
writer Of the article toward Gov. Man
ming he was not able to utterly con-
denim his administration. although he
did seek to damn il with faint praise.
Gov. Manning has few friends i'm
and around Anderson. in consequence
OF his action In sending the militia to
An6NFQnn m hC Cf In
between the cotton mills and their
operatives. The course he adopted
Kept the peace and resulted in q
settlement OF the differences on n
basis that gave substantial justice to
both parties. Re refused to use the
power of his Office to aid the min
owners to ride rough-shod over the
striking mill operatives. and. At the
samc time. ne used his power To pre-
vent lawlcssness on the part of the
operatives. He forced respect for law
and order and brought about settle
ment by arbitration and, as a result
won the enmity OF both sides.
Gov. Manning's administration has
not been without mistakes. no ono
expected that II would be-only his
enemies have demanded 1t OF MIN.
His administration has beer a bust
ness administration. as he promised it
would be. and the partisanShi that
no ~ accused of by his critics has
been the result oS the partisan fight
made on him. I'm more than one in
stance issues have been raised and a
fight forced upon him for the purpose
OF creating partisan feeling and hc
had either 20 submit or make the fight
on the lines laid down by his politi-
cal enemies.
We believe that he has made a sin
cere effort to give the state bust
ness administration and to allay bit
terness and partisanship. and IL 1,
proof that he has measurably succeed.
ed In his enOrt that his supporters -
not his fricnds-who expected TO pro-
~ from their alliance with his fac
ton. criticise his administration as So
verely as his opponents. Anothci
proof that the Manning admin.str;i
ton has not been failure Is tina
those people who neither expected
nor asked personal favors from hin
and his administration are satistie,
that he has done his duty fairly ant
periodically.
There Is another aspect OF the An
derson Mails article that is worSi
passing comment--that all that 4
said about Bleasc. Manning and 9th
cr past and present political leaders
serves merely as camou1age, so {.