The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1919-01-30
TAKEN FOR GOVERNORS son.
Newspaper Man Named Manning Had
Interesting Experiences.

the following artlcle Dy "A. ~.
Manning, now managing editor Of
the Butler, Pa, Citizen, is publish
ed in a magazine called Pep" at
Cleveland, Ohio.
A similarity of names enabled me,
as a reporter for South Carolina
newspaper, to score one of the most
unusual, if not sensational, news
beats ever recorded in the political
annals of the state.
My sheet, a Columbia paper, had
shot me down to Charleston to get
the inside dope" on political situ-
alton which just at that time was
holding the states undivided atten-
ton.
Statewide prohibition had been in
effect about four months. But Char
lesion had been slow to close up,
Finally Governor Richard I. Man
ming, elected short time before
over the "wide-open" advocate. the
notorious Cole Blease, ordered the
metropolis to close not only its sa-
looms but also all gambling houses
and the "red light" Still Charles
toms city officials. police department
included, failed to act. My assign
ment was to expose the towns rot
tenness."
On arriving in Charleston 1 regis
tered at the leading hotel. "a. D..
Manning, Columbia, S. c." Then
things began to happen.
How is the governor? was the
greeting of the affable clerk.
Fine" replied the reporter.
thinking this was the customary
greeting for newly arrived guests.
On stepping out of the elevator
on my way to dinner that evening, 1
was accosted by the manager of the
hotel, who said: "Mr. Manning, you
must have dinner with myself and
family" The invitation was accept
ed. 1 thought the manager was
aware. that 1 was newspaperman,
and, with an eye to free publicity,
desired to be sociable.
But when the introductions came,
at the dinner table, to wife and
beautiful daughter, 1.-The cat was
out of the bag"
"Mr. Manning, meet my wife and
said the manager. MY
dears, this is Mr. Manning, the new
governors son."
My name had led the hotel people
to take it for granted that I, A. D.
Manning, was the son Of R. I. Man
ming, the states new governor.
The next morning callers were
waiting for me in the lobby. One
was the secretary to the city's may
or. The mayor himself, it was eI-
planned, was i'll in a hospital.
Invited to breakfast by the secre-
tary and later to a chat in the may
or's office, suffered qualms Of con-
science, but thought the wisdom OF
drifting was apparent.
Later, the sheriff of the county, a
supporter of Manning in his cam
paign for governor, called at the ho-
tel to see "the governors son." He
related much regarding the city ad-
disregard Of law and
order. Solemnly he informed me
that he had closed all road houses
and other disreptuable places which,
he said, had formerly flourished in
the districts surrounding Charles
ton for a radius Of twenty miles.
In the meantime several proprie-
tors Of saloons and gambling houses
had received word that the govern
er's son was in the city and was mot
a bad fellow" That night by acci-
dent or design I was invited to a
Of the places in question and
shown that they were not 80 rotten
after ALL" that they were operated
strictly on the quiet. But the sher-
if, 1 was told was allowing the
road-houses to run wide open, instii-
tuting spasmodic raids against
them, though not until he had tip
ped the owners that the squads were
on the war path.
To substantiate these assertions,
the governors son" was taken on a
tour Of inspection through the
was on Sunday after
noon. Drinks were plentiful. Music
was in abundance. There was no
lack Of dancing partners. One
roadhouse boasted cabaret - very
The next day, Monday, the "gov-
ernors son" called at the city hall
to see the mayor, who had left the
hospital the day before. And in
the mayors office at the time was
state senator, who was intimately