Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1921-08-24
aReturned to Summer Home"

s.a~.r# ShSIuIuEu " Suuu1S ~
The papers stated several days ago
that Governor Cooper came down from
his summer home to Columbia for q
conference on the alleged mob violence
situation and then returned to his sum-
mer home on Paris Mountain. Through
the temporary removal of the executive
office or seat of government from Co
lumbia, the capital and geographical
centre of the State, to a rather distant
and remote corner, Governor Cooper
has established a new precedent in
South Carolina, one which we are con-
strained to believe is not conducive to
the highest and best interests, from ev-
cry standpoint, of the people whom ne
was chosen to serve
tits true, in the primeval days, gov
errors were not required to reside in
Columbia, but times and conditions
changed and'this change to a complex
civilization made it necessary for a
proper administration of the office for
the chief executive to reside in the
capital city and devote his entire time
and attention to the duties of the office.
To this end a comfortable and we'll
appointed home-the Governors Man
sion-was provided free of all expense
in Columbia.
If there aver was a time when the
presence and close attention of the
governor to his office was needed in
promoting the best interests of the
State, even if for no other reason than
the psychological effect, that time is
right now. We are on the crest of a
wave of disregard for law and defiance
of constituted authority, following, we
must believe, in the wake Of the war.
And if the Ship of the State is to be
steered wisely and well through this
crisis, it will require a vigilant eye, a
steady nerve and a wise head con-
stantly at the helm.
If it be proper for the governor to
practically close his office in Columbia
for the summer, it is likewise proper
for less important officers and heads of
departments in the State House to
close their offices. Following this ac-
ton on the part of the official family,
think how unsatisfactory would be such
a condition to the people of the State
at large. Instead of the State officials
being at their respective posts to cen
fer with citizens on matters of business
as they come and go, these officials
would, be scattered over this and other
States at their Summer homes"
Ordinarily, a person residing in any
part,of the State, it matters not how
remote, can go to Columbia for a per-
sonal conference with the governor and
return to his home the same day. But
at present q personal conference with
the governor would require an absence
from home of two days to practically
half of the people of the State.
Of course, the governor of a State
needs and should have a period of rest
and recreation. But withdrawing for
a season from the strenuous daily rou-
tine and quietly going to some health
resort is one thing and the removal,
practically, of the executive office for
the summer is an entirely different
matter, and will be so regarded by
many people.
This precedent of establishing q
Summer capital" by Governor Cooper
will give some mighty good campaign
thunder to office seekers of the radical
type, should they decide to enter the
campaign for governor next summer.