The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1928-02-17

1t was a peculiar situation. The
most important measure of the Me-
Lean administration was the crei-
tiOn of the Budget Commission In
1925. The Governor needed keen
mind on that commission and y. II.
williams. State Senator from the
First District supplied it. Senator
Williams has been a faithful and
tirelcss worker on the Budget. IL
put Senator Williams close to Nc
Lean and obligated Mclean to VIII
liams. And the Governor has not
been unmindful Of the fact that the
Elizabeth City Elan has Il bug for
office holding. lie knew that he.
would some day have to recognize
the Elizabeth City man.
Friends Of Senator Williams
thought the Governors time to-
honor Senator Williams had come
with the vacancy in the Office or
Secretary of State. The Governor
thought so too. 1t was confidently
predicted that Senator Williams
would get the appointment. But
the ghosts of politicians acts ever
rise up to haunt them. One Of these
ghosts rose up in this case. ~
Back in 1923 the late Col. j.
Bryan Grimes died in the Office OF
Secretary of State and Governor
Mclean went up to Raleigh to plead
with Cam Morrison for the appoint
ment of Jim Hartness of Statesville.
He even wrote letters recommend
ing Hartness. And then. bless gawd,
Hartness bohs up in 1928 to demand
of Mclean the Office which Mclean
thought .he should have had. in
1923. Ard the friends Of Hartness
active In his behalf outnumberedS
those of Senator Williams two to
cpe. Governor Mclean hnd 10 give
the appointment to HartneSs: he
couldn't have done anything else. (
But wait a minute. The act of
1925 creating the Budget Commits
sion made the Governor Director OF
the Budget and empowered him to
appoint al assistant director. That
assistant had never been appoint
Ell. And so to square himself. win
Senator Williams, Governor Mclean
gave him the budget job, with
salary of 5000 a year to start, or
$500 more than is paid tile Secretary
of State. =. ..
Mclean not CnIy squared himself
with Senator Williams. but siezed
upon an unusual opportunity TO
thrust upon the Elizabeth City man
an office which the Governor had
wanted him TO accept since the Bud
| Get Commission was created. Sen
ator Williams had previously declin-
ed to accept this same Office, but
having gone IL hunting for the other
office he WAS somewhat in the posi-
ton of having TO accept n COM
prOmiSe in order TO save his face.
1t is also whispered here that
Senator Williams was persuaded
that he didn't want the Secretary
ship anyway. since ii will be the
duty of the Secretary of State TO
take the stump after the Democratic
| National Convention in June and
campaign for the party's presiden-
tial nominee. If that nominee hap
mems TO he Al Smith. Senator Will
liams would rather take licking
than take the stump.
Senator Williams left Elizabeth
City Tuesday night to assume the
duties of his state Office. His fam
ily remains in Elizabeth City. He
will not remove his family to Raj
eigh until he finds out how the
wind is likely to blow in 1879. lie
is not going to he presumptions and
break up housekeeping in Elizabeth
City until he is assured that his
services will be as desirable to the
coming o. Max Gardner administra-
tion as ii is to the administration OF
Angus Mclean. Caution Is another
good trait of this Elizabeth City
man.
In Re The Governorship
Here In Elizabeth City almost
everybody is all puffed up over the
recognition of their fellow towns
man and there is prevalent a feel.
ing that it is the beginning OF an
era of better breaks for Elizabeth
City and Northeastern Carolina
aspirants to State honors.
Friends of Blucher Ehringhaus
were particularly pleased with the
disappointment of Senator Williams
in the Secretary of Stateship. With
out particular warrant, it was popu-
larly supposed here that given the
office of Secretary Of State, Senator
Williams would aspire to the Gov
eruorship and complicate matters in
1882. Ehringhaus has either WIT
tingly or by the sheer force OF ai