Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 April 1894 — WILL FACE THE ISSUE [ARTICLE]

WILL FACE THE ISSUE

GOVERNOR TILLMAN WILL TAKE CHARGE OF ALL POLICE. Tn an Addreaa to the Militia. He Declares that Unless the Law Is Obeyed H • Will Discharge Every Peace Officer In South Carolina. No Fear of Civil War. A Columbia, S. C., dispatch says that while press and telegraphic censorship is no longer exercised by Gov. Tillman, the chief executive has assumed control of the police force of the State. He has issued a proclamation under Section 519 of the General Statutes declaring municipal police and constabulary under his orders. The proclamation is as follows: State or South Cabolina, 1 Executive Chamber. - Columbia, 8. C. j Whereas. Section 519 of the general statutes of this State declares that "the Governor shall have authority whenever in his judgment it shall be necessary to arm the constabulary, and In any emergency to assume the sole control of the whole or any part of the municipal police in cities and incorporated towns, and to authorize the chief constable of the State or any deputy chief constable to command assistance in the execution of process in suppressing riots and preserving peace;” and. Whereas, It is made the duty of and ths power is given said police to enforce the statute known as the "dispensary law," but that instead of obeying the requirements of said law the said police except in a few towns have been an obstruction and are active aiders and abettors of those who are opposing the laws; and Whereas, Under the same statute the power 1» given the governor to appoint constables for the purpose of its enforcement: and Whereas, The rebellious and lawless element of society have hounded and insulted these officers and sedulously educated the public mind to resistance, causing several encounters, resulting in bloodshed between constables and illicit whisky sellers producing intense excitement and danger to the peace and welfare of the State; now Therefore I, Benjamin R. Tillman. Governor of the State of South Carolina, do issue this my proclamation giving full and official notice to the municipal authorities of every city and incorporated town in the State of South Carolina and to the police and marshals thereof that under the powers given me by said section 819 the emergency contemplated has arisen and does now exist and that I do hereby assume such control of the whole force of municipal police and marshals of the several otties and incorporated towns of the State. They are hereby ordered to enforce all laws on the statute books, together with all municipal ordinances and orders from municipal authorlttos not inconsistent with the purposes of the proclamation. As soon as the emergency which is now upon us shall no longer exist! will relinquish .control and restore the former status. B. R. Tillman, Governor. J. E. Tindall, Secretary of State. Are Not Ready to Obey. As far as Columbia is concerned, the dispatch says the proclamation has created great excitement. The Mayor when asked about it said that he had referred tho whole matter to the City Attorney, who is now considering the question. Chief of Police Radcliffe says that he awaits orders from the Mayor and will not act otherwise until instructed by him so to do. For the first time since Friday Gov. Tillman went to the State house Tuesday. He was accompinied by John Gary Evans, reform candidate for Governor. The citizens neither tried to hurt nor molest him, as many people thought would be the case when he appeared on the streets again. He is not going to be hurt in Columbia, but his action in assuming control of all the police in the State has created great indignation. The 400 or more troops remaining in the penitentiary were, by orders of the Governor, marched up to the State house. They were formed in line before the building and addressed by the Governor. The Governor said: “The dispensary law is on the statute books. I, as chief executive, have sworn that the laws of this State shall be respected, and, so help me God, I will exert all tho powers ot my office to see that the law is obeyed.”

The Governor was severe in his condemnation of the militia companies that have refused to obey orders. “Over at Darlington,” he said, “these band-box soldiers, these soldiers turned politicians, pranced all over the country and sent for re-enforcements to barrooms and whisky men, but they have never fired a shot at a single constable and they did not want to find them.” The Governor did not fear civil war. “It will not come and cannot come,” he said, “because the people are in the saddle and intend to remain there. One man told Mr. Yelldell here that he camo from Edgefield, my own county, with a shotgun to kill me Friday night. I will not mention his name. Threatened men live long, and I have never felt uneasy. “This riot is political frenzy. I shall not budge an inch from the stand that I have taken as the people's Governor. You may imagine from this that I am going to aggravate the trouble, but I am simply going to uphold the law. I could not have done what I have unless I controlled the railroads and the telegraph line. From this day the constables shall watch the policemen and report to me whether they are doing their duty, and if they do not obey my orders and if the authorities do not cooperate with me I shall call the Legislature together, and we will have the power given the Executive to remove those men and appoint others who will obey the law.”

At this point Mr. Early a cousin of Mr. Norment, who was killed by State Constables, yelled out: “Why don’t you obey the law yourself?” This created a big commotion in the crowd. One of the Governor’s sympathizers yelled out “Shoot him!” and both factions rushed up. The Governor called for silence and Chief of Police Radcliffe jumped off his horse and grabbed Early, commanding order, and took him away. As the Governor finished his speech there were deafening cheers from his troops.., An order was then read to the troops commanding them to return to their homes and extending thanks to the gallant and patriotic soldiers and 'Citizens who, at a moment’s notice, dropped their various avocations and pursuits to respond to his call.