Ibra Charles Blackwood

Ibra Charles Blackwood ( born November 21, 1878 in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, † February 12, 1936 in Spartanburg, South Carolina ) was an American politician and from 1931 to 1935 Governor of South Carolina.

Early years and political rise

Ibra Blackwood attended Furman University and Wofford College, where he graduated in 1898. After a subsequent law degree, he was admitted to the bar in 1902, after which he opened an office in Spartanburg. Between 1902 and 1906 Blackwood was a deputy in the regional parliament of South Carolina. Between 1914 and 1916 he worked for the Internal Revenue Service in South Carolina. From 1916 to 1930 he was a prosecutor in the Seventh Judicial District. In 1926 he applied within his Democratic Party unsuccessfully for the nomination for the office of governor. Four years later he was able to party internally just barely prevail against Olin Johnston. In the actual gubernatorial election on November 4, 1930, there was no opposing candidate.

Governor of South Carolina

Blackwood's tenure as governor began on January 20, 1931 and ended almost four years later, on January 15, 1935., The whole legislature was overshadowed by the effects of the global economic crisis. In 1931, the People's State Bank collapsed and its 44 branches in South Carolina had to close. The governor and his government responded with job creation methods. For example, the road was continued. The so-called South Carolina Public Service Authority was established, an organization that later dams built on rivers to gain electricity and improve the water supply. The principle was the same as in the more well-known Tennessee Valley Authority, which was launched about the same time by the federal government under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. For better control of the banks, new laws were introduced.

In September 1934, it was in South Carolina, as in other states of the USA, to a great strike of textile workers. Blackwood, the National Guard against the strikers. With the defeat of the strike were on September 6 Path in Honea shot six of them and more than 20 wounded, many of them. Shot in the back

It is worth mentioning that with the 21st Amendment to the Constitution in the U.S., the Prohibition Act, which was adopted in 1919 in the 18th Amendment, was canceled due to impracticability on 5 December 1933. South Carolina decided to legalize only the sale of beer and wine. The sale of alcoholic beverages harder remained prohibited.

Retirement

After the expiration of his term in January 1935, Blackwood moved back to Spartanburg, where he worked as a lawyer again. There he is, however, died in February 1936. Ibra Blackwood was married to Margaret Hodges.