Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

VOL XLV NO. f>3 NEWBERRY, S. P., FRIDAY. AUGUST 7, 1908 TWICE A WEEK. $1.50 A YEAR Senator Bleat Ovatio s THE STATE CAMPAIGN MEETING IN NEWBERRY H BLEASE REPLIED TO PREAOH j ERS' CARD IN THE STATE. The Lie Passed During Addresses oi : Railroad Commissioners?MeetB ing Attended by About One R' Thousand People. wf. (By Jno. K. Aull.) '/ At tlie State campaign meeting in Newberry on Wednesday?in the K town and county where Senator Cole k Ij- Blen.se, candidate for governor n was born and reared, and where lie f has labored and risen to prominence as a member of the bar?Mr. Bleas< was given an ovation which has probably not been equalled at a cumpaigi meeting in Newberry since the days when factionalism had torn in twant-lie Democratic party in South Carolina. Sensation followed xensation during the meeting. The candidates toi railroad commissioner were the firs I speakers, and (hiring their addresses the lie was passed, and a persona altercation seemed imminent. As , result of a dispute in regard to tin action of the railroad commissioners as to a complaint from Harper's, 01 the Georgetown and Western raU road, Railroad Commissioner Caugli man told his opponent, Mr, Fish bnrnc, that he was a liar and tlx truth wasn't in him. Mr. Fishburm advanced upon Mr. Caughman, bni C liairman Dominick stepped bctwce'i the belligerents and no blows wen massed. Messrs. Caughman and Fish burne apologized, and the audicnci applauded eacli, and the incident was ended. The addresses of the candidates for railroad commissioner, Stall superintendent of education, and ad .infant, and inspector general appeal on the second page of this issue o I lie Herald and News, and the excite ment attending the passing of the Ih is reported in detail on the secotir page. In the Columbia State of Wednes mo;*:?:n?r appeared a card signer bv several of the ministers of New berrv. fwhii'h is published elsewhcn in this issue), to tlie effect lliat the; did not, directly or indirectly, ei dorse the candidacy of Senatoi please. Senator Blease in tlie open ing of his address in Newberry 01 Wednesday morning took up thi: card and handled if with gloves of< stating in flie mil set that lie had no asked the ministers of Newberry f< endorse his candidacy, but that In had placed his personal character ti issue before the people of Sbuth Car olina, inviting the people of the Sfati to inquire of Dr. J. W. Wolling, pas tor of Central Methodist churchSenator Blease's church?as to bis character and standing in Newberry The name of Dr. Wolling, Mr Blease's pastor, did not appear in fin card of some of the ministers of New berry stating that they did not en dorse Mr. Blease's candidacy, *.fr Blcase, among other things,' staler that he had defended for murder B Whit Goodwin, who killed a brother in-law of the Hew Geo. A. Wright one of flie ministers whose name "a p pearetl signed to the card. and t>.? another of fhe ministers who Vtr signed the card?the Uev. J. ?. jnriuu ?he had never seen, and he doubter if that minister had over seen him In this connection, In passing, hi made some caustic remarks in re gard to Mr. W. II. Wallace, editor o) the Newberry Observer. When Sen ntor Blease attacked Mr. Wallace foi not- defending his (Mr. Wallace's) pastor, Dr. Wolling, against the at tacks of certain newspapers, Mr. Wal lace arose with the request that lie br allowed to ask a question. The inci dent created considerable excitement which was finally quieted by Chair man Dominick, and the question was never asked. Mr. Blease stated that ho had plac >e Given n at His Home ctl his personal character in issue before the people oi' South Carolina and ' (luring the heated campaign through which lie had passed he stooa before the people of Newberry on this oc. casion with none venturing to assail that character. The continuous and industrious efforts of his opponents ' had been able to elicit nothing further than a statement from some of the ministers of Newberry to the efeeft, simply and solely, that they did not endorse his candidacy, and the conclusion was inevitable that they t could iind not an impropriety in his , life or a defect in his character, lie wanted any who were strangers in , ^T?wberry on this occasion to inquire , into the record of the Blease family , in Newberry county, and he cliai; longed any who had aught to sav . against his personal character or ills , private life to rise. . Senator Blease's challenge was i eeted only by deafening applause . He said his bitterest enemies admitted his ability and the fact (hat he . stood on the strongest platform on . which a man in South Carolina had t ever sought (lie ollice of governor ol . South Carolina?the highest honoi I within the gift of any people?and ii i ,Iu'ir desperation they had been driv; en to an attack upon his persona . character, which .attack, he said, hat 1 tailed most ignomiuiously. Senator Blease's remarks were con slantly greeted with applause, anc . the ovation which he received was i genuine and sincere. , The remainder of Senator Bleaso's t speech, which is reported in detail i below> was practically the same 3 sPeech which he has been making . elsewhere throughout the campaign . charging Governor Ansel's adminis. tration with being the most extrava gant since the days of Republican } opposing extravagance, opposing . the immigration department, attacking Governor Ansel for tl/o appointr mcnt of n negro notary in Green . villc, and promising if elected to en 3 force all the laws. j Governor Ansel was greeted wit I applause, and was given close ant _ respectful attention throughout hi* 1 address. He defended the Ansel ad _ ministration against Mr. Blease's at j fucks of extravagance, reviewed hi: . record, defended his appointment oi , a negro notary, citing the cxamph i- se( b.v Senator Tillman and othei _ governors, and stated his position oi i <lu\ lif|"?>r question. A detailed svn s opsis of his address appears below. The candidates were met at tin t train by a committee from the eounh Democratic executive committee 3 headed by County Chairman Fred II i Dominick. The committee was ac _ companied by a number of voters o 5 'l,e town and county and by tin _ West End brass band. The candidates while in Newbern , were the guests of Senator Blease ai the Newberry hotels. The Meeting in Detail. B County Chairman Fred. IT. Domin . ick presided, and the meeting was . opened with prayer by the Rev. ,T W. Wolling, pastor of Central Alot liI odist church. Chairman Dominiek said it was r . source of much congratulation to set , so ,m?R ?? audience present, and or - behalf of the people of Newberry ant ' of Newberry county he extended al 1 the candidates a warm welcome, an? s bespoke for each close and earnesl 1 attention. 9 The candidates for railroad comJ missioner were the first speakers - and were followed by the candidates f for State superintendent of cduca tion and adjustant and inspector genr eral. The addresses of these gentle i men appear on the second page oi - this issue. Each of them was well i cceived and liberally applauded. ) Senator Bleaso's Addross. Senator Blease, in opening his ad, dress, took up the card published in - the Columbia State, signed by sever? al of the Newberry ministers, stating that they did not, directly or in directly, endorse his candidacy. He rend the following statement, which he handed to the newspaper reporters present, and asked them in all fairness, to publish: "I have assailed no man's character and have studiously refrained from making charges against Governor Ansel, and make none today, llis official acts only have 1 criticized, without reflection on his character. T have volunteered to put my life and character before the people, so that any person or persons who might desire would have the opportunity to assail it. This invitation has been repeated again and again. F have defied my opponents to show any impropriety in my life or any flaw in i my character, and after these repealed invitations my enemies have i failed to elicit anything against mc , except the bare statement that certain i ministers at Newberry do not. endorst i my candidacy, and tney have based their position solely upon statements . not specified made by me during thi> campaign, and they have not intinnu. ed that their failure to cudorso mj candidacy is because of any misdeeds . in my life or my character. The inevitable conclusion is that all the . industrious opposition of my adver, saries has produced nothing beyond [ the statement of certain ministers I that they do not favor my candidacy ' and the further conclusion is inevi . table that my enemies can show noth , nig against me. And I stand lien . today, after all this healed cam 1 pttign, with no man venturing to ac. I cusc me, and I challenge all the work to point out one blot in my jeco/i . or upon my personal character, am I if there be one here who accepts tin . challenge let him rise." Continuing, Senator Blease sair s that he had defended B. Whit Good I win for murder in this county, ant ; "I am not to blame that the man In j killed was a brother-in-law of tin , Rqv. Geo. A. Wright, and that tin . Rev. Geo. A. Wright has so far lost . his religion as to go among tin stranger ministers of this county am r seek to stab me in the back, like Ju . das Tscariot with the kiss that be . traved his Christ. Here is what 1 . have said all over South Carolina . If this is not sufficient, write to tin pastor of the Methodist church a , Newberry and ask him as to nr 1 standing and if he considers me lion s orable. I have never made one rcf . crence to the ministers of Newberry . and I call upon you honorable gentle * men (indicating the campaign party f to say whether or not that statcmcn 2 is true. The candidates of this cam i1 paiii party, including his excellencv i the governor, know it. Who is tin . Rev. Dr. Wolling? A man in you town who has been abused by certaii > newspapers, and villi Tied, and ye ' there is an editor of a paper in New , berry who goes to his church ever; . Sunday morning and every Sunda; . night, and who accepts communion a f his hands, who hasn't got the ncrv j and the manhood to defend him fron these villifications.'' At this point Mr. W. H. Wallacc t editor of I lie Newberry Observer arose from the newspaper desk am started to the platform with the re quest: "Let me ask one question.' ? Intense excitement prevailed for i few moments. Mr. Wallace resume* his seat and Chairman Dominick fin ally restored quiet and Mr. Bleasi i proceeded, the question unasked. > "The Rev. Dr. Wolling," said Mr i Blease, "was born and reared ii I South Carolina. Tie is a minister o I the gospel, a man whom the Metho i dist church of South Carolina sen t to a foreign country to teach tin people there to love God and to fol . low and obey his commandments. Hi , is a man who, in all the years, ha: , stood with his hands upon the Bibh . of Jesus Christ and his feet planter . upon a religion that some preacher! . haven't got, or they wouldn't shov ' malice. T challenge anybody tod a; I to say one word against his charac ter, and the cowards who stabbof him in the back are like the Span . iards who use the stiletto in the dark i ncss of the night. And von knov . it." Mr. Blcasc then took up the is sues of the campaign, charging that i the Ansel administration was tin most extravagant sinoc the days o Republicanism in South Carolina. I Governor Ansel or any man in (li audience would disprove a statemer that he made, he would withdraw from the race and not hypoETflf:f from the race for governor, "an come back homo and ask my ow good minister, and not hypocrites, 1 pray for me." While (lie assess ment of taxable property in Sout Carolina had doubled (he levy ha been raised, and he jumped wit li bot , feed on extravagant appropriation citing the figures as to the approprii (ions to which he referred, and reat ing from the reports of the comptro ler general and the other Slate ofl ccrs to prove his assertions. s lie quoted Governor Ansel's annul i message on the bureau of inunigr; i tion: "I therefore recommend ths . you take such steps as may to yn [ seem wise to foster and sustain tl i department of immigration now a< i complishing so much work." Sen; . tor Blease said it had cost the Sta r $1(5,000 to bring over the boat roji ; of immigrants who came in th/ Wi . tekind, and Governor Ansel could n< . point out one today who was makir . an honest living, and yet the iium [ gration department cost the Sta ; $11,">00 last year. "At Union," 1 , said, "I asked Governor Ansel, " - re-elected, will you recommend tl - abolition of the department of imn 3 gration?" lie looked at me and 1 - must have thought of Paul ai - Agrippa. He said. I think 1 sha 1 ITe came almost, saying, "Alino 1 thou hast persuaded me." Senat t Blease said he would welcome in j this country good citizen* from oth countries, but lie did not believe 1 bringing in the scum of the onrt "What does it mean to you factoi i boys," he asked. "They will redu 3 your wages until you can't work f j the wages they offer, and then t( j you they have bot a population Hi t will work for less. They can't woi 3 negroes because the hum of the m 1 chincry puts them to sleep." Senator Blease attacked the a - pointment by Governor Ansel of ? negro notary public in Greenville. I said that Mr. Goo. Johnstone, canr 5 date for the United Slates senal had jumped on Mr. Rhett, one of 1 ^ opponents, for appointing negro p - 1 icemen in Charleston, and nothii had been said, "but as soon as Blea '? jumped on Ansel for appointing negro notary the "peanut" editor ) Newberry jumped on me with a loi 1 editorial. Is it because of person " opposition to me, or is it because ? the persons! feeling he has again 2 the B.ease family in years cone h; r You people know, and T (hank Gi 1 | you do know. T (hank God you km ' j Henry Blease. I thank God you knr " the Blease family. 1" want to say V j the presence of these people who in bo strangers, T want them to ask w ' they are. T thank God (hat a mei 0 her of the Blease family never h 1 gone back on a friend or bowed 1 knee to any scoundrel on earth, he peanut editor or what." ' The Columbia State had defend 1 Governor Ansel in the appointment " (he. negro notary by sav!ng that Gn ernor Tillman had appointed Josh 1 Wilson, a negro, notary public. Th 1 necrro was post master at Floron now giving the people there mn L trouble. Take (he negro appoint' notary at Greenville. The petitii for his election recited that he w 1 a citizen and qualified elector ai f that he desired to be appointed nc - arv public and that he was a mi t of honor?signed by attorneys ai e i members of the legislature. T - | commission signed bv Governor A 2 j pel read, "I, reposing special conl s. deuce in your care, prudence and i J j tegrity, do hereby commission ai 1 | appoint you a notary public." No =i j that negro goes to Washington, at ';goes into Taft's office, if Tiift >' elected president, and says, I want - he post master. He asked whal li 1 recommendations are. Tie says th - he has a certificate from the citizei - of his home city saving that he is i ' honorable man. Tie is asked wh else he has. Tie points to a comnii - sion from the governor of South Ca > \ (Continued on page five). f HON. COLE. L. BLEASE. t f s e Sketch of the Senator From Newbcr- c it ry, Who is a Candidate For Gov- a w to ernor of South Carolina. e x t d Coleman Livingston Blease was n 11 born about forty yours ago on a farm t d h j_ , * '( i- | J I V Vij , |i| ie y. j? ' ^ 5 nr - ';' ^ or in X&k ry oo n' in Newberry oounly. ITis graudfath- I or, Thomas W. Hloaso, livoil al F,d?e- < a" field and married Bethany Coleman, 1 In that town Uonry 11. Hloaso. lather p- of Senator Blouse was born; but a when a young man ho moved to NowIe berry oounly. The Bleases arc of li- the common people, Henry and his e, throe brothers being apprenticed to us various trades when boys by then>o widowed mother, the father of Colo, ng Ti. Hloaso being a tinner by trade, se Cole. L. Hloaso's father and his <a father's three brothers saw service in in the Confederate army. Basil Hloaso, because of his daring bravery, was nl steadily promoted from (lie position f of of a private to that of a captain. i ist Ilonry IT. Hloaso married Mary ' Livingston, of what is now Saluda ' r>d county, formerly Kdgofiold. The -W Livinbstons were all farming people. >w The four brothers of Mary Hloaso in were soldiers of tin1 Confederaev. n.V All the Blouses and Livingstons ho were true to the cause of Wade m- Hampton in the days of *7(">. Ilartas well Hloaso, an uncle of Senator lis Hloaso, was for a long time confined bo by the Yankees in the Charleston jail because of charges preferred against ed him on account of the Ku Klux. of While Cole. L. Hloaso was a child, iV- | his parents moved to the town of na Newberry. Here his father engaged at in the mercantile business and conce ducted a livery and sale stable and r?h hotel. For several years Mr. Hloaso r*cl was trial justice for the town of Nowdm berry, and his ability and integrity ^<3 wore recognized throughout the whole id of Newberry county. Ho was one of >(.- the most popular men who has ever m lived in Newberry county. For years 1(| lie was a loader in the work of tho |)C Methodist church. n- Colic Hloaso, as ho was familiarly Pi- called, attended the schools in Nown berry, and then Newberry college, id When not in school ho was usually at w, work in his father's livery stable, id Colic's mother died when he was is quite small. to Young Hloaso was given to speech lis making as a boy, had a legal mind, at and naturally turned his attention to im t ho study of I lie law. Tlo road law in in the office of Hon. C cor go S. Mowat or. Later ho attended the South Cars_ olina college and the fioorgotown TTnr iversity of Law, at Washington, D. _ C. Mr. Blease loeated at his home own for (he practice of his profusion. It was not long before he bcanie one of the leaders of the bar, ml he has continuously enjoyed an xeellenl practice. For the past fifeen years he has been connected with iany of the important cases tried in lur courts of Newberry county. IIo ins also been associated in important ases in Saluda, Laurens, Greenwood, Inion, Iicxingloitj^chland, Kershaw, and Dorchester counties. For two years lie served as city attorney of Newberry. Senator Hlease was married several years ago to Miss Hillie Summers, whose fatlier, a farmer, resides in Anderson county. Mrs. lilcasc's fatlier was a ('onIederatc soldier, her grandfather was in the Mexican war, and her great-grand fat her was f?apt. Philemon Waters, a soldier Of the Revolution. Heing descended from him. Mrs. Hlease i-; a member of the Daughters of (he American Hevolut ion. Hoth Mr. and Mrs. Hlease are members of (lie Central Methodist church, of Newberry. I'pon the death of his fill her, Mr. Hlease became virtually hcud of the family, and assisted his step-mot her in rearing :iml educating two half brothers ;ind one half sister. \\ hen ('ole. I,. Hlease was a very young man he was chosen to represent Newberry county in the house of representatives. Twice lie was reelected, each time heading the legislative ticket hv a handsome majorilv. In the house he was recognized as a leader; because of his ability as a parliamentarian lie was twice selected speaker pro leni. I'or two years he was county chairman ol the Democratic executive commit Ice. Several limes in succession be was elect I'd by the count v convent ions .-is a delegate lo the Sialo convenl ions, I his vcar being chosen by ace) amation. For the past ten years he has represented his county (?n I he Stale executive committee. In lflOl Mr. Hlease was nominated to the Stale senale by a Ivndsomc majority. 'I wo years ago he was elected by (he members of the senate as president pro (em. of that body. In politics Mr. Hlease lias always been a straight Democrat. Tn 189(5 and in 1900 lie was one of the presidential electors for William J. Hryan, the Democratic presidential nominee. In the house and in Ihe senate Mr. Hlease has always stood for an economical administration of the government. opposing extravagant appropriations and the establishment, of (Continued on page four.)