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THE ADDRESS OF GOVERNOR BLEASE AT THE INAUGURAL CEREMONIES Mr. Pi ftsMent, Mr. Speaker, Mem- I berj of the General Assembly of South Carolina, Ladies and Gentle- > men: Independence of thought, freedom ot action, an abiding trust in and de voted love for God have won for me the greatest political victory that has yet been recorded in the history of -Smith Carolina. Aligned against me v/ere a united daily press and an al most solid weekly and semi-weekly ;-vess, pouring forth all kinds of false bood, vituperation and abuse, recelv :ng the assistance of a number of tuen who call themselves ministers of the Gospel?God save the mark! ? who stood behind their pulpits and gave vent to envy and malice and Zanders of the most vile and mali ^ Clous nature against me? These hypocrites had left their magics and stood ?n naked ugliness. '.'hey were men who stole the livery of Heaven To serve the devil in?" all of these, combined with others ;:-aking a set of political character l.ieves, the meanest and most con ? mptible people known to man. \ was never discouraged. 1 knew :iidt Gid did not love the ugly, and that the people of South Carolina were ? - fair play to all her sons alike. Men have rallied and fought in hum Mis of battles, but no band of truer ? um or braver soldiers or more loyal I i d devoted friends ever rallied for a fight than those 56,602 brave and nnorable men of South Carolina, who e September LI, 1010, said to my : emies, "You shall not press him ?:iwii; you shall not crucify him upon cross of vituperation, slander and sehood; you shall not crown him th a crown of persecution, envy and . tlice." And by the help of an all ? so and all-powerful God, the vie. y was won, and we can and do to ?v say: ?'raise, God from whom all blessings flow," d my prayer is that His choice bless es of this earth rest upon my friends, i.d may each of them some day be nvned with a diadem in Heaven, r'or those who opposed me honestly 1 fairly. I have no word or censure, was their right to do so. and 1 feel :..H they were but exercising their gh right of American citizenship, f or'the others I have but pity, for I ,11 know that their consciences, if Coy have tiny, are giving them cen tre and punishment enough for their ?* vwardly anil underhand manner of j: position. I thank, and wish for you to convey .? y aincereat, most henrtfelt thanks ; i your constituents lor their assist ...:ce in giving tomie the position which was the venlth of my political ambi *:'an. Should d never be elected to ? uy position again, personally 1 will <ive accomplished all that my life's v oi'k has boon for. so far as political :efermcnt Ik concern,ed. The only Mbitlon that is left Is that I may per form the duties tT the office of govern >? In such a imanner 'that I may re ? ive at the close cf my fi rm the "well ' me" from those who placed ine in tl.o position i the campaign meeting at Florence 10to, I saht: "I notice In the edi ial columns of the State newspaper ' this day, 'We shall in a day or two \c something to say in regard to he candidacy of Candidate Blense, ii will not be regarded as endoi'SO n ent.' I believe that the people of South Carolina are In favor of fair ? v. and I now request and Invite e man who wrote that article to ? imo on Iho rostrum ol Columbia, at - e stiite campaign meeting at Co l.nrbla, next Snturdav, August 0, and ? ve his something to say in regard tci the candidacy of Candidate Blense,' i my face, where '1 can and will have e opportunity to make reply. And he declines this, then I demand that name a time and place where ho viil agree to meet mo face to face d make his statement. Two years i;gO this paper published artic les about e. and when my friends sent replies I . these articles the publishers of (he paper refused 10 publish them, (hits cutting me off from any oppor tunity to prove their statements false to the readers ol their paper. A brave man comes out In the open and tights , <e to face: a coward lurks in the ? tk. or hides behind his editorial desk, and assassin-like, strikes from behind. To which class does the writ ei of this article belong? His future . i ions will show.'' vt the oamgVfgn tree'tog In Colom bia on August 8, I repeated tho st:>.te. on( as made at Florence, and called for the writer lo appear. Ho failed ; > do so. and I repeat the question: To which class does the writer of r is article belong?- and Bald, "He is . coward." I do not believe that It would be pos ^ble for any other man ever to hove 0 undergo the vituperation and abuse from the press that I had. And why did I have It? Because of my profes sional connection with a noted crim inal case in this State. 1 most respect fully recommend that you gentlemen of the general assembly pass at this session an Act providing that any newspaper editor or reporter who shall publish, or cause to be published, any article reflecting upon the private character or the public record of any citizen of this State, which Is not true, shall be punished by a fine ' and imprisonment. An Act of this character, in my opinion, will save much bitter feeling, and possibly bloodshed, in the future of our State. I beg leave in this connection to cell your attention to a leading editor ial In the Newberry Herald and News of September 0, 1010, which is as follows: "It is a good subject at this particu lar time, and its importance lias been driven home. "Tho people of Suth Carolina are menaced "The menace is unfair newspaper methods. "The Columbia State of Thursday carried on Its first page a cartoon of Mr. Cole L. Blease, over the label, "The Menace." "The Columbia State knew at the', time the cartoon was published that It was as unfair as it was false. The Columbia State knew when the car toon was designed that it was inis-! leading and false. The Columbia State knew that the publication of the car toon had for Its objoct the misleading of the voters of South Carolina, and was, therefore, maliciously false, and was a malicious slander of a man who led all the rest of the candidates and i received thirty per emu of the voters of the State. Is that not an intentional and gross insult to one-third of the voters of this State" "His side will have no showing in the Columbia state. No reply will be allowed. ? That is the Columbia State's meth od. "That Is 'the menace.' "The Columbia State has a large j Circulation, There .are people who j read the State and who do not see the other side, because the State does not print the other side. "Th; t is 'the menace.' "JJefor? the flrst primary The News and Courier, the Columbia Record and Other newspapers In South Carolina were "hare'ug the Columbn State with ! ui.fairness, and. In fact wi h malicious falsehood. ''Simply because these newspaper;) now agree with the State's oollcy In the Gubernatorial race, will they keep silent under the same conditions v.?. Ich existed when they brought their ch'.rges aealnst the Colu nbia Strtt? ?because, forsooth, then the Colum bia Stute was going ngalnsi the grain and now It Is cutting along with it" "Surely the manhood of the news papers of South Carolina is not a thing of the past. "The newspapers of South Carolina have In Hie past wielded a wonderful Influence, It Is because they have made for themselves a reputation of fairness, and, presenting both sides, have urged the claims of the side which the newspapers thought would be for the interests of the Slate of South Carolina. "The course which some of them are now pursuing may help the men of their choice in this particular race -though we doubt it but the profes sion suffers. Why not give everybody a, 'square deal?' ?The Columbia State, for instance, and other anti-lllease newspapers will reprint in their news columns com ments favotable to Mr, Poatherstone, but ignore anything favorable to Mr. Rlease. That is 'newspaper' blisiliss, with a vengeance. "So far as the Herald and News is concerned, we delight in being ignored by the Columbia State or boycotted, or put on the famous 'black list.' as yon please?but what we started out to say was that the cartoon in the Co. Ilimbia State of Thursday morning was the limit downward in newspaper bus iness as we have observed it. "The days of factionalism and per sonal prejudice in South Carolina are happily over, and we believe that the people of South Carolina when the matter Is brought to their attention will resent under-hand and below-the belt methods. "For that reason, which Is credita ble to the people of South Carolina, we believe the Columbia State and oth er newspapers svho are taking, unfair advantage of Mr. Rlease in this race are doing him more good than harm. "It Is not for Rlease that we mourn, but for the newspaper profession. "'The menace'' the real menace will be met by Hi.' people of Smith Carolina, as they have met all other quest ions. "During the campaign and bo fore the first primary election, the Colum bia State made a strung light in an ar gumentative manner against Mr. Fea therstone and thereby brought down the wrath of a large majority of the papers of South Carolina charging it With 'unfairness.' They had oractlcal ly nothing to say about Mr Please he having distinctly defied them to mako their, charges, if any they had, to his face. They failed to do so. Now they are making one of the ugliest and most fc-laodoroi s campaigns against Mr. Blease that has ever been waged in the State of South Carolina. What do the newspapers think of this tight at th's time? Is it fair? Mr. Hlcase and his friends have no manner now in which to answer them for they will publish no'hing favorable to P.l<v.?se; he cannot answer it on the slump, the catr.palgt- is over." And also an article from the Shreve nort. La. lournal, of September. 1!H0: ' Speaking of The News and Courier, the election was a striking example of the wonderful 'power of the press' to mould public opin'on ISvery newspa ?>oi in t'?e State, with the ?xc?ption cf two count>' weeklies, supported Feat hers tone and called Blease out of his name. They succeeded in making the people believe Blease a regular Sa tan in one respect * * A newspaper possesses power to direct public opin ion only to the extent of its independ ence. Its honesty and its impartiality. These three things are hard to find in combination in a newspaper of today.'' And also an article from the ISdge Held Chronicle* "We do not Join hands in the aval anche of abuse that has been heaped upon the head of the Governor-elect, If pel iomtlity was the issue, how sad a reflection on Mr. Featherstone that he could not .-arry his own county, while Blease carried his by a substan tial majority." And also a comment from the Co lumbia Daily Record: "Disliking to do so. for obvious rea sons, yet the Record now feels con strained to say. as a supporter of Featherstone and an opponent of Blease, that the repulsive caitoou in the State oi Thursday. portraying Blease as a vulture, is offensive to the sense of decency and fairness." And an article from the Macon, Ga. Tcleghnph, of September 1010: "There is a citizen over in South ('arolina by the name of Blease, who has done a remarkable thing. The readers of almost any South Carolina newspaper a week or two ago would have found good reason for the belief that Blease was everything that was bad or undesirable, to say the least; that in expressing a desire to become governor he had shown unpardonable presumption; that his candidacy was a fit subject for jest, and that he had not the ghost of a chance. The Char leston News and Courier contemptu ously reported the fact that only three newspapers In the whole State had ventured to endorse the candidacy of Mr. Rlease. All the dallies, large and small, the religious papers, nondescript and what not. thundered at Blease Continually. Moreover, he was bom barded from the pulpit. * * <" And an article front the New Or leans Picayune of September 14, 1110: " The vole today hinged very largely _ (Continued on page six.) NOW is the Time WE are the Place To bin Beardless Spring Barloj at Mm per bushel to saw and grow. Bed Bust Proof Seed Oats at (?0 cents per biisnel for sprint: sowing, Full stork of flour, corn, meitl, molas ses, hucon, sugar, coffee, bird, tobacco, feed oats and hay, cotton seed meal on hand, and the prices arc right to meet jour views. We sell the well-knnv* n line of Blounts Turn Plows and Middle Bus ter Plows and points no better plow made a trial will coin lure the most Skeptical that Blounts is the best 1 plow on the market. Yours for business J. H. Sullivan I.AURENS, S. C. There's a Southern Girl Shoe Made Especially For Yon. You may be real fussy about your foot wear?you may have a real hard foot to fit your ideas of style may be very plain and ordinary, or you may like an elaborate shoe?? perhaps you have a tender foot or some pet spot that has to be favored ? in any event, go to the nearest Craddock dealer and let him fit your foot. This same shoe In our "Autograph' 'Brand. S2.50 -X3.00 is Ooodyear Welt Sewed; In our College Woman's Walking Shoe. S3.00 - S3.50 - S4.00. it equals the best custom make. TBE SOUTHERN GIRL $2.00?SHOE?$2.50 is made in all leathers, all widths and siz.es, on broad, easy lasts, on narrow lasts with high insteps, with high, low and medium heels, high arch, low arch, etc., etc. We include the best styles in our nobby patterns, and also make a number of shoes along plain and simple lines. With each goes the best of leather, honest making, long wear. See the line at our dealers' store in your town. Look for the Red Hell on the Box CRADDOCK-TERRY CO., Lynchburg, Vau Phone 202 Dentistry a Specialty EARL C. OWENS Veterinary Surgeon At Bolt & Hudgens' Sale Stable. LAU RENS, S. C. Special Values at W. Q. Wilson & Co. Children's Sweaters 50c, Misses' Sweaters $1.50, Ladies' Sweaters, strictly all wool, at $2.50 and $3.50. All wool Mufflers, Togues and a complete line of Cotton and Wool Underwear, Cotton and Wool Hosiery, Blankets and Flannels. W. Q. Wilson & Co. Farewell 1910 Welcome 1911 Happy New Year to All! The Year 1910 has gone breaking all records in the Coal and Wood business. More Coal and Wood sold with none dis satisfied or disappointed. We guarantee Our Coal to Give Satisfaction. For we buy only the best grade of Coal. We handle all our Coal with forks impossible for you to get any dirt or slack coal. Let us keep you warm. J.W.&R. M. Eichelberger "The Coal Hen" Phone 33. NOTICE -OF THE County Treasurer The Books of the County Treasurer will be opened, for the collection of I State, County and Cummutation Road Taxe?; for fiscal year, 1910, at the Treasurer's Ofltco from October 15th, i to December :u%t., 1910. Arter De cember 31st., one per cent, will be added. After January ?lst. two per cent, will be added, and after Feb ruary 28th., seven per cent, will be added till the lath of March, 1911, when tho books will oe closed. All poisons owning property In more than one Township are request 1 od to call for receipts In each of the several Townships In which the prop erty Is located. This la important, as additional cost and penalty may bo attached. All able bodied male citizens bo. twoen the ages of 21 and 00 years of age uro liable to pay a poll tax of $1.00 except old soldiers, who are ex empt at 50 years or age. Commuta tion Rond Tax $1.00. in lieu of read duty. Road Tax to be paid by tho 1st day of March, 1911. Other taxes to be paid at the time ns stated above. The tax levy Id as follows: For State purposes.5% mills For Constitutional School Tax II mills For Ordinary County purposes U mills For Interest on Railroad Bonds 1 mill For Roads and Bridge Bonds :: mills For Court House Bonds .. ..I mill Total.lG-% mills Special Schools?I?urens Township. Laurens No. 11.G mills Trinity Ridge No. 1.4 mills Maddens No. 2.2 mills Narnle No. H.2 mills Baileys No. 4.2 mills Mills No. ;'?.2 mills Oak drove No. 0.2 mills Special Schools Youngs Town:.hip. Youngs No. 2.'? mills No. 4.:' mills No. 5.X mills Fountain Inn No. 3B.10 mills t Lanford No. 10.2'.. mills I Ora No. 12.2 mills Special Schools Dials Township Qreen Bond No. I.I', mills Dials No. 2.:i mills Shlloh No. :'..2 mills Cray Court-Owlngs No. ."> . . . 2 mills Barksdalo No. 0.2 mills Dials Church No. 7.2 mills Special Schools Sullivan Township. Princeton No. 1.:'. mills Poplar Springs No. .*. .. ..2 mills No. I.I mills No. ,ri.4 mills Tumbling Shoals No. ?i .. ..2'j mills Breworton No. 7.mills Sullivan Township R R Bonds 4 mills Special Schools -Waterloo Township Waterloo No. 11.W mills Mt. Oallaghor No. 1.:i mills Bethlehem No. 2.2 mills F.kom No. :?.2 mills No. 4.2 mills No. H.3 mills Mt. Pleasant No. 0.2 mills Mt. Olive No. 7.4 mills Special Schools-Cross Hill Township Cress Hill No. i:*..G mills Cross Hill No. 1.2 mills Cross Hill No. 2.2 mills Cross Hill No. 4.2 mills Cros? Hill No. :,.2 mills Cross Hill No. G.2 mills I Special Schools-?Hunter Township I Mountvllle No. 1G.4Vij mill* I Hunter No. 2.2 mills I Hunter No. W.2 mills Clinton No. :?.:i mill \ 1 Hunter No. S.15 mills _. Special Schools?.lacks Township .lacks No. 15.'i mills Special Schools, Scufflotown Township Scuffletown No. 1.2 mills Lanford No in.2Vx mill < Ora No. 12.2 mi Hi Prompt attention will be given those who wish to pay their Taxes through the mail by check, money order, etc. Persons sending In lists of names to he taken off nro requested to send them early: and glvo tho Township of ench, ns the Treasurer is very busy during, tho mouth of December. .1 I) MOCK. County Treasurer, Oct. Ttlt.. 1910 if. Too Late, Too Late, to think about taking out a policy on your house if it is already burning. We take a risk hut not a certainty. If you huv? taken time by th* forelock, ami insured your property against fire, y?u have the Absolute Certainty that the company Will pay all your losses. The race is to the swift, and you owe it to your family to protect them from all troubles. Do not be a laggard. E.H.WILKES&SON Stocks - Bunds - Insurance Enterprise Bank Building Laurens, S. C.