Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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fli?: M Min; WATCHMAN. klLshesi April, 185?. Consolidated Au*. 3, 1881. 'Be Just ami Fear not?Let all the ends Thou Ahnst at be th>- Country;, I hy <;od-. ami Truth'*.' TBE TRUE SOLTUKON, milHWllnl June, 1 s-UMTER, S. (.'., WEDN KrtDAY, JUNE 10, 1912. Vol. XXXIV. No. 33 THE CAMPAIGN OPENS. h?h;i in ?t*m| rot'Ml \< h m< ?1.1? uk. ( |{<>.\ i? ? and.ihiKm lor UeWOltKM >lake >? I N|M^ ?h. - i 'iniiuitm riM'ir Piainum ?Till lleiwn n I >??n ami IIai ne \ I (Mil? IV??IiiI?.?*-. I...? Time* al HMtopx I lie \\ til ii? ??'a \ . The campaign f? r State oActi for? mally opined in thi Cotfli HottM it 11 A. M. Tuesday, wall all the candi? date* present. As | preliminary to the meeting the randtdate* met in the Jury room at 10 :b> and organized I -r the samp . i^n ,n,t aKieed npi-n a pro? gramme f'?r the meeting loda) end arranged f?>r a division of tun? - gween the several candidates. The Pandtdatei f.?r Oovernor to IkVfi 4"> minutes e.o h. for Attorney General 18 minutes each Troasurer 10 mln Ue^ each. Uallroad 'ommtssloner 1 min \it- n ? a< h other ii> opposed candidates s minutes. Today the unoppoeed ran ld.it.* mad- i -.pee,-he* it h?-ing reed that they make this OOnCOS on on account of the late hour it hich the meeting opened. The unon landnlites were merely an* unced hy tili i hairman. When the hour for the meeting to ?pen arrived the Court room \\ i< pa. k-d to the doors md the eia.wd wee ?tili a*se nbling. it was evident that not h ? If of those w ho w ere anx? ious to hear the candidates could gain admission to the room, so it was de uijonrn to the front portico I ef.-re calling tho meeting to order. The announcement *as made a?.d th* . r--wd repiiMeit to the lawn in front of the Court House and grouped them? selves under the shade of the tivei und uf other points of \ intage. tilling the portii o |ej gg ghOomfortehlt de? gree, packing the steps, filling the sTthdiWl uf Iht OHI ti ?nd court room and occupying every available place within hearing. At a eonserv.iti\ eetimate the crowd numbered one thousand, although gOfJM of the can? didates thought that estimate too low hy at least two hundred. crowd was attentive and or a whole, hue there wee* t?n fifteen boys who were enthusiastic B lease pirtlsms and were either un? able to ruetrain their enthusiasm When othei m iniates Were -peaking. 'or came to the meeting for the pur nose of ititerupitug the opponents of their Idol. The\ interrupted Mr. I?un ean fre?pietitly and while Jttdgl Jones w.is speaking they kept up u running oommeni and punctuated his speech with cheers for Hlease. Judge Jonee stood |he innoyance well and got back at the noise-makers with telling effe. t I \ relating several |okOJ tha application of which was very evi? dent. Both Judge fOfsM and (?o\. BleJMSj were heartily applauded, but there was no wild enthusiasm or long sus? tained cheers that were once upon a time the striking features of political meetings In this State. In com? parison with some of the meeting* that have been held In Sumter. the aflM ' di\ was a tame affair. The chief characteristic of the meeting wsa the e\ den' e ? r nestings of the great majori?v of the crowd, the de? sire to hear what the < indiditfji for Governor I id to say. and to weigh and consider the claims tin \ i I \ ii ed In their own behalf for the suffrage of tho people. The < rowd Wf composed ??f Iiti/.en.s of Sumter. I., Clnfonjgjog nd a ?prink ling i?f Cal? hnun ami < ?rangeiturg people. Fully half the audience were not residents of th?- cltv. -i.r. despitt) the fact that the store* ???r" < losed from 11 to 1 o'clock, there was not a marked pre domln.nie of town j.pie in the crowd. If noise < ounted for anything It - gSjM he .uistly clamb d that It was a Hle.n" ? r< d . attj It was a ludlce able fact th-.t comparatively few took part In the < heering th ?t was Indulged In. It was a listening 'rowd. not a yelling mob. jnd It Is the silent Note that count* In the primary. As soon a* tho crowd had settled d"W n after the ?hange i ?f hi Si. County f'h; Irrnin J. II CllltOg sailed the meeting t?? gpdai. . nnouneed thai th?? ?row?l should preserve g???.?| or? der and giv?? each and every speaker a r?*spe?tful hearing lf?. Introduced as the lirst speaker. Ills Excellency. fl??v. fob' I.. Blease. Ib?f ?r?? beginning his set speech (Jov, Weas* st.it.?I that hi dOStred to re? mind his hearers that It was rumored up ind down the State two y?ars ago that if he was ?.|" 'i?'ii Governor1, ihg -. w?niId hi ruln.'?l that thi pub? lic tttdjH would ?>. dsolreysd and at os peril j vesttd depart. Ii pr????f al the falspv of fliN ? barge hi WOllld it. Um I ' f,,'f rastifday he hsd. as Queer not slgMd aot? al ihs gtste for a l???n -?f |40i. OOO at 1 per cent lnt< ?*? et, m low, if not lower rate ? . ii ever before obtained by th?* state ? ?ii a loan* i xcept last year, also in his administration, More money had been Invested in South Carolina enterpriser durini the paal Iwo years than ever before In b like period of time, and im year was the banner year In ihe pet elpl of fees on corporation char? tere by tb.- deeiH lary of State. These : tadonot Indicate that the state has been ruined b) a Pienes admlnlstra tlon. Qov, Uleass then read his set speech, w hi-1, wai bj follows: Mr. Charlman, Lndlei and mtle m ???. Kollow Citizens of Houth Car? elfna: lit iibediflief to the laws of the Democratic party Ol South Carolina. ] appear before you today nj a candi? date for ro*cleotlon to the position of < }o\ et nor. Four years ago. when 1 announced as i candidate for Ihs office of Gover? nor, the newepaperi r.?is. .1 a great haw] against me ami said many very harsh things. Tin y criticised me eery severely for opposing thS then Chief Executive! using as their argument thai it had always been customary In this state to give a Oovernof IWO term*: that it was a precedent which the people had set and fr??m Which, for many many years, ihey had not deviated, and that it was very wrong In me, very un-democrat c, very impudent and In every other manner md form against principle! end pollclei that the Qov? emor ihould I.pposed for his second term. Great changes have been wrought; those Mini newspa pera iln ?? 1 have held the chief Ex i itlvs office, hnvs done everything within their power to hamper me n my administration and to injure the sr.it.- Government by striking me n , the most mnllcloni manner; and. for some monthl pa et, they have l?e.n clamoring for mndldntca to oppose me in my second race, II it was right, four yean ggo, thai Ihs Governor Should have bj Second term, and if it was precedent then that no change i should mad.', why is it today that thoee seine newspapers should Ifleht me so bitterly upon the second tern. bbss, and fight mo so bitterly I i behalf of those who are opposing toe for my see ?na Urin Does it not show conclusively, to all fair minded men, that it Is not a light of justice or principle with them, but that it is a tight of prejudice and spite against me. because the newspapers and the C ?rporations have not been ai?i?.' to control me or dictate my policies a? Governor? 1 am not asking for re-election be canes It is i pre.lent to give a man a Second term. This argument It used only for the purpose of Showing to yon the great change which has been brought about and how they Ol imofed for another man's second term, on account of this precedent and abused me for imposing him, Now, In so short a time, they are pre let ng another man and lighting his ? t gas agnlnsi me for my second term. Is it principle that they are fighting for, or is It to control and dictate the policies of the Govern? ment" The position is up to you. fellow citizens, whether von shall have a Governor, unhampered, work? ing in the interest of the people of the State, which Is in accordance with the Democratic princ iples, and which 1 have followed; or, whether you are to have 1 Governor who bj brought out by the newspapers and backed by the corporations and moneyed Inter? est s?, and who will be dictated to l.y them'.' T.ook at your recent State Conventions your county Clubs, with fixed*up slates, forced down your throats without giving you the rlghi to nominate from the floOfl of the Clubs the list of delegates; those delegations went t-> their various County Conventions, and again i i lists was fixed and certain delegation* i were crammed down the throats of the people without their having B Voice or a right |o say who should control ,.r who should represent them. What w is the result? Who absolutely dominated and controlled v.cir Hta*e Convention??Lewli w Parker, the head of Ihe big mill mer? ger, win h I have been lighting for the relief of the people and In save til* ill from the hands of this OCtOpUS, Sitting by his side was Iii*? leading counsel ami ps <i attorney, II, llaynsworth, Ueltoy Rprlngs, Bald In be worth Ihres and a hnlf million dollars, head of large corporations and owner of large corporate interests, There BrSfl John GSfy Kvans. Ihs ? hlef couneel and paid attorney of th,. Western Union Telegraph Com piny for this State, and Of other cor? porations, rn< hard I. Manning, president of a bans, end lange stock ro'der in nther corporations, Joseph W, Barnwsll, J. Edward McDonald M. L, Uonhuiu, U, s. Whnlcy, .!. U Glenn, F, 11. Woston, and r>th< v lending attorneys for railroad cor? porate 11i .iii.i other corporate inter ? Uta, ii. i?. < 'alhoun, a. i:. r tdgei Ii. i'. Smith, .1. \v. Ragsdalc, bank presidents and large owner* other corporate Interests, Also, one W. P, st tenson, paid attorney for cor? poration! and railroads, attorney and assist.nit in prosecuting Dispensary < ascs. for which !)?? has received handsome salaries, and other cor? poration officers ?'iiai attorneys too numerous to mention here; look at y< ur own county delegatin and aee how many corporation officers, *l i - rectors, stockholders and attorneys were In attendance aa delegates, and answer if corporations controlled that convention, Look at your dele? gation t'? Baltimore; see how many of them are officers, directors, stock? holders and attorneys i?f large cor? porations, Where ?Hol the farmers, mill operatives, clerks, laboring men, ?the peal back-bone of this State. ?get repreeenatlon ? Then. who controlled the conventions? Answer The Corporations. Against who? Answer: Cole L, Blease. Why? Answer: Because they have not been able and cannot control Blease and dictate his policies as Governor. The Officers im! the attorneys ,,f your corporations absolutely dominated and controlled your state Conven \'?w. gentlemen, I ask you, as tuen, do you want a corporation ring rule, oi- do you want a man in the Governor's office who cannoi be con? trolled by corporations and who will ?tend by the interests of the people of the State'.' I '-,,|| your attention to these con? ventions because it shows you that they were dominated by certain men and in the Interest of certain men; and. Who are these corporations to? day supporting for Governor, brought out by the newspapers, and being supported by the newspaper! and by those corporation heads and those corporation lawyers I submit to you, as R Question of great impor? tance, and gsk you to answer it in your OOOl and deliberate moments, by wboiTi is a man going to he con? trolled?by the corporations ami newspapers which put him in office, or by th<' people, who those corpora? tions ate fighting and endeavoring i0 control and to usurp the authority which belongs to the people*. Then. I ask von the question again.?will you vote for a corporatton-newapa per-rlng-rule-c tndldate, or w ill you C iSi your l>allot for a man who is un? der no obligation whatever to them. hut is standiliS and lighting for the interest of the people of the State, and who has ho fought as Representa? tive, as Senator and as Governor? No man can truthfully say that he was deceived, l was open and plain in my campaign for this offlt o, and stated from every rostrum of this state what my platform of principles wer.', and have not done one thing which I said I would not do, and have left undone not a thing which I said i would do. and have lived up to that platform of principles which was laid down in that campaign; have stood by those who stood by me; and. as stated in my opening speech at Sumter, my motto Is,?"Stick to I the man w ho sticks to Blease? whether it h,. in private lite, in pub |lc lif" or elsewhere." That doctrine has been lived tip to both in office and out of office, and 1 propose to ontinue to do go as long as there is iif,? in my body, und have no apologies to make to any man or set of men, or any excuse to offer jfor anything a'hlch has been done as I Governor, and I im not coming to vou tod.iv. with my hat in my hand, offering excuses or making apologies or begging you for your votes. I wanted to !>?? Governor of South Carolina, and wanted to he Gover? nor badly, and have been and am Governor, md in that hav< accom? plished the highest ambition of my life. n re-elected, win hove no more honoi thin ilread> bestowed, 1.atise it C .is much of an honor t.? he Governor of the state one term aS .t I to he many terms There? fore if not re-elected, I shall have no tears to shed, for this flghl is mole for tic people of my State, tgalnsl corpoi itions ami newspapers, if th.. i.pi,, s,.,. fli to prefer to he ruled and controlled by those Inter e l . IllStOad of h\ themselves, 1 can asaure vou that they will be ihe suf fera and not me; for, whatever may ie a'rltten, whether it he with pen, Indelible pencil, or marble or on hl ISS, it must be recorded that I was Sleeted Ii) Ihe people to the po? sition of Governor of my State, ami no mattet who writes it, how hitter he in iv h., agalnsl me, or how friendly he m iy he tow ard.' me, he cannot f.tll t Ion. f.. record that I was governor of my ?St., t.. In my Inaugural addres? to your General Assembly In 1911, certain policies were laid down, nd your Genera] Assembly asked :<? take them up and ? onslder them very car< - fully. in my annual message of 1912. those same matters were tak< n op, as well ai other matters; and, n?-w b?'g leave to submit to you the most Important matten which you should give consideration to: ! First, and most of all,? Education of vi-ur children; Taxes; Government Printing; Extravagance of your hi^h er Institutions of learning! the care? less Issuing of requisitions and To? wards, which has been followed by previous administrations; the pur? chase for your State Institutions; The hunting clubs, which are in the .hands of foreigners and deprives the 1 citizens of our State of their God rg'ven right and privilege; tho nemo lodges, which do so much harm in [our country; Appointment of Special : .T idgen to hold court, when regular J dges are disengaged; White per? sons teaching nemo children In schools of the State; Railroad fare, which) should be reduced to two cents P'-r niile. ;is advocated by me In my messages to your General Assembly; The Cotton Mil] Merger; The Hosiery Mill; Biennial sessions of the General Assembly; Liberal support of the tconfederate Veterans. Your taxes are entirely to,, high, which is caused by the extravagance of your Legislature, in making large, [excessive and useless appropriation--. j Tour higher Institutions of learn 1 Ing are receiving too much money, to 'the detriment of the common schools. These institutions should be run at a less expenditure, in order that ' more money may De given to the com I mon schools. Every dollar uselessly spent In youi higher institutions could be spent, and should be. 'n im I proving the rural schools of the State. j Anyone who will take the pains '?? Investigate, will see that we are pay? ing entirely too much for Govern? ment i -'nting. and that thousands ol dollars could be saved the State |f this matter was thoroughly sifted, as i have ph aded with your Legisla? ture to do. The present law of issuing requisi? tions ami rewards is entirely wrong. [Whenever a fugltlvs from justice Is returned to this state, If his services go to the conn y chain gang "f a county, that county should pay the expenses, and not the state at large. If he g<os to the Penitentiary, the State receives tho benefit of bis work, and should pay i u of the expenses, i If the heads of your institutions of learning will get together and make some rule by which they could make all of their purchases of supplies by advertising for competitive bids, the articles could be purchased much 'cheaper ami maty thousands of dol , lars saved to the State. ! Northerners are buying large quan? tities of our land and establishing hunting and fishing preserves and prohibiting the use of them Ivy our citizens, in violation Of the statute I laws of our State, ami are depriving ?Mir citizens of their God-given right to hunt and Ash, which should not be allowed, i The negro lodges are doing much harm In our country. I have begged your Legislature to pass an act pro? hibiting them. Some say this can? not be done, but it can be and very easily, b\ simply stating that when? ever any peace officer desires to enter one of these lodges either of the white or colored people, licit he should be allowed to do so. The white fraternal orders would nol be Interfered with, because all of the peace ofllcera ttre white men, and the I negro lodges could be properly re Igulated. White people teaching negro schools In our State are doing much harm, and are putting Into the heads of the young negroes the Idea of so? cial equality, and creating an ambl-j tioti among tin m which can only be quelched al the end of a rope or in the electric chair. I asked your Legislature to pass an act prohibiting this, but tiny paid no attention to it and tin- evil continues to exist. \ on should have i Hat rate ,.f tu o cents pel mile on ill railroads for passenger travel. This w.is advocat? ed by in*' in my message to your Legislature In 1911 and 1912, bul nothing was done towards remedying the situation. The railroads are get llng richer and richer every day, and it would be no hardship upon them to tide people foi two cents per mile, They are already riding the rich man, who is able to purchase a thous? and mile book, for two cents per mile, no, why should 1 h< y not ? ride the poor ?an, a ho has to take in occasional trip at the same rate? i favor biennial session* of the Oeneral Assembly, and think tin last session Is the highest proof oi its need. I am in favoi of liberally support* ing the old Confederate Veterans. The free .-? >j? ? *? i system of the state sh? uld be built up so as to allow every white child in Bouth Carolina to rec? ive i good ? ommon school education, 1 am gltsolutely opposed to compulsory education, and the white peple's taxes '????ing used to educate negroes. ah of these matters were railed to the attention of your General As? sembly, and as the opportunity pre? sents itself, at the various campaign meetings, will be taken up and dis? cussed. J ? an scarcely do more than mention them here, because there are entirely too many. However, there will he published and placed in the hand* of as many <>f the people as possible, my veto messages; message upon the cotton mill merger; message upon the hosiery mill, within the waiis <.f the Penitentiary; messages relativ.' to your higher institutions of learning, and other papers which were presented, at various times, to your General Assembly. We cannot hope to place these in the hands "f ? very citlsen, but shall endeavor to place them In the hands o| enough j nten in each community that they may be In a position to fully Inform j those w ho are adding to know and want the truth. My book of pardons has already been broadcasted all over , the state, and speaks tor Itself. It would be absolutely Impossible for j nie. in one speech, to take up all of these various subjects and dlSCUSS them; and. as you know, the r.ews I papers will not publish my speeches. I ! nor will they give me a fair report; hi nee. my only opportunity is to dis? cuss stich of these matters as i can from time to time, and to have the i others put in suc h form that those Who Wish tO see them may ha\e the I opportunity to do so; and hoping that when my friends receive them, after reading themselves, they will pass them ar??fid that others may hare the opportunity. Now. my fellow clttxens, i am ? poor man; am not able to purchase the Governor's office, and if i was. would not do so; for, it 1 cannot be elected Governor without having a paid attorney to represent me as a campaign manager, and without hir? ing men to run around over the State to work In my behalf, and to use l tone) for the purpose of debauching the voters of my State, I do not want it and would not have it. 1 did n >t do this to be ele< ted and shall not lo it to be reeb < ted. i am desirous of seeing what position certain ministers of the Gospel, and certain other citi? zens of our State, who denounce these tilings, will take when they Und that it is being done. Will they help to keep it secret, and say anything to beat Blease, or will they prove to be i the high moralists that they claim f'?r themselves, and refuse to be parties to the purchasing of votes, the paying of hirelings and the use of whiskey anil improper methods to control our pri? mary ? I 1 have no large corporations behind ! me, to contribute to any campaign fund for me, and no corporation of? fice-holders or rieb political friends to contribute to u campaign fund, to give me success, hoping that they may receive their reward later. Therefor*'. I whatever votes 1 receive and whatev? er work |s done for me, must be done by my friends, who are the friends of good government, and who are oposed to the buying of votes and the control of this state s Government by corporations and ring-rule, l-v.v newspapers are friendly to me. I am leu able to ^o around and pay editors for their support, or to hire in their papers certain spaces la which my friends or mys< if are al? lowed to write anything thai we please, even editorial matter. and have it printed: hence, I am in the position that l can onlj k*< to the people, tae, to face, and talk to them as man to man and warn them of the da Igers Which are ah. ad of them, and do all in my power, In an honorable way, in this campaign. If you find nu n running around, talking special interest, traveling from place to place, for any man. ask him bow much .-al? ary he Is receiving and who is paving hi> expense, If yon hear of them of? fering people so much money to work for a candidate, find OUl who is fur? nishing the money, i am making no charges against any man. but men are traveling from place to place In this State who are not able to do it in? dividually, and somebod) is paving the money. It is als?? known that men h iv? Ix en ottered eei tain amounts ef money to g.it and w..i k in the in? terest of certain candidates. These statements are made In order to <.ail your j11? 1111?m to what la going on* No charges are made againtt any 8pe< lite candidate, for l have not the proof that he la doing these thing3, hut have the proof thai it |a being d we. Gentlemen. the mater is In your hands and whatever may be your decision, will bo satisfactory to me. Do that which you believe is for the best Interest of'all the people of your stat?-. for J do not bolleve that the people of this State can be bought nor coerced, and want t.? insist upon all of my friends going to the ballot box and ?asting their ballots, and after they have voted, stay there, or ap? point thr? ?- or four good nun. who Wfll stay there. ;,nd see that the votes are properly counted, i"r. it has been boasted that. ' If w. cannot beat Blease, we propose to see that he is counted out." 1 appeal ?o all of you who are against buyi* eg and who are' against sendln* tings around over the Stale in <adeavor to put this governmer ^ he hands of the ring-rule an' ^^poration interests, to go to y "Shallot b ucee, and see that the Jrest Of the people is protect- al* 1 ask ls a *re<! baI" lot a- ^ ialr count and will be re* ele. tovernor of south Ca-oiina 0 vi of my opponents, by a clear on. Majority. This is stated advisedly, because I have traveled nearly all over the State; have received letters from good men from every section of the State, and the only danger that has yet been hinted at was the use of money and fraud at the ballot boxes. Sections IN and 365, Code of Laws of South Carolina. 1*12, read as fol? lows: "Sec. 3."?;. At or before every poli? tical primary election held by any pol? itical party, organisation or associa? tion, for the purpose of choosing can? didates for office, ??r the election of delegates to conventions, In this state, t .... 1 any person wlu? shall, by threats or any other form of intimidation, or by the payment, delivery, or promise of money, or Other article of value, pro* [cure or offer, promise or endeavor to r procure, anothei to \?<ie for or ?against any particular candidate In such election, or who shall, for such consideration, offer to so vote, shall be guilty of a misdeameanor." j "Sec. 3?>5. Any manager at any primary election in this State who shall be guilty of wilfully violating any of the duties devolved upon such position, shall be guilty of a mis? demeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not to exceed one hundred dollars, or Imprisonment not to exceed six months; and any M inager who shall be guilty of fraud or coirupttota in the management of such election, shall he guilty ot a misdeameanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be i fined in a sum not to exceed five hun? dred dollar-, or imprisonment for a term not to exceed twelve months, or both, in the discretion of the court." j And. I call upon all of my friends I to see that any person w ho attempts Ito buy votes in this primary, or who ;intimidates voters by threats or other j wise, he immediately prosecuted* and j if you need any assistance in the . prosecution of the case, i promise you, i , . I as Governor of this state, to furnish jit. because 1 believe in a fair, square [election, and propose, so far as in my I power, to see that it is held tor all of the offices of our State. You. my FellOW Citizens. wat'h these two thing's. We now have a majority! we have the battle won. and ?11 that WO have got to do is to see that we get a fair and honest showing I cannot do it all; ?an onl> do my part; it is up to you to do yours. If the peo? ple are d? feated and the corpora? tions and new sp iers and the old ring take charge of this government, the people will he the sufferers, The fault will not be mint?. Let the consequen? ces he what th.-v may. the people of my Slate Will be forced to say. CotO I U Please did ! is part. I thank you for your kind atten? tion, and. if eleeted, will promise you j tO stand h\ tie i . op|e and for the people, for I sin one of the people. Mr. John T. Ibincan, of Columbia, the regular rand 'i It*, was the next speaker. His speech was ihn some? what stereotyped, in that it was large? ly a it hash of the romaiks he has been want to make at regular recur? ring periods of two veirs He paid his respects to W. A. Clark and Col* Wille Seminole .Tones of Columbia, the Gonsalee crowd the Columbia state In particular ami all other newspapers in general, whom be charged, taking a leaf out of Gov. Rtease*s book, with suppressing the n -ws and not giving I vContinued on page 4A !