Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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BLEASE S ANNUAL MESSAGE. ItEYIIWs I'll) VKH S MBCOAI? MEMDATIONs- AND TALKH IH.HAT1CS. Bwiuinarj ol IxrngtJiY Document Gtve*? ma Ides <d the Governor's IY?xtent Kent of Mind ? Some of lib* lUvommci ids t ions uro Excellent and should be Adopted?Ah VhuiiI Ilia PolltL-al Declaration* uro Per? sonal and Kotten. Columbia, Jan. 13.?Gov. Dleaao's moflRAgr to the general assembly to? day touched a variety of aubjects. He dealt with the primary reform, com? pulsory education, to which he ia op? posed, railroad rates, the mileage question, and many other matters that ere now before the people of the State. In sections the message is political, dealing with the bitter campaign of 1912, attacking men opposed to the governor, culling for the abolition of the historical commission, under eer aln cond'tlons, and generally dealing with cond.tlona In South Carolina, In part hi* message follows: 'I am opposed to any change In, the primary system. I believe in hon +nt election*, and I believe in letting I every white man participate in the! primary who is elig'ble to vote un? der the rules of the Democratic party. Whenever we deprive the white people] of the right to vote, or any large number of them of their right to. vote, we will break up the primary system, because those who are Quail fled want the right to vote, and they should ha>e lt. und they do not pr<> pose to be put. by any party of nur, on an equal footing with a free BO* _ _r, ?. gro? in view o* the proposed legglsla tlon In connection with the primary system the above views of Governor Blease taken from a section of his message to the general assembly, are, of especial Interest at this time when \ primary reform la a vital Issue bo fore the p.-opie of South Carolina. In his review of the primary In; South Carolina Qov. Blease gives, briefly, the hlatory of the adoption of the primary and outline? the rea? sons for it. The last convention. Gov. Blease points out, for the nomination of a governor and State official was when Gov. John Peter Hichardson was nominated for the second term. "It seems that this system," says the governor, referring to the pri? mary, "was perfectly satisfactory when Oov. Tillman, Evans, lillerbu ind McSweeney were elected .and it ??ached its height In the eyes of many people?especially certain newspapor ?dltors? who are now condemning It, ind gave most splendid satisfaction', to those distinguished gentlemen. I when Oov?. Heyward and Ansel worei elected. Nothing was hear! of its be-, ng unsatisfactory to thla great ele meat of our people w^en General Jo? seph II. Earle wo? elected to the Unit? ed St *te? Ken it.? and when many con rressmen and many State officials were chos*n. But ales the campaign ej 1912 came on." The governor then reviesa ths 191-1 campaign with regard to the primary "hange* He quotes Ma proclamation sailing attention to the laws as to vote buying and hia offer of a reward for convictions; cites his ?peech at Sum ter along the name line; and then goes Into the afterma'h of tho cam? paign. Ho refers to the ' tho charges of fraud brought, aid these holler than thou Lor Is of Democracy, the editors und somo others?all great guardians of South Carol ma n pri- J marie*, who wen? itftgled ami whip? ped out of their boots, with all their1 money and chleunery and trickery, sll at once discovered that the pri? mary waa reeking with fraud and waa| a corrupt system and wan horrible to J Contemplate." The ggOOfMf then ggfcg a numbe. I f qui stlonx Why did 1 b? * opponent h.11 such an em.rmmu campaign fund'.'" \ Win it t * pay his campaign ex? penses around ?>\?r South Carolina ?"j vV.is It to ps> his Mon'.s expenses] for traveling around with him and currying hla books? "Was It to pay the legitimate ex? penses of hu ampnign manager? "Who was to use it and for what purpose" Why did ?he railroads make larg<? contributions H Mttga*! opponent's, campaign fun I f "Why did cortaln cotton mill presi? dents m ile* such largo COOtrlbOttoni to Men**-'* opponent's enn.p ilgn fui. l ? Had any candidate In South Caro? lina ever before needed a campaign fund su h as was ru.sed agolngl Uleas?-9" The governor concludes with th>( question If men reiOd n it.' referring Id rhe prlmaiy v. ho were not entitled in ',o>, who totaled theen from North Carolina and from Georgia and paid their expense . Chars'"* that it the punmry was corrupt ?t wao corrupted ley th.< sums of money i n*? and hau Had at | central bureau In Columbia and bj parties In other parts Of I hi Stute." the s?.veiiior i ?'peat? Mg st.ifennut gsssle oi. ihw aHatt hone* Aepi the night after the primary that "ilie ..th er side had ?total) mute votes and put them In the ballot box than the> knew what to do with.'' He aaserts It is not tho system that necde improving; "it Is not the law iltat needs MJneiul'ng?-we have law enough?but it Is tho enforcement of that law that we need. Prosecute i the man who handed out money and whiskey, or who In the tuture hand out money and whiskey. Prosecute 1 the men who try to buy voters. Prosc I cute the people who hire men to trav? el throughout the State under guise of book aacntfl, newspaper re? porters and subscription list hunters and under other gulao, and instead of following vocations which they claim j to follow, go nround trying to buy j voters, trying to debauch tho citizen? ship of the State, and telling tho most wilful and malicious lies upon the then governor of their common* weaPh." He states t was he who exposed their ?ehernes from tho public stumps, "that, thoy were whipped." i The governor concludes. "They speak of using money. God knows the present governor never j had any to use." After stating he made a good living, Governor Pleuse i state.*: "Put not one nickel of it ha he e.er used to corrupt a voter." "What we need," he adds "is to, enforce the laws we have strictly to ( the letter. Pet every white man of legal igt in South Carolina vote in the primaries and if one comes from ' another State into this State and votes, or goes from one county into another! and votes illegally, let tho men whom ; he votes for as well as the men whom | 'no votes against see to it that ho is! prosecuted and punished to the full xtent of the law. We lave all tht law we need and we have all the hon or we need in South Carolina to en . force th law. And it comes with poor grace from that crowd which had control of all the election ma-. chinery to charge fraud, when they' and their friends wero the only one.- ; who could have committed any' fraud." j The governor then stated he was) opposed to any change In the primar> ; system, and sets out his "address toj the people of September 19, 1912." | Governor Please reiterated practi? cally all of his recommendations dur-' ing his first three sessions of the gen- j eral assembly that had not been dis? posed of by legislation. j The recommendations given are j that the name of Clemeon College ; be changed to Calhoun University ! that the board of pardons be nbolishec 1 or "paid a fiufflclent salary for tin work to be done;" that "you take some action in regard to the cotton mill mergers In this State and the Carolina Public Service Corporation md generally In regard to trusts and 'Combinations;" that "you .ake action to prohibit any town, city or county, or tho State from giving any exclusive' rights, privileges, or franchise to any corporation or individual;" that you require all corporations in this Stat? using the water power of the state %t | pay a tax or license therefor;" that I "you pass an uct reducing the logo , rate of interest to six per cent." With regard to the reduction of the legal rate of interest Governor Please stated: "Figures compiled re cently by th-> agricultural depart? ment of the government show th' \ enormous amount of Interest which ' the South is paying. In comparison , with tho rateji In the east and north 4 Hteadlly drain ng the pockets of our. people and particularly the farmers Securities in South Carolina?particu? larly farm lai.ds?are as good as can be had In tho world, and it li simply oppression?nothing short of It ? which tskes from tho pockets of otr people an averago Interest of more than ?dght per cent; when other States are paying, some of them be? tween ti\ 8 and six." Governor Bloaos wishes the genera'| ussemblv to pass an act prohibiting?' banks from charting customer! ex-' change on drafts and check.?; a bill] prohibiting tho express companies from charging for returning money | Heeled on C?? <?. ij. packages; a tw< cent Bat paesenger rats on the rail Id lines of South Carolina; that, you lake some action with regard to? th* concealed weapon law, is anothei n commendation. With regard t<? the newspapers Oov, Dlesse makes the following recom? mendation : "That you mifcc It r. misdemeanor for any newspaper editors reporter or' correspondent, to promulgate, make or publish false reports of the speech of im\ person who b* n candidate foi any county, State or national office, and that you push an act tu 'he ? ff'-' that When any newspaper publishes s| Statement In regard to any person that is Injurious) thut when that peison M"n<ls te the paper g collection of said report, the editor or manager of the paper be required te publish said correction In the same column of the ime pegs, and with as large head* Unna an ths original article appeared wherein the prison wan misquoted <?r mist apron nted Ths governor Ml an gftVOt .il- of the dire, t election of the ludlvlary as ihowr by recommendation that the gvuvrsj aseesabl] vybmii lite pea pie hiioh "constitutional umendmcnt or amendments as may be neceasarj t<> provide for the election of judges i?y the people." This recommendation was made at the last session of the legislature. He reiterates hit recommendation! to ths general assembly also, in 1912 ! h asked for an investigation of the I higher institutlions of learning, as* ' peclally With regard to expenditures and repeats that recommendation I this year, also the following recom? mendation: "That you look into the matter of too great amount being paid for wa? ter and lights by the State. That ' you look into the matter of too great ! amount being paid to the Catawba Indians. That you look into the mat? ter of purchases for State institutions and that you provide some means of ! all these purchnsos being made In j fluch manner as to secure tho lower ! prices which should oe had by pur-' i chasing them in bulk upon a contract I i including ull the institutions." The goverr.or asks the general as- j sernbly to hav? one of its committees j Investigate the hunting clubs and i I other corporations of foreigners lo? cated in this Htato to see if they are j violating the constitution and section' 2689, VoL 1, Code of 1912." "That you pass some act which j would have the effect of disbanding negro lodges" is a recommendation' the governor reiterates. In capital' letters ho calls upon the general as-1 sembly to pass an act prohibiting any white person from teaching in negro '< schools or from teaching negro chil- j dren. J From his 1011 recommendations the governor reiterates tho following j Liberal support for Confederate vet Srans, liberal but not extravagant ap j proprlatlons for our State instltu tlona of learning; "that you amend ?he law so that white convicts will not be placed In the same camps nnd worked along In the same squads with negro convicts." "I respectfully call your attention," says tho govornorj "once again to the evil of the sale and use of cocaine and such like drugs and to the smoking of cigarettes by boys! under the age of sixteen years." "I reepoctfully recommend that you pass a law prohibiting the board of trustees of any State college in thi> > State for white pupils, or any public school for white schildren which re selves in*' of the tax money of th* j people of the Rtat*, or any faculty of such institution, from admitting any negro, Chinaman, Japanese, Cuban or other disagreeable and incom - patible race, into said college oi ehool With white pupils." Governor Please advocates licens? ing of every detective "or so called detective and that he be re? quired to give bond in sufficient sun o he tiled with tho secretary of State, before receiving such license, in order that ho may be held both civilly and criminallv liable for any false im? prisonment, false arrest or false ac? cusation th-U he may cause or make." A recommendation that a suitable ileCS of land be sot aside by an act o the general assembly and that sufh oJenl appropriation be mado for th' 1 creation of a tuberculosis sanitarlun for the treatment of the dread disease 's made. He calls attention to the ra\ j ges of the disease and the necessity fsr tho state to take a hand in secklm o check the toll. Governor Please objects to smoking in dining roortw and cafes and has called upon the general assembly to enact a law making it a misdemeanor for any person to light or to smok? any cigarette, cigar, pipe or other ar? ticle containing tobacco or other com? modity in any public dining room restaurant, cafe or other place for din? ing or serving meals which ladies an accustomed or permitted to visit. The governor says he does not think such a law necessary for any tru? j gentleman or well reared man "bui I there aro some people who como in outh Carolina who have no respect] ror us or our ladies and they should j be made to respect them, and If the) aro any citizens of our State who art ' not decent enough to respect the wo? men of the State, they should be put 1 In the 'made" clus*." it is pointed out that smoke passing "through consumptive, syphilitic, o: ither diseased throats, noses, etc, and' Into the mouths of decent women"! "is dungerouH and Ihs governor says if1 this d"? ? not convey disease then "I certainly is nauseating." I Ths governor ?tates thai there wa , i time In South Carolina when if a man smoked a pipe or cigar while walking on the stroot by the side of a lady he was considered not well reared While such a thing as smokiru while out riding With a lady was not , tolerated He further said that if h Wont into a place where men wer smoking in presence ol ladles he) would ask them not to smoke and It ' they did not desist he would get ui j and leave with the lade who accom? panied him ?it i had mi way. personally," wrote Crovsrnor lllsase, "when a mtr '.it a . ;j*ar "? ?:itf:'.?e?tf In n littllllg ?in who re Indies were accustomed to he ii it were m >? place, i would incite him out, and ii he did not leave.j I would put hiln out." i Governor Blease wishes the coun? ties affected to pay the charges for requisition ol prisoners from other States who are returned for trial in this State. "I recommend/' says the governor, "that you change the law governing requisitions upon other States for the j return of fugitives from the justice j Oi this State so as to require the ex ! peases connected with the service of ! said requisitions and the return of the fugitives to be paid by the coun? ties, instead of the State, as at prea | ent." The governor points out that he has ; required the county Supervisors, in j such cases, to furnish certificates that the counties would pay the expenses, 1 except that the fugitive was returned convicted and served his sentence in the State penitentiary, in which event the State would bear the expenses. "Even where tho county agreed to I pay the expenses," says Governor j Blease "I have examined very careful? ly to see if requisition was desired' : to collect a debt, and have set the j stamp of my disapproval upon every) [auch effort." The governor wants tho general as? sembly to fix the whole matter by stat-j ute so that the expenses shall be borne by the county for which the fugitive! from Justice is sought. It is stated by Governor Blease, in explanation of requisitions, that often efforts are made to use the criminal courts to j enforce civil actions, for instance, in! cases involving breach of the statute as to obtaining goods under false pre? tenses. That supplemental reading for the free public schools be provided by an act of tho general assembly and that Whail any public school sots asido an amount for such use the board of ed? ucation shall set asido a similar ; amount, is a recommendation in the governors annual message to the lag*? islature. It developed from the governor's' message to the general assembly that he had not signed the report of the ? i Board of Trustees. "My reasons for not signing thla report," says tht governor in his message, "are endors j ed at the bottom of the same and art as follows: "Having been unable to attend the meetings of the board of trustees, 1 am not sufficiently informed at pres ent to express an opinion as to th?. correctness of this report, or to rec- ( ommend to the general assembl> j what amount of money is essential foi | ts management." In an historical review Ooverno Blease takes up the foundation o. Winthrop College and it is understood that the drift of the argument is tha Benjamin Ryan Tillman, the senio senator, is not given credit for th stablishment of Winthrop Collog >ut tho initial steps are crodited U John Peter Richardson, then gover? nor of South Carolina. Govornor Richardson's final mes | sage to the general assembly wltl reference to tho Winthrop Training chool for Toachers is quoted in th ^ovo;nor's message. One portion c he address by Governor Richardso | to the general assembly was tha 'thore should bo some provision t <ive thorough, practical training h he industrial arts in order that wc j nen's opportunities for self suppor .nay be multiplied and that she ma: -e prepared lor the successful per formance of all those duties whicl commonly devolvo upon her. Th beneflcient Influence of such indus? trial training would ho seen and fel in the home, in tho school, in th? , ,dace of business aud in all the walk, of life." This was written in 1S90. Governo Bleaso points ?out that a roaolutiot was sent to tho general ossombly De cember 2, 1891 tendering Wlnthroi Training School to tho State for th? establishment of an industrial achoo for women. Throughout Governor Blease give credit and praise to Governor Richard son for his forethought in cunnectin with Winthrop. Under the heading "Deadly Foot ball," Governor Dlease says: "I men tloned something to you gentlemei last year about football and its feat 'til toll of life and broken limbs. j desire now to call your attention t< j an editorial which appeared in th ! Columbia State, on November 25, 1913 ' the last sentence of which, gentlemen j 1 am satisfied you will say is very con- ! soling to tho parents of the fourteei your.g men whom College facultlei and school trustees have allowed t< be murdered." Tho governor then quoted an edi? torial from u local morning paper, th' last sentence of which is: "The solu lion lies with the parents t>> see tha' their progeny lo not try to chow I beef too stiff with gristle." Governor Blease sees in the Medl< a College ot South Carolina an institu Uon whose men may rid this State (.: it;; greatest evils, pellagra, Uibereulo* sis and other scourges. He says, in his message, of the medical school "Tbl* beby is ueMii\ grown, *1 though she is not a yeai old fthi Will put on list now suit of ClulliSg ii the near future ami will step Into hsi | inw home an.l start housekeeping, and ', if.you gentlemen will Just help her uj little, in my ?.pinion she will prove the most valuable Institution the stat?, has, for she will turn out young men j graduates who will be in position to , help you in some <,f your greatest problems in the matter of ridding yoruselves of some of our greatest evils such as tuberculosis, pellagra and other seourges. I commend this institution to you." Governor Cole L. Idease charges the eminent jurist, H. A. M. Smith, of "h?rtesten, with violating tho consti? tution in holding on to his position as a member of tho State Historical com I mission, while serving as a United State? judge. In this connection Gov? ernor Blease also rappeti Senator ! Tillman for holding on to a college trusteeship, although Governor Blease does not mention Senator Tillman by name. The controversy with regard to holding of two positions is a matte; of public history in South Carolin*, and every member of the general as? sembly probably knew that the gover? nor was referring to the senior sena j tor. ?Senator Tillman Is a. life trus? tee of Clemson College. Under the head of "Historical Com? mission," Governor Blease wrote as follows: "In this connection, gentlemen, 1 want to call your attention to viola? tions of the law by those high in au? thority in connection with the His? torical Commission of this State?an open defiance of the law by a United States judge and a lawyer who has served as special judge in this State. "For some time we have had a United States senator defying the law of South Carolina by holding college trusteeships while he is a member o tho United States senate, and we havt had other men in high office, holding | two positions in plain violation of th ] constitution. j "Now comes the historical con mission, a position as member oi which we have all presumed does no; pay any salary, but is one of honor and here we have an open defiance o the law us I conceive it, by a Unite* States judge. The attorney general o; this State has held that this judge j vacated his position upon the His 1 torical Commission whon ho accepter the Judgeship. "I appointed a successor to him but at the meeting held in tho cit> of Columbia on the 17th of December this very distinguished gentleman no: only held that he was still a mcmbei of the commission, but defied the opinion of the attorney general, and stated that he would be .glad t? take the matter to the supreme cour ith the attorney genoral. "Of course Mr. Smith is a high judgf and should not be criticized for vio? lating the law, but I am simply show ng you still another open flaunting of the law by my enemies. If Mr. ^mlth were a littlo negro crap shoot? er, or some poor whlto man who hap? pened to sell a little whiskey this same judge would give him a criminal sen? tence for doing what he is now doing in my opinion. "Next time he sentences someom e should say, 'I am a violator of th> aw; you can't sentence me, but I wil ?entence you; you are a common citi? zen but I am a big (?) judge; I cat lolate the law and defy it, but yot j :ttle shrimp, I will teach you a lea on.' "I used to think Mr. Smith a learn d mau, but now I conclude that h< I s a little cheap partisan politician vho thinks he knows all tho law ? hlle the lawyer beforo him know; aone. I am not further surprised ai its accepting a judgeship from a Re mblican while claiming to bo a Demo? crat." Attacks Another Member. Mr. Smith is not tho only membei of the historical commission to com In for criticism by the governor li ils annual message. The governor continued with refer? ence to tho historical commission: "Another instance is that of Mr. Mc- I Collough, who also vacated his po-? sltion on the Historical Commission j by serving several times as special Judge, which has been held to bo an j office in this State. Yet, Mr. Mc Collough, like Judge Smith, in open defiance of the law, holds to his po? sition on this Historical Commissioi and continues to act* and he and Mr Imltlt, with two other members of J tho commission. Messrs. Kennedy and tnowden, set themselves up as the Historirai Commission, in open viola ion and defiance of the constitution >f this State.' Governor Blease said he was crtti cited for pardoning a little fellow who! violates the law and bogs for mercy. ' 'whlb- these 'big' men are above tlv law." and added the governor "can't be reached.*' Governor Blease asked the ques? tion: ' Doesn't it look ag if there is somethirfv in the Woodpile. ' He stnt Sd he did ii"t st e why "these men ui ? tenacious of this little Job." II?- asks the aatne question with re? gard to the United States aenatorahip and the college trusteeships. The governor states thai in- doesn't cu?e anything for the position on the Historical Commission and he was not personal!) Interested but merely wish? ed to call the matter to the attention the general assembly" and show you who i- responslbl? t"i keeping p?? litical peace away." He called upon tho legislator* to I abolish the Historical Commission, of j South Carolina, unless certain changes j recommended by him with regard to the personnel of the membership bs mude. On this point, after citing Judge H. A. M. Smith's membership in the j commission although a federal judge and Mr. McCollough's being a mem? ber although having served as special judge, the governor makes this state* ment: j "I recommend that, unless you are desirous of allowing these men whom I have mentioned to continue in their I open violation and defiance of the con* stltution, that you abolish the Hletori ? cal Commission, in order to get rid of ' these men, and either create a new I commission or have none, as I am satisfied the one we have is worth? ies, useless and will pro^e some day :o be more of a nuisance to people who desire to eecure the true history* ; of this State than a value." Judge H. A. M. Smith, referred to by Governor Blease in a portion of his message is the federal judge appoint j ed by President Taft when Judge Wtl t Ham Brawley reached the age limit a few years ago and resigned. Mr. j McCollough, also referred to, is an at j torney of Greenville. Prof?. Snowden I is professor of history and political economy at the University of South Carolina. , ^ Governor Please thinks the federal government is encroaching too much >n the State's rights. "For instance," says the governor, 'congress has recently enacted a law making it a crime to break into cer? tain freight cars. The goods in those cars belong to parties in our State, or n another State, to which they are hipped, and as a general rule they ?tcome the property of such persons mmediately upon being placed upon he train, and therefore the shipper las no further right or control over hem. Hence, if a crime is committed I is to these goods, it is a crime against the railroad com any which owns the relght car or against the property of >ne of our citizens." "Another act I notice, is the one '\ing dates for hunting purposes *1thin the borders of our State. The birds and the duck? and the deer and ! the fish and other game within the borders of South Carolina belong to our people and the United State? gov? ernment has no ri I - conn nis ^tate and intefer? with ojr local fame laws. "This la only an to protect certain set of northerners, who coi&?* iown here and buy up large tracts of and and then prohibit our people rom hunting on it. "They establish their hunting afnfcgt which are often nothing less than arrooms, and are sometimes gamb ing dens, and put fences around their hunting preserves and say to our peo? ple: 'Stay out/ Or they come into i our State and hunt and floh promis? cuously, doging tho payment of any tax or license, to the detrlraeut of our lome people. Now come* the Unit? ed States government, because these people are rich, and is attempting in heir interest, to deprive the people >f our State of their God-given right ind liberty to hunt and tish for the era me and fish which an all wise Providence has provided free to sll mankind, and to deprive the people of our State of the right to regulate their seasons and to protect their ?me nnd flsh as they sei> fit. And tksv have gone further now and ap? pointed a special agent to run around over tho State, meddling in other peo de's business, to bring prosecutions for violations of this law" Governor Blease thinks the white dave act should have he-en a stato matter instead of one for federal con? cern. Pointing out to tho federal gov? ernment is now beginning to fix rates which shall be charged by the rail? roads in "our State, both ''relght and passenger," the governor continues. "It is making other crimes which axe committed in the State notations of the federal law, such as the white ?lave traffic (the law in regard to which I am in favor of, and in favor of the severest punishment for it? vio? lation, but I think it in a matter which mould be handled by the State gov ? rnment first, as it Is a matter pe? culiarly within the duty of the State. If S store is broken into and t* litth one cent postofJtcc happens t(* bc in the back end of it. the United State? government takes charge of that." Pointing out that there are other things along the same line too nu? merous to mention. Governor Biswas concludes by saying that not only a Republican administration but a Dem? ocratic one at Washington Ig daily encroaching upon the rights of the States and taking from them the pow? er-, which have been theirs and which of right belong to them under the Con? st it utioVi." Ths governor says the matter i* getting more serious every day end he asks the Question: "Are we not to raise our voices and allow State linen in be practically obliterated and th? natloual government to tak?? charge 01 our affairs.'* If some effort is not made to atop it." he concludes "It will soon be too late."