The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-06-26
TIME TO STATE POSITIONS.
Candidate Cole. L. Blease Says It's
Time for the Other Candidates
90. to Show Down.
News and Courier.

been clearly and sharply drawn, and
G. l.. Blease, of Newberry, candidate
for governor. on a straight dispensary
platform, was the man who drew the
lines. About seventy people were
present.
Up to the meeting here today the
various candidates for the highest po-
sition in the state have rocked quiet
ly along, speaking of education, good
roads, drainage, and various other
matters Of more or less general inter-
est, and occasionally alluding to the
dispensary in rather polite terms. But
after today it is probable that more
severe language will be used.
State Senator Blease, in his first
sentence, spoken in his usual emphat-
ic manner, said: 81 think it is time
for some gentlemen who have intimat-
cd that the dispensary is not what it
should be, who have said that there
was corruption in it, and that there
were thieves in it, should come out
with proofs in regard to those state
ments. And if there has been steal
ing let these men say who are the
thieves. And I challenge them to
prove, at the campaign meeting on
Monday that there has been corrup-
ton in the dispensary and to name
the men who have been benefited
thereby" He said that some of the
candidates for governor were in favor
Of a substitute, and he wanted to
know what that substitute was.
."'Now, if there is dishonesty in the
dispensary, let the candidates who So
state come forward next week and
prove it. IF YOU, fellow citizens, be-
!ievc in prohibition there sits Joel
Brunson, a man who has had the
courage and the manhood to come out
flat-lIootcd for prohibition. Brun-
son does not come here with q bas-
tard law between county and a state
dispensary. You can see where he
stands; he is not ON split plat
form.'
Continuing, Mr.. Blease said:
"Liquor is an evil. You can't kill
it, and the best thing to do is to con-
troll it, And I believe that the dis
pensary is the best method to control
it,
Blease stated that he believed Boy
kin and Towill honest men, despite
the attacks that had been made on
them by the newspapers and III the
hearings Of the investigating COM
mittec. The speech produced pro-
found impression on the men present
and it is believed that it will serve to
bring out some interesting develop
ments next week. The speech of Mr..
Blease was the feature of the day in
that it marked distinct change in
the tone Of the campaign and served
to crystalline matters.
Ragsdale's Attack on Lyon.
j. w. Ragsdale, candidate for at
torney general against j. Fraser
Lyon, also came in for his share Of
public attention when he intimated in
no uncertain language that Lyon,
while working on the investigating
committee had received two. salaries,
one rs a member of the committee and
another as member of the general
assembly. The charge created some-
thing of sensation, and when he
stated that Lyon stood in the way of
a bill to prevent graft, at the same
time pretending to be fighting graft,
there was an intense silence. He said
that Lyon, when elected to the gener-
al assembly was favorably disposed
to the dispensary, and that he had
changed while in that body, and that
while he was elected as being favora-
bic to the dispensary, when he turn
ed he did not retire from that body.
He argued that Lyon might undergo
q similar change should he be elected
to the office of attorney general.
Ragsdale stated that his platform was
integrity in Office, cons istency in pub
lie life and a desire to carry out tho
will Of the people.
Lyon Contradicts Ragsdale.
After Ragsdale's intimation that
Lyon had been the recipient of dou-
bic salary Lyon arose to question of
personal privilege, and Chairman Nc