Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-08-21
Misfellaneuus 8eading.
ANSEL AND BLEASE.
News and Courier Urges Charleston to
Act Wisely.

| Act wisely.
The next governor of South Caro-
| lima will be Martin F. Ansel or Cole
L. Blease. The choice Of the white
people of the state will be made at
the Democratic primary election ten
days hence. There will be no appeal
from the decision of the primary.
We have not the least doubt that
/ Ansel will be nominated. He Is bet
ter man in all respects than his COM
petitor-in character, in purpose, in
achievement. He is not demagogue.
He does not appeal to the prejudices
of the ignorant or to the cupidity OF
the corrupt.
He has had no relations, profess
sional or political, with the criminal
forces OF society. He has not trim
| med his course to catch the support
of the unworthy. He has not appeal
ed to the passions Of the multitude.
He has not had to defend his person
al character because it has never been
impugned. The people know that
they can depend upon him because
they have tried him; tried him In the
legislature, tried him in the office OF
solicitor, tried him as governor, and
he has stood every test.
HE will be nominated for another
term as governor. He will receive
| 10000 votes at the primary election;
he ought to be nominated without OPP
position. He will beat his opponent
by 80, 900 majority. 1t is inconceivable
that the Democratic voters Of the
state should prefer Blease to Ansel.
There is some opposition to Ansel in
Charleston, based upon his course In
dealing with the Illicit sale Of whis-
ky in this town, and for the purpose
Of emphasizing. their disapproval OF
the extraordinary, and, In our opin-
ion, utterly unjustifiable, measures
resorted to by him in dealing with an
extraordinary condition, there has
been considerable talk here Of voting
for Blease.
Why? What are those who are OPP
of Blease? Is he to make Illicit traf-
fic in whisky easier here that it has
been under the administration of An
sell? Will he cause the supreme court
to reconsider its action in the injunc-
ton cases? What has he ever done
for Charleston or its people or their
interests that would justify them in
voting for him at the primary elec-
ton? What is he that he should COM
mand the support and confidence OF
the Democratic voters Of this town?
What could this community gain by
his election?
If we should give him large vote
in Charleston, what will the people in
the rest of South Carolina who Will
vote against him in overwhelming
numbers think Of us and Of our way
Of playing politics?" Is Blease worth
the price we would have to pay for
him in the loss Of our own self-respect,
in the confidence Of our neighbors, In
the business, Industrial, commercial
and political relations we would es-
tablish between Charleston and the
rest of South Carolina?
Some Of us have been greatly out
ragged by Ansers dealing with the
Lwhisky situation in Charleston; are
we going to remedy the situation by
giving our support to one Of The rep
resentatives and chief exponents of
the state dispensary, the prime source
of many Of our woes, and the most
corrupt political machine that has
ever disgraced an Independent state?
With what grace can we go to the
people Of the state hereafter and say
that we want their friendship and
support in political affairs If in this
trial of our good faith we shall vote
for Blease to get even with Ansel?
We submit to the thoughtful Demo-
cratic voter of this town that there is
far more in the present contest for
the Democratic nomination for gov
ernor than the question of how to
make the Illicit sale Of whisky in Char
lesion easy. Charleston will not vote
for Blease, but if in the exercise of
unreasonable prejudice and passion
any considerable number Of our peo-
ple should vote for him, they will do
So to the lasting injury Of the COM
munity and to their own hurt.-News
and Courier.