Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-08-11
Mistellaneons 8eaaing.
RLEAsE AND THE eRAFTERs.

| yV'T""fS"""""T SS"""''''O'
BLEAsE AND THE GRAFTERs.
Would the Nswberry Man Favor Them
II Elected.
Cheraw Chronicle.
The Lanahan. Blease matter has
never been disposed of. There has
been no answer from Blease to the fol-
lowing appeal made by Lewis w. Par
ker in a card to the people of South
Carolina under date Of Feb. II, 1908:
"In justice to Mr.. Blease himself,
and in justice to the memory OF Mr..
Lanahan, MIR. Blease is now, it seems
to me, called upon to say who was the
high state official whom Mr.. Lanahan
empIoyed-as Mr.. Blease has acknowl-
edged full acquaintanceship in the
matter. Whilst ! cannot conceive THAI
have been mistaken as to statements
made to me by Mr.. Lanahan, still it
there be error in what Mr.. Lanahan
stated to me, Mr.. Blease can clear it
and should do So"
A couple of weeks ago the Cheraw
Chronicle asked several questions. 1t
wished to know whether, II elected gov
ernor, Blease would pardon the graft
ers. 1t said that the association Of
Blease with the grafters and his eff
forts to help them block the efforts Of
the state government to land them,
made that question important. He was
asked too, whether he would use all
means to prevent the United States
court getting possession Of the dispen-
sary fund, and thereby blocking fur
their investigation Of the frauds
against the state. AS to those ques-
tions, W. F. Stevenson makes the fol-
lowing enlightening comment:
Editor the Cheraw Chronicle:
Referring to your questions about
Mr.. Blease, I will make the following
statement:
l. He was a member of the committee
to investigate the state dispensary.
Mr.. Lyon and Mr.. Christensen, who
did the heavy work and unearthed a
lot Of rottenness, soon found that to
accomplish anything they had to keep
their council from Mr.. Blease and that
there was strong evidence that he was
giving tips to the "grafters." 1t came
out that one Samuel J. Lanahan had
employed a state senator to represent
his house and work on the matter Of
sales for him in violation of the law.
When the witness, Mr.. Lewis W. Par
wer. was called on to give the name
Of the SENATOR he declined to give 1t
unless forced to do so. Mr.. Blease led
the fight to keep him from being forced
to tell and by one vote the committee
refused to require Mr.. Parker to give
the name.
"ln Protecting Wronsdoers."
Mr.. Blease stated to Mr.. Parker be-
fore unimpeachable witnesses that he
knew all about the matter and knew
the senator referred to and appreciated
his action in refusing to give the name.
1t was afterwards stated by Mr.. Par
ker when required to do so by the pres
ent dispensary commission that Mr..
Blease was the man. Mr.. Blease de-
who the man was and was on the
committee to run down the lawbreak-
ers and corruptionists and in the face
Of that, with, knowledge OF state Of
ficer who had been violating the law,
he was appointed to vindicate, he was
active in protecting the wrongdoers.
If elected governor, would he be less
active If some Of the evildoers, whom
he was then protecting in violation Of
his duty, were now convicted? Again,
to be used by Mr.. Lyon in prosecuting
the wrongdoers, he opposed it vigor-
ously Will he allow the convictions
that may follow such prosecution to-
stand IL he is governor?
"Firm Stand of Gov. Ansel."
Again. when the Fleischman COM
pany found that the dispensary COM
mission was on to the frauds perpe-
trated by it on the state. they went
into the United States court and were
joined there by Ulman G. Co., and
other smaller malefactors. They got
an order appointing a receiver Of the
funds on hand, then 100000, and
endeavored to get the fund in court.
The firm stand of Gov. Ansel and the
commission alone prevented the courts
getting the fund.
When the legislation that the states
attorneys thought necessary to rem
sented to the state senate, Mr.. Blease
opposed it vigorously and by fllibus-
ter defeated, as he claimed, the most
important of measures
Judge His Future by His Past"
When 1 tell you that the commits
sion has found that the Fleishman COM
pany has overcharged the state $115,-
600 in round numbers, and Ulman
$65 900, and the receivers commits
sion would be about $4,000 and the
attorneys fee paid out Of the fund
about $50, 900, you will see that it will
cost the school fund $27O,000 If Mr..
Blease has his way, judging his will
by his acts, and this will be the result
in favor of two of the liquor houses
whose track he helped to cover when
on the committee to investigate them.
If he is elected, will he not appoint
new commission to undo the work or
the one which has saved the state
several hundred thousand dollars and
for whom he has had nothing but
abuse, and will not a commission ap-
pointed by him surrender to the Unit
ed States court? Judge his future by
the past and answer.
Why Didn't Bease7
Again, he speaks of large appro-
priations. He has, as he says, been
connected for 16 years, with one or
two short intervals, with the leglsla-
ture and he claims that he Is one OF
the great men of the senate because
thew elected him president pro tem'
If that is so, why has he not, with MS
great influence and vote. held down
H.