The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-06-25
Cole l.. Blease.

Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentle
men. South Carolinians:
Two years ago when 1 appeared
before you as a candidate for the Of
flee OF governor. was introduced to
you as Senator Blease. This morn
ing your chairman introduced me as
Mayor Blease, OF Newberry. Two
years ago L represented Newberry
county in the State senate. At the
close OF that year / voluntarily retir-
cd from that position, and last De-
cember 1 was elected mayer Of the
city OF Newperry. where 1 was born
and where 1 have lived all my life.
So II is with pleasure that 1 can to-
day repeat the boast which 1 made in
pie OF my home town and county
have never refused to elect me to
any office that have asked them for.
I have been town attorney and am
now mayor. and have represented the
county In the house of representa-
tives and In the State senate. i have
been elected to nearly every State
convention since 1890. when / began
my service in the house Of represen-
tatives. and am now serving my four
teenth year on the State Democratic
executive committee. In the race for
governor two years ago I received a
majority of the votes in the town of
Newberry and in the county of New
berry, and in the surrounding cOun-
ties of Laurens, Saluda and Union,
and In that section of Lexington ad-
jacent to my home county. Where
the people know me best l received
my largest vote. and of that 1 am
proud. AS TO my success in my pro-
fession. the records in the office of
the clerk OF the court at, Newbery
will show that my name appears as
attorney in nearly all Of the important
criminal and civil cases of the county
] have served the State as speaker
pro tenn. Of the house. and as presi-
Dental elector twice, and as mem
ber Of the State board of canvassers
for four years, and beg to refer you
to those with whom l have served
and those whom 1 have served as to
the manner i'm which / filed these
positions and discharged the duties
thereof
We are told today that conditions
I'm South Carolina demand a sound
and economical but not penurious
business administration. and 1t is
true. The financial question Is the
greatest issue which confronts our
people. And who was IL that first
called attention to our financial con-
dition? Blease did 10 on the floor Of
the senate and worked for more
economical government. and begged
the senator's to reduce appropria-
tions, not 20 create useless offices
and TO stop burdening the people
with taxation. In 1906 and 1908
went on the stump all over this State
and begged the people TO pay more
attention TO their financial affairs,
and did all In my power to make the
financial condition Of our State the
principal issue I'm both those cam
palgns. But the politicians and GER
tair newspapers wanted TO keep con-
cealed the true conditions, so they
hollered "liquor liquor" and hid the
facts. as far as possible. from the vot-
ers. Now, since they can not keep
these conditions hid any longer. some
OF them are yelling. Let liquor alone.
and let's have business campaign"
All right. that Is what have been
begging for for years. and / am glad
TO see that the people have at last
walked up To- find that was right and
that they are now demanding what ]
have been trying 10 get for years-a
more economical form OF government