The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-09-09
CLAYTON CRITICISES
The "TIMES' STAND
SEES INCONSISTENCY AND SUS.
PECTS PERSONALITIES.
Why Not Support Blease's PlatformE
Thinks Issue On Liquor Should
Be Carried Into Second Prl-
mary.

Editor Florence Times: Your sur
prising editorial and the unfair play,
demands a reply from some Of Mr..
Blease's friends, therefore ask space
to make that reply. did not vote for
MIR. Blease, I voted for Mcleod and
Duvall, and after depositing my bal
lot left the polls and did not again
return to them. I took perhaps as lit
tie interest in this election as any ever
held, and only in the interest of fair
play I pen this article.
You say "that every citizen, regard
less of his views on the liquor question
or on any other question, should get
out at once and work as hard as he
can for c. c. Featherstone for gov
ernor." And again you say, eve do
not deny Mr.. Blease's ability or his
strength with the people; he is most
fascinating man, but in our cool delib-
crate Judgment backed by our varied
experiences, We feel that it would be
a serious mistake to make Mr.. Blease
governor Of the State" Now, Mr.. Ed
itor, what do you know Of Mr.. Blease's
character from your varied experience
for some blur upon his character can
only be your reason for your extraor-
dinay editorial. AS you admit his abl!"
ity and fascination, if you know any
thing derogatory Of the character OF
Mr. Blease, then you should make it
known. If your opposition rests upon
personal dislike you can't expect the
!people at large to take up your quar-
rel. What are you asking the people
of Florence county to do. Simply to re-
pudiate their action at the polls,
where they gave a large majority
for local option and repudiate a can
didate who represents those ideas and
vote for a man who proclaims the OF
posite. You intimate that Mr.. Feath-
erstone is the better man and we
should repudiate principle and vote
for the individual. Such advice would
eliminate all party lines and make
the people servants Of their masters!
Now in what respect is Mr.. Feather
stone the superior of Mr.. Blease, what
office has he held and discharged: the
duties of that enhances his value as a
governortorial candidate. Once before
he ran upon this liquor platform, but
there are other issues or should be in
South Carolina, than liquor, yet this
one item has been Mr.. Featherstone's
only ammunition. While Mr.. Blease
has held the office Of State senator,
representative and mayor Of his home
town and in this last election not oQly
carried his home county, but beat Mr..
Featherstone in his home county. If
. we are to throw away principle and
vote for men, then if a republican can
didate is better man than his demo-
cratic opponent according to your
reasoning the democrats should aban-
don the principles of their party and
vote for the republican. Now, Mr..
Editor, where is you consistency under
this editorial in which you enveigh
against Blease: You have the following
aimed at Ellerbe for voting for a duty
on lumber. You say, *FDoes South Car
olina, really mean that she does not
care whether her congressman repre-
sent the people or not. One would
Judge so from the election returns and
yet that can hardly be So" Now, Mr..
Editor, the county of Florence has
spoken in no unmistakable terms, that
she favors local option and yet you
advise the people to forego principle
and vote for no special interest to
whip man. Now, Mr.. Editor, propose
to take upon myself to advise the peo-
pie of Florence to vote for no special
Individual but to use your language,
I say to them, that it is my deliberate
opinion that either Mr.. Featherstone
or Mr.. Blease will make US a good gov
ernor and if they wish to vote for
principle then if you favor state wide
prohibition and believe it best for the
State then vote for Featherstone, if on
the contrary you believe in local op-
ton then for Blease and don't be lead
away by insinuation or innuendo as to
either. Certain papers in the State have
been bounding down Blease just as
they did Tillman, but have made no
special charge or proof Of any mis-
conduct on his part. The State this
morning says he advocated the old
State dispensary. So did Richards, so
did Mr.. Manning and the county dis
pensaries are based upon the ideas Of
reform noted in the Rayor-Manning