Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-08-11
FRIDAY, AUGUST II, 1911.

sulting manner informed Miss Rogers
that she must not know who she was
talking to. He further Informed her
that I am Cole Blease, the governor
Of South Carolina; I've got a right to
buy a ticket any time / call for 1t;
and you've got to sell II to me- He
took occasion to tell her that IL he
didn't have to he would never have
ridden on her old Southern road He
also informed Miss Rogers that he
was going to write her up to her su-
perintendent."
One Of the governors friends asked
him II the article was a true state
ment of the facts of the case, and the
governor replied In a most positive
manner that the article was not true.
Governor Denies II.
The governors letter follows:
August 5, 1911.
Mr. Jas. G. Harris, Belton 8. G..
Dear Sir: Your letter Of the 4th
inst. received. In reply beg to say
that on my way home on Saturday,
July 29th, walked up to the ticket
office window at Belton, laid down
two mileage book covers, with some
strips left, but not enough to bring me
through to Columbia. / did not know
at what time either train arrived at
Belton but was of the opinion that I
made close connection. When I pre-
sented the mileage books, asked the
young lady for a ticket to Columbia;
she replied, II have not time to wait
on you now" 1 said. well want
to go to Columbia and I want tick
et." She said. Il have not got time
to compute this mileage and make the
calculations" / smiled and said,
Very well, will tell you who am
and you will please remember, / am
Cole l.. Blease." Il did not say "gov-
ernor of South Carolina" or mention
the fact that was governor.) told
her who 1 was because II was my in
tention to get on the train without
ticket, present the mileage and state
why did not have ticket, and IL the
conductor declined to accept the mile
age, / was going to sue the railroad
for damages, and I wanted the young
lady as a witness, to remember that
had applied to her for a ticket, pre-
senting the mileage, and that she had
refused II. When told her who I
was, / said Il will report this matter
to your superintendent" She then
took my mileage quickly made the cal
culation, told me that there was sew
enty cents due, which / paid very
promptly. She handed me back the
ticket together with the two vacant
slips and said thank you" said II
am very much obliged to you; you
can keep the two old covers as you
may wish to send them in" She said.
the conductor when he asks for your
ticket" I replied, "All right" and
picked them up and walked away.
/ showed no discourtesy whatever
to the young lady; only was exercis-
ing my rights as q passenger on the
road, and told her who / was, as
have stated, and for the purpose that
have stated. showed her no dis
courtesy. but was polite and treated
her the same as I would II every rel
ative of hers In the world had been
present. There were two young men
sitting behind her In the Office at the
time and an old Confederate veteran
standing by me with badge on. The
conversation did not even attract their
attention, which shows that there was
nothing whatever about the matter
to have caused anyone to write lie
about such as has been written by the
dirty scurrilous little editor of the Bel
ton Times. do not know who he Is;
have never seen him, but from this
article, I am satisfied that he is only
another pimp of the newspaper COM
bination that Is continuously lying
about me.
I thank you for your letter and for
this opportunity of explaining the
matter.
Very respectfully.
Cole L. Blease Governor.
Article Substantiated.
]. Archie Willis, when he saw the
o,.Ba lAtk I've
stated that since matters had taken
the turn they had, he would produce
the evidence, first to prove that the
Bolton Times statement was correct
In every respect, and that then the
people of the state might judge as to
whether Gov. Blease had stuck to the
truth, in denying the correctness Of the
article.
The Bolton Times has In Its posses
sion affidavits to show that the gov
ernor did treat the young lady at the
ther affidavits stating that the article
published in the Times was q true ac-
count of what happened.
The State has received the follow
ing affidavit attesting the truth Of the
article printed in the Belton Times
and reprinted In the State:
To Whom 1t May Concern:
This is to certify that the account Of
Gov. Blease's conduct in the Southern
railway station at Belton Saturday
afternoon, July 20, which the Bolton
Times published Friday morning,
August 4. was a true account of what
happened.
(Signed) Miss Mary j. Rogers.
Sworn to and subscribed before me
the 9Th day of August, 1911.
(SeaD John A. Horton,
Notary Public South Carolina.
Witness: J. o. Meredith.