The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-08-12
BLEASE WRA1HY
The Governor Revokes The Commissions
Of Three Notaries
SLAPS AT THE EDITORS

SLAPS AT THE EDITORS
The Removals Made Because One OF
the Notaries Made An Affidavit
Against the Governor and the 9th
er Two Attested Affidavits Made
by Others.
Publication of affidavits corrob-
Grating the charges made by the Bel
ton Times of rudeness on the part
of Governor Blease toward young
lady, employed as ticket agent in the
Southern railway station at Belton,
was followed on Thursday afternoon
by the summery revocation by Gov.
Blease of Notaries Publics ]. M. AL
exander, J. H. Merritt and j. A.
Horton, all of Bolton.
The crime for which Mr.. Alexan-
der was removed was making affi-
davit that the article in the Bolton
Times concerning the Governor was
true, and the crime for which
Merritt and Horton were punish
ed by decapitation was attesting af-
fidavits in the same case. To each
of the three notaries Governor Rlease
sent the following letter:
Some time since you were COM
missioned a notary public by me,
under the constitution and the laws
(during the pleasure Of the COVER
nor.) Your commission is hereby
revoked, and any further act per-
formed by you as such officer will
be illegal and in violation of the law.
A copy of this letter has been filed
with the secretary Of state, and al
80 with the clerk of court, who has
been requested to cancel your con-
mission" ON.
The Columbia Record says Gov
ernor Blease was asked what moved
him to revoke these commissions. He
said he had not intended to volun-
teer any statement, but in anticipa-
ton of such an inquiry had dictated
to his stenographer an expression on
the subject, and had the copies be-
fore him. He said he wished it un-
hi 10 ono
only to the "editors of the newspa
pers that have taken part in this
business. The statement was as
follows:
II have no further comment to
make on ihe Belton matter, at this
time. What l stated in my letter to
Mr.. Harris is absolutely correct. l
was perfectly sober; feeling
good; had just left large crowd
of my friends, was on my way home
in the best of spirits and remember
very distinctly what took place. Any
man or woman who lives in South
Carolina that does not know that I
am governor Is indeed in theslowest
mire of ignorance; hence, when l.
say to anyone that / am Cole l..
Blease,' it is absolutely useless to add
that 1 am governor of South Caroina
and 1 did not say so on that occa-
sion, if my enemies do swear to 1t.
Il have cancelled the commission
of the three notaries publics taking
part in this dirty transaction and
some other people will hear from it
later. Everyone who mas known me
from my childhood up, both men and
women, will certify to the fact that
/ have at all times ano on all occa-
sions been polite and courteous to
everybordy, and particularly so to
ladies; and this is the first time in
all my life that I have ever been
charged or accused of showing the
slightest disregard to any lady, and
am satisfied that my friends do
not believe that l was uisrespectful
on this occasion.
"My enemies, of course, will say
they believe it, even if they don't,
and the liars who are editing the
newspapers of South Carolina will
endeavor to use it to injure me, be-
cause they Will go any depth in the
filthy bog holes of vituperation and
abuse to do me harm. However,
the people know me and [ am COVER
ror, the pimps and shunks, who use
the pens for newspapers to the con-
trary, Notwithstanding, and I'll be
reelected in spite Of their lies. Watch
me-"
The Columbia Record says Mr.. AL
exander is understood to be super
intendent of one of the Pelzer Mills
at Pelzer. He was commissioned on
the recommendation of Senator Geo.
w. Sullivan, of Wiliamston. Mr..
Merritt was commissioned on the
]. Belton Watson. Mr.. Horton who
is mayor of Bolton and president of
a bank there, was commissioned on
the recommendation of Representa-
tives J. w. Ashley and ]. W. Jack
son. The owner of the Bolton Times
is Representative j. Archie Willis
of Laurens.