The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1911-08-17
GOVERNOR BLEASE UN-
CIVIL TO YOUNG LADY?
THAT'S THE CHARGE BROUGHT
BY BELTON TIMES--BOTH
SIDES OF UGLY AFFAIR.

Columbia. August 10: - Publca-
ton in the morning papers to-day or
affidavits tending to support charges
made editorially by the Belton Times
and reproduced n other newspapers
of incivility on the part Of Governor
Blease on July % toward young
woman employed as ticket agent IN
the Southern railway station at Bel
ton. was followed this afternoon by
the summary revocation of the COM
mission of NotarieS Public NJ Alex
ander. J H Merritt and J y Horton.
Mr. Alexander himself made one OF
the affidavits and MesSrS Merritt and
Horton attested affidavits in theirs.
To each of the three nOtarieS Gov.
ernor Blease addressed a letter as
follows:
Some time since. You were COM
missioned a notary public by me, un-
der the constitution and laws during
the pleasure of the Governor Your
commission is hereby revoked and
any further act performed by you as
such officer will be illegal and in vi
olation of the laws. A copy of this
letter has been filed with the Secre-
tary of State and also with the Clerk
of court which has been requested to
cancel your commission.
Governor Blease was asked what
had moved him to revoke these COM
missions and he said he had not in
tended to volunteer any statement,
but in anticipation of such an inquiry
had dictated to his stenographer an
expression on the subject and had
the copies before him. He said he
wished it understood that his Ian
guage applied onlyto editors of the
newspapers that have taken part in
this business.
The following is his statement:
Il have no further comment to
make on the Be.ton matter at this
time. What stated in my letter to
Mr. Harris is absolutely correct. |
was perfectly sober, was feeling good,
had just left a large crowd of my
friends, was on my way home in the
best of spirits and remember very
distinctly what took place.
Amy man or woman who lives in
South Carolina who doesn't know that
| am Governor is indeed STEPPED in
ignorance; hence when | say to any
one that am Cole L Blease it is alb
solutely useless to add that am Gov
ernor of South Carolina, and Ibid not
say 80 on that occasion. if my ene-
mics do swear to it.
Il have cancelled the commissions
of the three notaries taking part in
this dirty transaction, and some 9TH
er people will hear from it later.
Every one who has known me
from my childhood up, both men and
women, will certify to the fact that |
have at all times and on all occasions
been polite and courteous to every
body. and particularly so to ladies'
and this is the first time in all my
life that | have ever been charged or
accused of showing the slightest dis
respect to any lady, and | am salts
fed that my friends do not believe
that | was disrespectful on this oc-
casion.
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 60 to any depth in
the filthy bogholes of vituperation
and abuse to do me harm.
However, the people know me,
and | am Governor, the pimps and
skunks who use the pens for news
papers to the contrary notwithstand-
ing, and III be reelected in spite of
their lies. Watch Me-
An Issue OF NERAClTY.
In It's issue of Friday morning.
August /. the Belton Times carried
an article giving an account Of an