Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1911-12-20
WALIIALINA, S. c.:
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1O1
FIILDER'S BOOK ON BLIiASE.
Rumorcd that Atlanta Lawyer Has
Carried Out Threats to Expose.
(SDartanburg IIerald.) }

The Herald has been informed Of a
rumor, which, if verified, is likely to
prove one OF the most startling polit-
ical sensations South Carolina has
ever known. The rumor is that
Thomas b. Fielder, the Atlanta al tor-
ney. has fulfilled his promise to write
a book concerning Governor Cole l..
Blease, and the volume is now in the
hands Of the printers. 1t is called
"Feldcr on Blease," and is said to
contain revelations Of most extra
ordinary character.
The gentleman who mentioned the
rumor to The Herald is one whose
name is known to every we'll in
formed citizen Of the State, and is Of
unimpeachable veracity. He gave the
story on hcarsay evidence.
He has had occasion to travel all
over the State and asserted that he
had met several reputable people
who claimed to have seen the book
or extracts from it,
In the book are recorded many
allegations concerning the Governor.
One Of them. it was incidentally men
toned, concerned an alleged happen
ing on train between Spartanburg
and Grcenville. The date and hour
Of the occurrence, the number Of the
train and other particulars are given,
it is said
There is great wealth Of detail
in the stories Of all the incidents and
events related in the book.
r.. b. Fielder demonstrated in GER
tain letters which he wrote concern
ing Governor Bleasc last winter that
he has facile pen, a ready vocabu-
larry and vigorous style. His book is
said fully to sustain the reputation
he made with those epistles. 1t is
said to be a terrific and savage ar
raignment Of the Governor
Mr.. Fielder was employed by the
old dispensary winding-up commits
sion to unearth evidence against the
dispensary grafters. He rendered val
liable service and was of great assist
th'c W itIlolltS NTclCldl j. TdSeI
Lyon in the prosecution of tho graft
ers and recovery Of money unlawfully
taken fro,I the State.
GovcrrJr Blcase, it will be recalled,
made "'.arges by insinuation against
the winding-up commission soon af.
ter he took office and asked the Leg
lSlaturc to make an investigation.
The Legislature promptly adopted
resolution calling for such an investi-
CATION. In his message to the Legis-
laturc Governor Blease made charges
against Fielder who vigorously re-
piled in terms most uncOmplmentary
to the Governor.
Governor BlcaSe soon afterward
removed the members Of the wind
ing-up commission from Office and
appointed a new commission.
Lieutenant Governor Smith ap-
pointed the Senate members Of the
committee to investigate the old
windlng-np commission before Gov
ernor Blease had signed the resolu-
tion providing for the investigation.
When doubt was raised as to
whether the Governor would approve
OF the Investigation. even although
he himself had asked for it, Fielder
served notice that if the Governor
did not approve of tho bill within
certain time he would write a
book exposing Blcase.
The Governor finally vetoed the
resolution for the investigation or
the ground that tho Senators appoint.
ed on tho investigating committee
were hostile to him.
1t was about this time that Fielder
wrote vitrolic letters concerning the
Governor whom he invited either to
prosecute him Cor libel or to meet him
in personal encounter outside Of
South Carolina.
Q