Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-10-10
GOVERNOR TALKS FREELY.
Frank Discussion of Many Matters oi
Interest.
Spartanburg Journal, Saturday.

SpdT ldHDuTB JOuTIldl, SATURDAY.
In his room at the Argyle hotel last
evening Governor Coleman l.. Blease
talked interestingly on several topics
that have absorbed public interest for
| some time past. The governor had
come to Spartanburg on train No. 3S
| from Greenville and. spending the
night here, left this morning on train
No. 80 for Greer, where he will address
a large gathering of Red Men at 4
o'clock Saturday afternoon.
In speaking Of national politics, the
4, governor Of South Carolina stated
| that, first Of all, he was In favor of
winning and that he thought the DEM
ocrats had a good opportunity of win
winning, first Of ALL" said Governor
Blease, "and as I think that Judson
Harmon Of Ohio Is the only man in the
Democratic party that can win,
| would prefer to see him nominated.
IF Democratic success Is to become
a reality" he continued, 'the party
will have to carry the states of New
York and Ohio. Both Mr.. Taft, whom
think will be renominated by the Re-
publicans, and Mr.. Harmon are Ohio
ans, and common sense justifies the
statement that Harmon will win over
Taft in their native state.
Harmon a Winner In New York.
I'm New York state Judson Harmon
can beat Taft. In Harmon the Demo-
Gratis have a man who has taught and
| Is teaching the doctrine of Democracy
as taught by Grover Cleveland and he
Is the only man, in my opinion, who
could win In that state over Taft. OF
course, the south will support which
ever Democratic nominee is chosen,
and to win the Democratic party will
have to nominate some one who can
carry New York and Ohio"
Speaking Of Woodrow Wilson, the
governor stated that he did not have
anything against the governor of New
Jersey, and thought that he was a
good man. But" he continued, I'll
would be foolish for the Democrats to
nominate a man who has no chance OF
winning, and this Is exactly what they
will do If Mr. Wilson is put forward
1 believe Mr.. Wilson Is a good man in
many respects but is not the one to
lead the party to victory in 1912. Many
Of his ideas are predominating the
party at present"
Mr.. Blease said that Wilson had
changed from one platform, the one
on which he was elected governor OF
New Jersey, to one that now comes
|
the eye Of public opinion.
Personally, Mr.. Blease said, that he
himself a southerner, naturally pre-
ferred to see Champ Clark or Oscar
Underwood chosen president, but as
there was no chance for either Of them
to be elected, that 1t would be foolish
ness to force them on the party.
1T Is not going to be so easy after
all to beat Taft" said Mr.. Blease. but
IL there is any man who can beat him
1t is Governor Judson Harmon.
South Carolina Affairs.
Speaking of South Carolina politics,
| the governor stated that he would In
his next message to the legislature
again recommend the several meas
ures put forward at the last session
which were not passed. Among these
| is a law which would make 1t neces-
sary for the railroads to accept mile
age for transportation without the ne
cessity Of having 1t exchanged for a
ticket. The governor will also urge a
law requiring the railroads to pay for
all advertising and to prohibit them
He will urge uniformity Of prices
charged by the railroads and would
put u on an equal footing. 1T would
take away your railroad pass" said
the governor.
II will also urge the legislature to
abolish the hosiery mill IN the peni-
tentiary and will introduce Nexpert tes-
timony to prove that 1t Is o nuisance
and that 1t Is a menace to the health
of those who are forced to work in 1t.
I am going to do all that is in my pow
er to have this abolished.
II noticed in your paper OF last
Thursday a communication signed
Voter protesting against the parole
that I granted the three Charleston ne
groes who were convicted Of and SEN
fenced to serve three years for wreck
ing DIR. Parker's automobile. AS an In
stance. I will state that DR.. Parker
himself employed the. best legal talent
In Charleston to ask me to parole these
negroes, who wrecked his car, and 1t
was DR.. Parker who most desired to
see clemency granted them. l could
explain why many other pardons ana
paroles were granted, but do not see
any use in doing so. have not grant
ed clemency to a single person who, In
nv opinion, did not deserve to have
such clemency granted"
The Pardon Board.
This led to the question: Cover
nor, why don't you ever refer any
cases to the pardon board"
"Well, 1 will tell you," he said: In
the first place, that board Is a mistake
all the way around. Instead of being
appointed for two, four and six years,
each member ought to be appointed
by the governor when he goes into OF
flee. and they should hold until an
other Is chosen or another term is
granted them. Why, would be fool
ish to turn cases over to three men
who have done all in their power
against me and who would be made to
see things one way just because l see
them another. They would say, wen
II such and such a pardon Is re1used,
in the face Of the strongest possible
petition, It will hurt the governor In
that section, and hence he will not rec
ommend that 1t be granted l would
be putting the fate of my friends IN
the hands of my enemies, and this l
will never do while I am governor OF
South Carolina But l will tell you
what would do II the three men now
composing the pardon board will re-
sign. l will appoint three of my
friends in their stead and will agree to
submit every application for clemency
to them. But will not submit cases
TO three of the men who worked hard-
est against me in the recent election.
Now, don't tnat look ldu W yOu'
"Comic Call to Arms"
Asked about the calling out of the
state militia during the recent alleged
street car trouble, the governor stated
the facts in full as viewed by him:
Il was sitting on my front porch on
last Sunday a week ago, when Mayor
Lee called me over the long distance
phone and said: This is Boyce Lee:
Do you remember me?' Certainly l
do I replied. How are you getting
on? we are having street car strike
up here replied Mayor Lee, and am
afraid that unless something Is done
to stop 1t there will be bloodshed. l
am afraid that the labor men Will
damage the property of the company;
and we want protection All right',
I told him, I will see about it at once
Then l called Mr.. Babb over tne
phone and asked him to come to my
house. I then had my servant get Mr.
Lee on the phone again, and Mr.. Babo
talked to him this time. Mr.. Lee re-
peated the same conversation to Mr.:
Babb that he did to me. or course, =!
didn't hear, but Mr.. Babb repeated 1t
to me.
"Mr. Babb then got on the train and
came to Spartanburg, where CONFER
o,,oo moo hold on Monday morning.