The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1911-07-12
COL. FELDER'S ADDRESS
Denounces Governor B1ease in

lin, Ca, and in the course of his re-
marks took occasion to pay his respects
| to Gov. Blease.
According to the Atlanta papers, Col.
Fielder was enthusiastically received
by a large crowd. Quite anumber from
q distance came in automobiles to be
present at the barbecue, Macon sending
a large delegation.
The barbecue was held under the
fauspices of the Dublin chamber OF
commerce, and was the first public
function by that body.
Col. Fielder said:
"I am unable to restrain a natural
impulse to refer 70 an episode in my
life of recent occurrence, which has
BROUGHT me into unpleasant notoriety.
If in doing so trench upon the prop
| rieties of the occasion, I plead in ex
cnse and extenuation the fact that l
crave above all things the continued
confidence and friendship Of the peo-
ple of Laurens county. 1t is not my
purpose to tax audiences with the de-
tails of the episode, but I merely desire
to briefly advert to it that you may
understand that I shall in the end re-
ceive from you the welcome .plandlt,
Well done, thou good and faithful
servant"
"About four years ago I was en-
oloyed by the State of South Carolina
assist her splendid attorney general
in the Herculean task of cleaning oui
aer Augean stables of their filth and
corruption. feel that I can modestly
say that the task was not only honor
ably and creditably performed, but the
services met with the approval of the
best people OF the state, resulting IN
the restitution to the treasury of that
graft-soaked and gratt-ridden people
,f approxin ately half.million dollars,
and in the Indictment by the grand ju'
ries of the several counties thereof. OF
more than half score eff the thieves
and plunderers. :,
s.In the last gubernatoriel election
the criminal element of that state sue
oeeded in electing one of their number
the governorship. I am in posses
sion of evidence, written and oral,
which in my opinion, would not only
Justify but demand his impeachment,
If coulc read in this presence the
hundreds of letters from tho good but
yraft-ridden people of that once giori
ous commonwealth in which theil
greatest acknowledgements are ten
dered and their prayerful God-speeds
are wished me in the great work at
hand in ridding them of this moral
and political leper, his confederates
and allies, am sure would receive
from this audience such shouts of ap-
proval as would make the welkin ring.
[ will detain you long enough to read
you extracts from few of these let
Jers.''
Col. Folder then read as follows:
"The offense which you have com
nitted, which is grievious in the sight
If our present governor, is the great
success you have attained in exposing
aim and his friends in crime"
s'Have read With interest the pro-
;eedings in the controversy between
and oar vagabond governor. |
I want to say that with |
Hub Evans, Blease and Fred Dominick |
light in Newberry, and in control OF
hings there, they conld convict most
they wanted to by picking
ury and the p.underbund of South |
Carolina, knowing that yen are the
nan, will go to any extent III perjury
md forgery to convict you, and Blease
S making every effort to discredit you
n this state and thus attempt to weak !
IN the evidence yoa produce against
oim by declaring upon the ignorant
.abble that he had you prosecuted for
bribery Gov. Browns re-
fusal to honor Blease's requisition is
heartily approved by every decent law
abiding citizen of South Carolina"
Permit me to say that while do
not approve of all You have said and
cone in this matter, yet it is impossi'
BILE to escape the conviction that you
now hold in your hands very largely
the fate of South Carolina for the next
few years at least. 1t is to be- pre-
sumed that you fully appreciate the
gravity of the responsibility which by
reason of circumstances rests upon you
at this time. There may not be with