The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1911-06-08
OPEN LETTER TO BLEASE.
Fielder Dares Chief Executive to En-
ter Suit for Libel.

issued the following open letter 10
Cole L. Blease, governor of South
Carolina:
To Cole L. Blease: Realizing that
my card, published in the press of to-
day, is open to the criticism of being
too general in it's terms, this is in
tended as supplement, designed to
embody only specifics.
If the charges I herein lodge
against you are true, you are not ut
to be governor of "nigger" col
ony, much less the chief magistrate
of the grand and glorious common
wealth of South Carolina; and unless
you take steps without delay to re-
fute them, you owe it to the position
you dishonor and the people you dis
grace to forthwith tender your resig-
nation and retire to the shades of
private life," where you will reap the
reward of obliquy and execration to
which your Infamous achievements in
public life so richly entitle you.
If the charges I make are false,
they are libelous per Sc, and l am
suably solvent.
Meet you Outside State.
Moreover, with apologies to the
shades of my departed ancestors, I in
modesty CD claim to be your equal,
and if you are aggrieved by the
charges it will be my pleasure to
meet you at such time and place with
out the confines of your State that tmay
suit your convenience, to the end that
abundant opportunity may be afford
ed to redress your grievances.
If my charges are groundless and
libellous and you do not wish to seek
personal satisfaction, you can insti-
tute suit against me in the United
States court in the city of Atlanta
should it be objected, however, that
this is my home county, then in any
of the subdivisions of the district. AS
soon as suit is filed I hereby promise
and agree in order to facilitate and
expedite the same and by way of
circumventing any excuse you may Of
fer for inaction, that I will acknowl-
edge service and will enter into re-
cognizance with good and approved
security in an amount covering the
sum sued for, the fees Of your coun-
sci and the cost of court, together
with your personl expenses and the
expenses of your witnesses; the only
condition of the bond be that you
shall finally prevail in the litiga-
ton.
An investigation of this court will
disclose that it is presided over by
distinguished jurist, who, in the
administration of the laws knows
neither friend nor foe and while his
decisions are occasionally reversed,
they abound in such rigid integrity
that they are universally interpreted
to be without variableness or shad-
ow of turning"
Even and Exact Justice.
You will find that the juries of this
court are selected with such care
that they are composed of gentlemen
who will mete out to litgants (some-
thing you least desire) even and ex-
act justice.
So much by way of promise. Now
then, in order to afford you grounds
for this suit, I charge that you both
in official life and as private citizen,
havasbeen a bribe-giver and bribe-
taker, sless of the former than of
the latter" that during your incum-
bency as a State senator from the
county of Newberry you were on the
pay rolls of at least half dozen
liquor dealers doing business with
the late defunct dispensary (and
that you received from one alone the
sum of about $4,000, and from the
others sums aggregating many thous-
ands of dollars.) specifically charge
that these moneys were paid by them
and accepted by you with the distinct
understanding that it should be for
compensation for your services in
protecting their interests from hos
tile legislation and for corruptly in
fluencing the States agents in the
purchase of supplies for the State
dispensary. I use your own language.
From the mountain Of evidence" in
nv possession submit for your con-
sideration "a few grains of sand" In
doing 80 I omit the name of the ad-
dressee:
Dear Sir: I am greatly surprised
that you failed to call upon me dur
ing your recent visit to Columbia and
arrange the matter as promised.
Spoke to Hub about it and he refer
- -,o,, uouo nerfOrmed all