The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-01-21
BLEASE'S INAUGURAL Speech.
"GREATEST POLITICAL VICTORY
IN THE HISTORY OF THE
STATE" SAYS BLEASE.
Address Typical of Man Who Is Now
Governor of The State-Denounces
Newspapers-PlatfOr Outlined.
Special to The Daily Item.

voted love for God won for me the
greatest political victory that has yet
been recorded in the history of South
Carolina" Governor Coleman Living
ston Blease Of Newberry. Tuesday af-
ternoon delivered the most notable in
augural address that has ever been
heard in the State. Nearly one-half
of his address was taken up in a de-
nunication Of the South Carolina
press, the other part being devoted to
a discussion of issues, all Of which
were discussed in the campaign last
summer. AS Governor Blease was
too i'll to render the speech himself,
it was read for him by Mr.. S. M. Sim
kins of Batesburg, the reading clerk
of the house of representatives.
In the Introductory Of his speech
Gov Blease said: aligned against me
were united daily press and an al
most solid weekly and semi-weekly
press, pouring forth all kinds of false
hoods, vituperation and abuse, re-
celving the assistance Of a number
or men who called themselves min
listers Of the gospel-God save the
mark!-who stood behind their pull
pits and gave vent to envy and malice
and slanders of the most virile and
malicious nature against me* all
of these, combined with others, MAX
ing set Of political character
thieves, the meanest and most con.
temptible people known to man."
Governor Blease singled out the
Columbia State from among the 9TH
er papers for his choicest epithets. al
though he did not fail to pay his re-
spects to The Daily Record, Charles
ton News and Courier and all other
papers which opposed his election as
governor. Over two and one-half
columns Of his six and one-half col
umns are devoted to the newspapers.
He quoted freely from a number Of
thoih dilu iucluucu all IN MS general
denunciation
After concluding his discussion Of
the newspapers and taking I'D his
recommendations to the general as
sembly, South Cardinals new COVER
nor closed his address with an apos-
trophe to the Diety, to whose good
ness he ascribed in large measure his
remarkable victory at the polls.
In his address Mr.. Blease merely
repeated parts Of his platform, as
announced at the beginning of the
campaign last summer. His principal
recommendations are:
Honest administration of all laws
and enforcement Of all laws.
Obedience to the constitution Of
the State and the United States.
Keeping separate and distinct the
legislative, judicial and executive de
partments of government.
Trial by jury for all persons accus-
ed Of crime. He considers govern
ment by injunction vicious and de-
grading"
Biennial sessions Of the legislature.
Liberal appropriations for Confed-
crate veterans and State institutions
of learning, but thinks the legislature
has been too eXtravagant in it's appro-
priations to educational institutions.
Opposes the use OF white peoples
taxes to educate negroes.
Recommends marriage license law
or registration Of marriage.
Favors having mileage pulled on
trains, as the present system OF tick
ct collection is abominable."
He calls attention to the cocaine
evil, would prohibit the sale Of Gig
arettes, would prohibit boys under
sixteen years from smoking them,
prohibit boys under sixteen years
having guns in their possessions or
owning them.
Recommends that each judicial cir
cult be allowed a representative on
me board of regents Of the State hos
pit2l for the Insane.
Would have white convicts worked
in different camps.
Would amend the dispensary act so
that a majority Of the white citizens
may have a license system Of saloons
under strict regulations, instead of
the dispensary or prohibition This,
he says, is the only true form Of De-
mocracy.
Would make executions for rape
and attempts to rape public.
The governor makes a general rec
ommendation for economy, and says