The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-11-15

an invitation EXTENDED Dy SeNeId
friends. Governor Blease made an
address on Court House square thi:
afternoon before a thousand peo-
ple. His subject was left to the Gov
ernor and he spoke for more thar
cne hour, dwelling on many things
Of interest to the people of the
State.
He stated that on yesterday ht
was requested by the president OF the
State Farmers Union to issue proc
lamation. calling upon the farmers
Of the State to hold their cotton. and
also to ask the Governor Of the other
cotton States to issue similar procla-
r.ations. This he refused to do. he
explained. because he is no farmer
and does not profess to know what is
the best for the farmers to do under
the circumstances In his opinion.
the solution is left with the farm
ere themselves, and he urges that
they organize and get in position to
put a price on their crop.
He called attention to the fact that
the lawyers, the doctors. etc., had all
organized and agreed upon prices for
their services and he thinks the farm
ers should do likewise. He places
the blame Of the low price Of cotton
upon the cotton mill mergers and
prophesies that the mergers will soon
cut down the wages of mill employ
ees, after they have finished pulling
down the price Of cotton.
Governor Blease made a plea to
the mill people. and to all the people.
20 secure registration certificates be-
fore II is too late. The newspapers
are trying, he said. to disfranchise a
large portion of white men by MAX
ing a registration certificate require
ment in the primary election.
He stated that he would veto any
bill passed by the Legislature making
any special requirement, but the
danger lies with the Democratic Con-
vention next May, when he will not
be in position to look out for Giie in
terests Of the people. He thinks the
Convention will be asked to adopt
resolution requiring the certificates.
For this reason he urges all persons.
whether friends OF his or not, to
register and Put 'themselves in po-
sition to vots no matter what the
Convention does.
Governor Blease reiterated his po-
sition with regard TO lynching. He
said gain that when negro puts
his hands upon the person of a white
girl. the sooner the negro is put six
feet under the ground the better. He
stated that on the night of the Honea
Path lynching the solicitor of this
circuit called upon him to order out
the militia, and that he told the So
iicitor he would send two kilograms.
zone of these kilograms" said the
Governor, was addressed to Sheriff
King here.
'Tn that telegram 1 told him TO
keep in touch with the affairs and
to make a report to me next morning
of what was going on. The sheriff
received my telegram and he under
stood it, for next morning / received
a report from him, telling what had
transpired. -
The speaker stated that rather
than use the office of Governor in
ordering out troops to defend a ne
gro brute and require these troops
to fire on white citizens. he would
have resigned from the Office to
which ne had been elected and
would have caught the train to HOnea
Path and led the mob.
The Governor then criticised the
ministers Of the local union. who had
drafted resolutions condemning him
and everything and everybody con-
nected with the lynching. He said
that he knew some preachers in this
State to have more negro blood In
their veins than did the negro who
was lynched. and that he did not pro.
pose to be dictated to by any preach
er or set Of preachers. He also ex
pressed his belief that there are no
twelve men in Anderson County whC
would bring in a verdict Of conviction
against any member of the mob wh'
did the work; "and If there were
twelve men who would do so and
verdict of guilty was returned,
would wire pardons to those convict
ed" he said.
Governor Blease attacked the
newspapers giving especial attention