The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-11-14
HE'D LED MOB
Gsveraor BIease Apphuds The Aclisn
Of Honea Path LyDehins.
LECTURES PREACHERS

Rather Than Call Out Militia to Save
optpr;t Governor Declares to
Thousand of my Friends," BE
wou,d Have Resigned His Ohloe
md Become Lyncher-in-Chief.
I'm response to an invitation e1'
banded by several, friends, Governor
Rsaase made an address On Court
tsouse square Saturday afternoon be-
faro q thousand people. His subject
YVES left to the Governor and he spoke
for more than one hour. dwelling on
rnnny things of interest . the people
OF the State.
He stated that on Friday he was
requested by the president OF the
State Farmers Union to issue pro-
clamation, calling upon the farmers
of the State to hold their cotton, ano
Also to ask the Governors OF the other
cotton States to issue similar procla-
nations. 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 un-
dar the circumstances. In his opin-
ion. the solution is left with the farm
ers themselves, and he urges that
they organize and get in position to
put 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
farmers should do likewise. He
places the blame of the low price OF
cotton upon the cotton mill mergers
and pre- tphesies that the mergers will
soon cut down the wages of mill en-
ployees, after they have finished pull
Ing down the price of cotton.
Governor Blease made a plea to the
r,ill people, and to all the people, to
secure registration certificates be-
fore it Is too late. The newspapers
are trying, he said, to disfranchise a
large portion Of white men by max
ins a registration certificate a re-
Guirement in the primary election.
He stated that he would veto any
bill passed by the Legislature making
any special requirement, but the dan
ger lies with the Democratic Conven-
ticu next May, when he will not be in
position to look out for the interests
Of the people. He thinks the Con
vention will be asked to adopt a res
olution requiring the certificates. For
this reason he urges all persons,
whether friends Of his or not, to reg
lister and put themselves In position
to vote, no matter what the Convene
tion does.
Governor Blease reiterated his po-
sltion with regard to lynching. He
said again that when a negro puts his
hands upon the person OF a white
girl, the sooner the negro is put six
teet under the ground the better. He
stated that on the night OF the Honea
Path lynching the solicicr of this cir
cult called upon him to order out the
militia, and that he told the solicitor
he would send two kilograms. "One
of these kilograms" said the Cover
nor, "was addressed to Sheriff King
here.
In that telegram I told him to
keep in touch with the affairs, and to
make 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 negro
brute and require these troops to fire
on white citizens. he would have re-
signed from the Office to which he
had been elected and would have
caught the train to Eonea Path and
led the mod.
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 iynched. and that he did not
propose to be dictated to by any
preacher or set Of preachers. He
also expressed his belief that there
are not twelve men in Anderson
County who would bring in q verdict
O; conviction against any member OF
the mob who did the work; "and if
there were twelve men who would do
60 and a verdict of guilty was re-
turned, would wire pardons to those
convicted he said.
Governor Blease attacked the
newspapers. giving especial attention
to the Columbia State and its edi-
tor" He charged that the newspa-
pers are not telling why and under
what circumstances he is extending
executive clemency, and he asks that
the public read the accounts Of his
actions and leave plenty OF room in
tEeir minds to hear his side.
The Governor made it plain that