The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-08-15
WILL NOT DOWN
Governor Blease Again Denies de In.
suited The Young Lady
in SPEECH 10 RED MEN

Says His Enemies Concocted the
Scheme to Injure Him, and that
They as Well as His Friends Know
Why it Was Done, But He Didn't
Tell His Hearers.
Governor Blease's first address to
the people Of his home county, since
his Inauguration was delivered at a
Red Mems Rally, at Young's Grove,
near Prosperity, Friday, which was
attended by about two thousand peo-
pie. Governor Dlease was enthusi-
astically received and made what was
regarded by those who heard it as
one of the best actresses which he
has ever deliveredlin that county. He
spoke on the principles Of Red
Manship,'" but he branched off once
or twice to discuss matters connect
ed with his administration and per-
sonal attacks which had been made
upon him.
Near the close of his address he
said that he felt he ought, before the
people of his home, who knew him,
to refer to the Belton incident, the
accusation that he had insulted
a woman.
II shall say nothing about her"
he said. "She may be squire and as
spotless as an angel, but the man or
the woman who was present on that
occasion and heard what took place
and tells the truth will tell you that
I did not insult her"
He said he wanted to tell the good
women present, many Of whom had
known him since his boyhood days,
that he had said nothing on earth
to hurt her feelings or to offend her.
"Why they concocted that scheme
is plain" he said, ito my enemies
and will be understood by my
friends. They have fought me with
every kind Of abuse, vituperation
land SANDER and could not hurt me
and they went to that extreme, to
which all dirty, unscrupulous hounds
like them will go, thinking now We
will strike him with woman, we
will bring him into controversy with
a woman
% 80.
Continuing, he said: Ladies',
those of you who have known me all
your lives, If there Is one Of you In
that crowd that believes would in
suit woman without cause or with
out provocation will thank you
from the bottom of my heart If you
will stand up or raise your hand"
There being no standing or lifting
of hands on the part Of the ladies',
he said, MEN, you who have known
me all my life, If one Of you, wheth-
er you be my political friend or not,
believes that Cole Blease would in
suit woman without dause or
provocation, be man enough to hold
up your hand, II you please. I want
you to do it, if you believe that"
The only response was in the ma
ture of remarks to the effect that he
ought to know the people Of New
berry did not believe any such thing,
and cheers.
Governor Blease said: "My friends
] thank you, God knows I do"
That charge, he said, had hurt
him when none of the others could.
because" he said, II had as good
mother as any boy ever had and I
had as good 4 s!ep mother as God
ever gave to family Of children,
and whenever I stoop SO low or get
so cowardly as to insult woman,
hope God will paralyze my tongue" "
Governor Blease defended his par
den record, taking mp several cases
and going INTO detail and requesting
his hearers If there were any other
pardons in regard to which they
would like to hear tie reasons which
actuated him or any other matters
connected with his administration
which they would like to hear from
him upon, to ask him. He said he
had spoken to between 10000 and
$4,000 people this year, more than
had attended all the campaign meet
ings last summer, and he was trying
to get among the people and find
out their wishes ard the policies
which were for their best interests.
In congratulating the Red Men
uron the fact that there were no
rerro lodges of the Order, he referr-
ed to secret lodges among the ne
groes and, among other things, says
he had positive proof that there were
a man and his wife living in a dis
tant State trying to perfect organi-
ations throughout the Southern
States among the negroes, claiming
the societies formed would pay bene-
fits in cases of sickness or death or
distress, but before any negro could
! become a member of the society he
had to sign an oath that he would
not work but eight hours day and
would obey the mandates Of super
ior officers and he was being taught
that he was a social equal of the
white man.
He said it was not true that he
was unfriendly to the negro when