The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-08-16

Noiuhioid, Aux. lV.-fuDlcdtOn In
morning papers today of ahidavits
tending to support charges made edi-
'otrially by the Belton Times, and re-
produced In other newspapers. Of
incivility on the part OF Governor
Blease toward young woman en-
ployed as ticket agent In the South
ern Railway station at Bolton. was
followed this afternoon by the
summary revocation Of the commits
sions of Notaries Public ]. NJ. Alex
ander. ]. III. Merritt and J. a. Hor.
ton. Mr.. Alexander himself made
one Of the affidavits. and Messrs.
Merritt and Horton attested afiiJavi,s
In the case.
To each OF the three notaries Gov
ernor Blease addressed a letter. as
follows: Some time since you were
commissioned a notary public by me,
under the Constitution and the laws
tdurins the pleasure of the Cover
nor) Your commission Is hereby
revoked. and any further act per-
foime by you as such officer will
be Illegal and in violation of the law.
copy OF this letter has been filed
with the Secretary Of State. and also
with the clerk Of court. who has been
requested to cancel your commits
sion."
Governor Blease was asked what
Rad moved him to revoke these COM
missions. He said he had not intend
ed to volunteer any statement. but.
In anticipation Of such an inquiry.
had dictated to his stenographer an
expression on the subject. and had
the copies before him. He -.A~he
wished IL understood that his i,..
guage applied only to the editors Of
the newspapers that have taken part
In this business.
The statement was as follows:
'T have no further comment to
make on the Bolton mater at this
time. What I stated In my letter to
Mr.. Harris Is absolutely correct. 1
wes perfectly sober, was feeling good.
had just EFT large crowd ~ my
fricnds. We on nay way home In the
best OF sprits and remember very
distir city hat took place. Any man
or woman who lives In South Caro-
lima who does not know that 1 am
Governor Is. indeed. In the lowest
mire Of Ignorance; hence. when 1 say
to anyone that I am Cole l.. Blease'
IL is absolutely useless TO add that I
am Governor OF South Carolina, and
i did not say so on that occasion, IL
my enemies do swear to II.
II have cancelled the commissions
cf the three 'notaries public taking
part In thfs dirty transaction and
some other people will hear from 1t
later. Everyone who has known me
from nay childhood up. both men
and women. will certify to the fact
that l have at all times and on all
occasions been polite and courteous
to everybody. and particularly so to
ladies: and this Is the first time in
all my life that I have ever teen
charged or accused Of showing the
slightest disrespect to any lady, and
am satisfied that my friends do not
believe that i was jisrespectful on
this occasion. My enemies, OF course,
VIII say they believe 1t. even IL they
don't. and the liars who are editing
the newspapers OF South Carolina
VIII endeavor to use II to injure me.
because they will go TO any depth In
the filthy bog holes of vltuperation
and abuse To do me harm. However.
the people know me and am Cover.
nor. the pimps and skunks who use
the pens for newspapers 10 the con-
uary Notwithstanding and Tn he
Reelected In spite OF the lies. Watch
met"
Mr.. Alexander is understood here
TO be superintendent OF one of the
Pelzer mills. at Pelzer. He was COM
missioned on the recommendation Of
senator Geo. w. sullivan. OF Will
hamston. Mr.. Merritt was commits
stoned on the recommendation Of
Representative J. Bolton Watson.
Mr. Horton who Is mayor OF Belton.
and president OF bank there, was
commissioned on the recommen-
dalton OF Representatives J. w. Ash
ley and j. w. Jackson. The owner OF
the Bolton Times Is Reprc sentative j.
Archie Willis. Of Iaurens.