The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-08-11

was making a campaign speech in
Newberry county someone asked him
what was the best road machinery.
He replied the 'elbo grease of free
niger"
He spoke of the general prosperity
of the State at large qloting figures
obtained from the secretary of states
Office which showed the great increase
in capital invested in enterprises OF
all kinds throughout the State and
advancing as proof that citizens, have
great confidence in the government Of
the State They are not afraid to go
down in their pockets and dig up the
money and put it in new enterprises
in South Carolina They have conf
dence in the government of this, the
greatest of all States in the American
Union"
Gov. Blease then reviewed more ad-
vantages of good roads, keeping on
the opposite track from politics at all
times. He spoke with ease and grace,
carefully selecting his words and pro-
nouncing most of them in slow and
deliberate manner. It was apparent
that be desired to make a good roads
speech and to pass over questions po-
litical.
In conclusion he said: my young
friend, Mr.. Sam Nichols has fold you
that if any delegate got in any troll
bic while in Spartanburg that he as
city attorney would see that you got
what was right at the station house.
I'll go him one better and say that if
any one needs a pardon, I'll grant it
if my young friend Nichols recon-
<mends that it be granted"
In the deafening applause and great
laughter the governor took his seat.
F. H. Hyatt, one of the leading cit
izens of Columbia and president of
the South Carolina good roads .asso-
citation was next. introduced by Mr..
Miles. He began by expressing him
self as pleased that @*the governor had
laid aside the robe Of politics during
his speech-he did pretty we'll for the
first time,' and saying that he had
wondered whether or not Mr.. Blease
would take this occasion to talk of.
politics in South Carolina During
these remarks the expression of Mr..
Blease did not change /one iota.
Mr.. Hyatt told of his experience in
building good roads as county CON-
missioner of Richland county, the op-
position that arose over the spending
of the county's money in an "extrav-
CANT manner" as the opposing faction
stated. He reviewed the troubles un-
til the commissioners were finally
through with the work of making vast
Improvements. Mr.. Hyatt stated that
much money was lost in the building
of good roads by poor management of
funds and ignorance of how best to
prepare them and how best IL spend
the funds available He stated that
one half of the moneS is often wasted.
His talk was strictly along the line Of
good roads and greatly enjoyed by all
who were so fortunate as to be pres
ent. Mr.. Hyatt also paid a magnif-
cent tribute to Supervisor Miles and
stated that Spartanburg county was
fortunate in having such an officer
After his speech the task Of regis
tering the delegates by the secretary
of the convention, F. c. Black, of
Cherokee county, was undertaken.
After this was completed, Hon. E. J.
Watson, State commissioner Of agri-
culture of South Carolina and others
spoke on the value of good roads and
the most scientific manner in which
they are to be erected and kept. After
this the convention got down to real
business and much good resulted.