The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-07-07

siderable doubt on their merit, and
this doubt We confess is we'll founded;
but still in view of the regularity Of
the papers and the nature of the pro-
ceedings generally, there is little eX-
cuse for equivocation, evasion or sub
terfuge.
In the first place it is well worth
while to note that when the papers
were served, Mr.. Fielder, who is a
lawyer, instead of meeting the issue
through the ordinary legal processes
that he would have used had he been
representing some other defendant on
the same charges, went at once to the
public through the press with lot of
buncombe which in the case of any
body else, he himself would have said
was entirely irrelevant to the issue.
For instance, in effect, he says:
"Here, all this thing is because of
things I have said duplicating Gov
ernor Blease in this stealing. He has
trumped up those lying charges in
i order to get even. That is low down
and contemplate. If be wants salts
faction out of me, I'll agree to meet
him man to man at any point outside
! of his State that he chooses to name,
! or let him sue nae for damages TOR
defamation Of character in the United
States court"
All that sounds fair an'i brave to
the thoughtl:ss; hut it vii. not stand
a. very close examination.
If this really be a personal quarrel
between Governor Blease and Mr.. Eel
der, we would not say that the best
way to settle it is by personal COM
bat: but we would say that whatever
curious interest the public might
manifest it is none Of the publi's busl-
ness. With the suggestion of the suit
in the United States court there is
nothing wrong, except that if Cover
nor Blease should resort 20 such al
proceeding he would by so doing ad-
nit that the whole matter is personal
as Mr.. Fielder desires to make it ap-
pear.
But let US take a look at this fight
business from another standpoint:
Suppose an officer of the law should
surprise burglar in the act of break
ing into dwelling, and that burglar
should challenge the officer to Set
tlement of the matter by mortal COM
bat, what then? Or even suppose 1T
was a private citizen who should
have surprised the burglar.
AS we see it there is nothing brave
or honorable in Felder's challenge to
mortal combat, and there is. nothing
especially smart in the suggestion or
2 suit for damages. OF course there
is nothing wrong about the damage
suit proposition; but as coming from
Mr.. Fielder the suggestion IS gratm-
tous.
There are those who say that they
do not blame Mr.. Fielder for not be-
ing willing to submit himself to the
power of Governor B1ease, and that
looks more or less reasonable on it's
face; but if he should surrender
would he be in the power of Governor
Blease?
The constitution guarantees the
right to bail in reasonable amount,
and Mr.. FEEDER has means sufficient
to enable him to give bond in such
amount as might be fixed.
While there are many Jurors in
Newberry who would endeavor to up
hold Governor Blease regardless OF
the law or the evidence, it must be
remembered that jury verdict means
the unanimous agreement of twelve
men. and there will be no unanimous
2 agreement of twelve citizens of New
berry On an unjust verdict.
We don't think this controversy be-
tween Governor Blease and Mr.. Eel
der, or rather between Governor
Blease and the law, or between Mr..
Fielder and the law is altogether one
sided; but we do think that at this
writing Mr.. Fielder has put himself in
q had light and Governor Blease has