The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1911-08-16


mileage In the twd books combined
to buy the ticket, so he asked her to
tear the mileage out of both books,
subtract 1t from the number OF miles
to Columbia, and he would pay her
the difference In cash. Miss Rogers
very kindly asked him IL he wouldn't
wait until she had sold the tickets for
those ladies and gentleman who were
waiting to catch the northbound train.
She explained to him that he had un-
til $40 TO buy his ticket.
Instead of giving place to those
who certainly ought to have been
given place at the window, the man
| straightened himself and In a most
Insulting manner informed Miss
Rogers that she must not know who
she was talking to. He further in
formed her that Il am Cole Belase,
the governor of South Carolina; I've
got right to buy ticket any time
1 call for it, and you've got to sell
it to me- He took occasion to tell
her that If he didn't have to he would
never have ridden on her old South
ern road He also Informed Miss
Rogers that he was going to write
her up to her superintendent"
One of the governors friends asked
him if the article was a true state
ment of the facts of the case, and
the governor replied in a most posi-
tive manner that the article was not
true.
Governor Denies 1t.
The governors letter follows:
Augut 5, 1911.
"Mr. James G.. Harris, Bolton, s. c..
Dear Sir: Your letter of the 4th
inst. received. Inreply l beg to state
that on my way home on Saturday,
July 20, 1 walked up to the ticket Of
flee window at Bolton, laid down two
mileage book covers. with some strips
left, but not enough to bring me
through to Columbia. did not know
at what time either train arrived at
Bolton, but was of the opinion that
l made close connection. When / pre-
sented the mileage books 1 asked the
young lady for ticket to Columbia.
She replied, L have not time to wait
on you now / said We'll, ] want to
go to Columbia and want a ticket
She said, L have not got time to com
pute this mileage and make the cal
culations. / smiled and said. 'Ve~y
we'll, l will tell you who / am and you
will please remember. / am Cole l..
Blease.' Q did not say governor of
South Carolina or mention the fact
that L was governor0 | told her who
| was because it was my intention to
get on the train without ticket. pre-
sent the mileage and state why | did
not have a ticket, and if the con-
ductor declined to accept the mileage,
| was going to sue the railroad for
damages, and 1 wanted the young lady
as witness, to remember that I had
applied to her for ticket, present
ing the mileage and that she had re-
fused 1t. Whom ! told her who / was,
said, Il will report this matter to
your superintendent She then took
my mileage, quickly made the calcu-
lation, told me that there was 70l
cents due, which / paid very promptly. !
She handed me back the ticket with |
the two vacant slips and said, Thank
you ] said, Il am very much obliged |
to you: you may keep the two old
covers, as YOU may wish to send them
in She said, No, you might need
them to show the conductor whepsib no /
asks for your ticket 1 replied All
right and picked item M and
walked away.
Showeu no discourtesy whatever
to the Young lady. only was exercis-
ihs my right as a passenger on the
road and told her who / was, as I |
have stated. for the purpose / have
stated, | showed no discourtesy, but
treated her the same that / would
have If every relative of hers in the
world had been present. There were
two young men sitting behind her in
the office at the time and an old Coy
federate veteran standing by me. with
badge on. The conversation did not
even attract their attention, which
shows that there was nothing what |
ever about the matter to have caused
any one to write a lie about, such as
has been written by the dirty scurril-
ous little editor OF the Belton Times.
| do not know who he Is, have never
seen him, but from this article | am
satisfied that he is only another pimp
Of the newspaper combination that is
continuously lying about me.
81 thank you for your letter and
for this opportunity of explaining the
matter. Very respectfully,
Cole L.. Blease.