The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-07-11
GOVERNOR BLEASE WILL
ASK FOR SECOND TERM
so DECLARES IN SPEECH BEFORE
AUDIENCE OF $500.
Governor Declares That Tillman
Should be Continued in Office so
Long as He Lives.

ience of possibly more than $500 peo-
pie at Rickenbacker's grove, near -Four
Holes church, in this county, today
speaking at the annual picnic Of the
Tillman Volunteers, Governor Cole L
Blease declared that he would again
offer for the governorship and that
Senator Tillman should be continued
in Office so long as that distinguished
statesman should live. There has
been more or less speculation as to
the intentions of Governor Blease in
reference to again offering for the Of
fee he now holds; his declaration to-
day appeared to indicate his purposes,
dependent, of course, upon circum-
stances that now may not be foreseen.
Speakers of the Day.
Featuring the days exercises were
the addresses of Senator Tillman,
Governor Blease, Senator S. J. Sum-
mers, of Calhoun county, and Presi-
dent W. NJ. Riggs, of Clemson college.
Capt. J. H. Clafy presided, introduce
ing the speakers, and the large aud
ience gave appreciative attention. It
may be stated without fear of con-
tradiction that Governor Blease made
what the majority Of the people con-
sidered a strong speech, even eloquent
at times. In describing some Of the
cases which he had considered in view
Of pardons he brought tears to the
eyes Of some Of the ladies. Senator
Tillman devoted the six or seven min
utes that he occupied to a speech of
thanks to the people Of his State for
what they had done for him in the
way of political preferment, declaring
that he was keenly appreciatiVe Of the
honors conferred upon him.
Tillman's Old Fire.
"Once in a while I feel the old fire
again." said the feeble senator, "but I
realize that my race is almost run,
even though I should like to get back
in a race for the senate" It can not
be denied that Senator Tillman looks
i'll, his feebleness being easily percep-
tible. During the speech-making he
sat upon the platform, but the remain
der of the day he remained seated in
the automobile.
Not sBlease Speech"
Governor Blease spoke for an hour,
having the closest attention through
out. The consensus of opinion was he
made nothing Of what has come to be
known as ''Blease speech" although
his condemnation of men and measures
that opposed him and sought to dis
credit him with the public was in un-
qualified terms, and his language even
bitter at times Still, his utterances,
taken in their entirety, were consider
ed a forcible presentation of his side
Of affairs in South Carolina. Much
attention was paid to his pardon rec
ord, the governor going into the de-
tails Of several cases, and explaining
The reasons for his actions.
Tillman Calls for Explanation.
An interesting incident of the day
was at the conclusion Of Governor
Blease's speech, when Senator Tillman
called upon him to explain for the
benefit Of the people his reasons for
the pardons of Wash Hunter and
George Hasty. AS to the Hunter case,
the governor, in responding to this
eall, recited the circumstances of the
killing of Ebert Copeland, as he un-
derstood them, and the implication
was that Governor Blease thinks
Wash Hunter acted in self-defence;
that his victim had begun an assault
upon him, and that Hunter acted to
defend himself. Governor Blease
. stated that he was urged by the late
Col. Thomas B. Crews to go ahead
and pass upon the Hunter case, acting
on the merits thereof, and not let the
fact that he CBlease) had been Hun
ter's attorney, prevent him using his
authority, and exercising the pardon
ing power if he deemed a pardon justi-
fable. The reasons set forth for the
pardon of George Hasty were SUD-
stantially the same. as indicated in
the News and Courier at the time the
pardon was granted.
Likens Himself to Tillman.
In the course of his speech, Cover
NOT Blease said that Senator Tillman
should be continued in Office so long as
he should live: that he SHOULD die in