Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-08-26
BLEASE Or JONES
To De CHOSEN
TOMORROW
South Carolina Voters to Name
Next Governor After Most
Notable Campaign.

COLUMBIA S c. Aug. ga cam
paign the like Of which has not been
known in South Carolina since Till
manism swept the state nearly quar-
ter of century ago has just been con-
Guided. and the verdict will be written
by the people at the polls tomorrow,
when it will be recorded whether Cole
L. Blease or Ira B. Jones will be gov
ernor of the state for the next two
years
Blease is asking the people to re-
elect him. after he has served one term
of two years. Jones. a Tillman lieu
tenant of the old days, resigned from
the chief tusttceship of the state su
preme court to make the race against
Blease, ito redeem the state as Jones
says. Interest has been felt in the bat
tie not only in South Carolina but in
every section of the country.
In the closing days of the campaign
Tillmanism, which most people here had
thought passing out of the state. has
doomed up large again. At the eleventh
hour Benjamin Ryan Tillman, the
famous "pitchfork senator" from South
Carolina. has taken a hand and has
come out for his old Lieutenant Jones
Throughout the race. up to this last mo-
me1t statement. Tillpan has announced
himself neutral as between the two can
didates for governor
sTillman's eleventh hour statement
declared Blease unfit to be governor of
the state and said that the state had
been disgraced in the eyes of the world.
Fielder Plays important Role.
Thomas B. Folders connection with
South Carolina politics is known to
most Georgians.
Fielder, an Atlanta attorney. was en-
ployed by a dispensary commission to
aid them in winding up the affairs OF
the old state dispensary. When Gov
ernor Blease came into office early in
1911, he dismissed the commission and
charged Fielder with having divided up
with this whisky houses he prosecuted
in the collection of whisky claims. Then
Governor Blease gave out letters sign
ed 1T. B." in which it was alleged Eel
der, in 1905 sought to frame up a whis-
ky firm with Hub" Evans, dispensary
director. to control the liquor business
in this state. Fielder retaliated by Civ
ing out alleged letters. signed Cole"
asking for money in connection with his
work as senator. according to Fielder
Interpretation. Charges and counter
charges followed
After the appointment of a dispen-
sary investigating committee at the
1912 session Of the general assembly.
Fielder appeared in Augusta and
gave testimony against Blease. VIII
liam j. Burns and his men also
figured largely in the investiga ton.
Blease was accused of selling pardons.
Of having whisky graft collected in
Charleston, and of other things.
Charge Against Jones Social Equality.
The charge in the campaign against
Judge Jones that has attracted most
attention is that with reference to so
cial equality In early Tillman days a
bill was introduced into the legislature
requiring sepa ate coaches for the ne.
groes and white people Jones voted
against this bill, while Blease urged its
passage and had introduced a similar
| bill. Because he opposed the bill Ira
B. Jones has been charged by Governor
Blease with favoring social equality be-
tween the races.
All but six or seven newspapers of
more than 1l5 in the state have beer
lined up against Governor Blease. In
| the campaign of 1910 Blease fought the
newspapers. In this years campaign
the press has been stronger against
| Blease.
\ county to county campaign in
South Carolina is a picturesque affair.
! In the campaign just closed Jones and
Blease have addressed the voters in
every county. In certain counties as
| in Anderson. Judge Jones has been
| howled down. Jones is claiming the
conservative vote of the state and his
| followers predict a landslide for him
| Blease is claiming election for $4,000
votes. The probability is TIL difference
! between Jones and Blease will not be
| tina 00O ont pf vote Of mn