Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-04-09
SOUTH CAROLINA STAGE
FOR POLITICAL DRAMA
Gov, BIeaSe and Former JUS
tlce Jones Will Be the
Chief Actors
CBy Staff Correspondent. Journal Blu
reau. Jerome Hotel)


reau. Jerome Hotel)
/ COLUMBIA, S. c.. April 6.-Already
the stage is set for one of the greatest
political dramas in South Carolina since
the days of the Ben Tillman campaigns
The actors have emerged from the wings.
1t is to be Biease against Jones. Ira
/ B. Jones, former justice of the supreme
court, is opposing Cole L. Blease, the
/ present governor. There are no other
candidates. The state IS divided into
hostile camps under the banners of these
two champions,
There is but one issue: Shall the adj
ministration of Governor Blease be sus-
tanned and continued or be condemned
and ended.
| In the former campaign. the one, in
which the present governor was elected
the issue was statewide prohibition. Two
primaries were held. In the first the
/ two leading candidates were Cole L..
Blease, local optionist, and G. c. Feath-
erstone, statewide prohibitionist. In the
run-off the prohibition issue was sharp
ly drawn, with the result that the local
opuonist won.
But now prohibition is no longer an
issue. Open barrooms are forbidden by
the state constitution, and in only six
rest of the state is dry. And for the
present there the liquor question rests.
The contest of Blease and anti-Blease
has absorbed all the interest.
JONES STARTS FIGHT.
When Mr.. Blease became governor and
while Judge Jones was still chief JUS
tice IL became necessary for the latter
TO name a special judge. The appoint
ment was made, bue before it became
effective the appointee had to be COM
missioned by the governor.
The governor refused to issue the COM
mission and sent back to the judge a
message that left no doubt as to the
governors feelings.
Blease, his supporters declare, repre-
sents a revolt in South Carolina against
the domination of the old Bourbon ring
and the direction of state affairs by the
newspapers.
'Blease is a political accident, coming
into office on the crest of the anti
prohibition sentiment" say his oppo-
nents "and now that he is without an
issue he will fall"
please on the whole has made goods
say his friends. "and will be returned. Z"
The supporters of Mr.. Jones contend
that the Responsibility of the state is
on their side while the supporters of
Governor Blease says that this can not
be so. as the governor will be re-elect-
ed and that the Responsibility of South
Carolina can not all be in the minority
They city instances where the governor
has gained powerful and influential sup
port since he went into office.
Thus is briefly sketched the con-
tending forces that will occupy the po-
litical boards in South Carolina this
summer.
The custom of the Democratic party
here is that he candidates for safe
offices make together county tocoun-
ty speaking tour of the state. This
will likely begin in June and last until
the primary in August. But already in
dividual campaigning has begun.
Practically ever since his designation
Judge Jones has been speaking in the
interest of mis- candidacy and now near
.yevery week finds the governor with
one or more speaking appointments,
The campaign is already warm. IL
will undoubtedly grow warmer and
warmer until it's close.
That is why Judge Jones cast his hat
INTO the South Carolina political ring
and followed it there. He resigned last
January to become candidate against
! Governor Blease.
The opponents of the governor say
that neither in personal character OF
mental attainments is he worthy 10 be
governor of South Carolina; that he is
cratic and unsafe. From the stump
Judge Jones charges that he is an an
archist in that he encourages disre-
spect for law by abusing the pardon
! ing power; that he turns loose crlml-
nails upon the state in return for po-
/ litical favors, and that generally he is
not the governor of the whole state,
but governor in the interest Of his po-
litical friends. His opponents point out
too that he has set himself at cross
purpoe with both, houses of the legis-
lature and with practically all of the
other state house officials.
On the other hand, the governor
friends contend that the statements
about the governors personal character
are the ISLANDERS of his political enc
mics They say he has headed a Wig
orou ADMINISTRATION according to his
own way of thinking, and that in the
degree that 1t ha been vigorous, in
that degree has it displeased and an
gered his opponents. They point to the
/ fact that the governor has strict ideas
OF state economyi that he succeeded
\ in having the department of state ge-
ologist and the office of chief game
warden abolished in view of the fact
that he considered them unnecessary
and a useless expense; that he vetoed
many of the items of the appropriation
bill presented him by the Legislature
and that his vetoes were generally in
the interest of saving the state. money.
BLEASE DEFENDS RECORD.
] The governor himself vigorously de-
/ fenas .As pardon record, insisting Il a.
! ii has been directed by the dictates of