The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1912-03-20
Jones TALK Again
GIVEN "a WARM RECEPTION By
CHEROKEE PEOPLE
PARDON OF CRIMINALS

=. Administration OF Governor BIeaSe
and Criticises Eis Wholesale Par
don Of Criminals and His Useless
Conflicts With the Assembly.
Talking straight politics at two
enthusiastic meetings in Gafney
Monday, Judge Ira B. Jones Monday
at noon and Monday evening appear-
ed in behalf OF his candidacy for gov
ernor Of South Carolina. Il was
Judge Jones irst appearance in Cher
okes county though in that county
originated the Jones Clubs idea
that bids fair to be important be-
fore the campaign IS over.
The former chief justice was gwen
an enthusiastic reception He was
met at the train by crowd OF cit1-
zens and encountered so many greet
iags that he found it difficult to
reach the court house in time for
the scheduled address at noon. The
day was made a gala occasion. Cit
liens had come from remote dis
tances in the county and all the near
BY towns were represented in the
audience that filed the auditorium
and balcony OF the large court room
and blocked passages and aisles.
In the audience were large num-
ber of women, and three rows were
filed with school children from the
high school, given two hours holl-
day to hear the address. A respite
from work was given employees OF
the Gafney Manufacturing Company
to attend the event. Probably two
score negroes occupied seats in the
balcony. The scene at the noon ad-
dress was an enthusiastic one.
When Capt. ]. 3. Bell, IN introduc-
ing Judge Jones, referred 70 him as
"tne most distinguished citizen OF
the State and the next governor Of
South Carolina" he was interrupted
by cheers.
The eminent jurist was forced to
suspend to allow applause at inter-
walls every few moments during his
speech. In explaining his motive for
making the race for governor, Judge
Jones said there is 8 burning de-
sire in my breast to reclaim South
Carolina from BIeaseism, but there
Is no spite" This caused the hrst
big demonstration of the meeting.
He laughed at report that he is
the candidate OF the a-istocracy and
newspapers, and told Of his parent
age and record.
'sI am in this fight to finish. l
am no gutter. God Almighty hates
a gutter, and I do too said Judge
Jones. He spoke only one hour,
but in that time reviewed many acts
Of the present governor OF the State.
He told Of the chief executives fight
with ali the other departments OF
State government. He said that
Blease has to some extent aullihed
the power of the courts by abuse OF
the pardoning power, dashed the
backs Of the members Of the gen.
eral assembly by misuse Of the veto
power" and fought with the State
officers.
AS an example Of the misuse Of
the veto power he cited the veto Of
T. Y. Williams bill for expenses as
special Judge to try an assault case
in Richland as special judge, when
the negro was convicted and execut-
ed for assaulving a lady. The bill
was some $40 and was passed over
the veto Of the governor. Gov.
BIease says the quicker negro VINO
laws his hands on white woman is
put under the ground the better,
and yet when q negro who did more
than put his hands on 3 white wo-
man was convicted by the courts and
legally executed he would not pay
the Judge because he did not appoint
the Judge. Gov. Blease had nothing
to do with it. Gov. Ansei appointed
Judge Williams.
AS an example Of the conflict with
the courts he told Of the refusal OF
the governor to appoint e special
Judge to hold term in Horny whc2
twenty prisoners were in Jail. and
the county lost probably $500 for
jurors. witnesses. etc. when there
was no Judge to hold the court. He
said the governor had violated his
oath in refusing to appoint special
Judges, as he was bound by law TO
sign these commissions, just as he
is to commission judges elected by
the Legislature.
Judge Jones discussed Governor
Slease's pardoning o. criminals at
some length. He did not think any
governor was justified in turning
criminals loose by the wholesale on
honest people. He said when per
son was convicted Of crime 1t was
not fair to honest people to pardon
them as Blease has and is doing.
He said the governor Of the State Is
trustee of pardons as banker holds
money in trust for the banks depos-
itor. Neither had he any right to
abuse their sacred trust as the gov
ernor was doing when he pardoned
white and black criminals out Of
the penitentiary.
The former chief justice ridiculed
BIease's claim Of economy by trying
to cut Offices here and there A
child may need three meals a day to
be healthy. while one can save -four
by cutting OF two meals, but will
lose the child. He said such is Gov.
Elease's course. Judge Jones criti-
cised Blease rounGly for his veto Of
the bank examiner bill. Working