Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-03-22

ried there to be tried, with the man
upon whose testimony they were con-
yicted having been hanged, and with
the legal technicalities which will have
to be overcome in order to secure their
re-cOnviction, l would not be surprised
II Sheriff Bunch had not best be very
cautious In guarding his prisoners. In
saying this, am saying nothing
Against the good people Of Florence.
The majority Of them are law-abiding,
peaceable, honorable people, but there
fs limit to which people go. and
| when 1t Is reached, even the best peo-
pie sometimes take the law into their
f, own hands and administer a swift
Justice. OF this in some instances I
individually cannot complain, but as
governor Of course I regret to see It,"
| What about the dispensary investi-
cation now in progress?" Governor
Blease was asked.
"Oh. WELL" he said, Il think the CO.
lumbia Record hit the keynote Sat-
urday afternoon when 1t stated: TIES
timony taken so far has been chiefly
to refute the charges made by Cover
nor Blease against the members of the
Ansel commission and the present at
torney general" think 1t Is clearly
seen by all the world that the commits
sion is taking the defendants testi-
the defendants, in order to show up
everything in the best light for the de-
PENDANTS. That Is what I said when
tie commission was appointed. 1t Is
composed of the most bitter partisans.
In their personal conversations, and In
their actions in the senate and in the
house, they have shown that they are
doing just what I thought they would
do--trying to white-wash and clean
Iup for everybody on their side, and
sneaking around and endeavoring to
smell out something that they think
will be detrimental to my administra-
ton, and particularly to me, in my
candidacy for reelection"
why did you refuse to turn over
the Fielder letters to the commission?"
was asked.
Because" said the governor, Il be-
lieve II they had got them into their
fands, the letters would have been
lost, strayed or stolen,' and that each
one would have denied having anv
knowledge Of having seen them last,
or that, If they had fallen into the
hands of the attorney general, he
would have taken pleasure in destroy
ing them in order to wipe out the tes-
timony which I hold against Fielder In
his transactions with the officials Of
the state dispensary. Then the COM
mission and Mr.. Lyon could have help
ed Mr.. Fielder in his claim that they
were forgeries, and demanded the
proof Of me, and I would have been
helpless. When they get those letters,
some court, and the highest court In
this country, will have to take them
by lawful, but determined, force.
IF they desire, from sense Of doing
what Is right and just, to see the orig |
inal Fielder letters, will permit them
|f1t examine them, provided they Will
allow me to be in the room with as
many guards as may see fit to select,
to protect the letters from being lost,
from straying, or from being stolen.
They have no right to criticise me for
this, for am taking the same position
that their side of the house took be-
fore the supreme court when the
Stackhouse commission wanted to look
into their papers, and which position
the supreme court as then constituted.
saw fit to sustain"
In discussing his race, Governor
Blease said:
II have spoken recently before sew
eral very large audiences, and 1 am
thoroughly satisfied that l am strong
er with the majority Of the people to-
day than was two years ago. am
receiving reports from every section OF
the state, from good and true men, and
those reports are very encouraging,
and 1 am absolutely satisfied that will
be reelected. have no fears what |
ever along that line. My friends are
sitting steady in the boat, the water Is
nice and pleasant, and the victory Is
in sight"
Asked if he had any statement to
make as to the campaign being waged
by Mr.. Jones, Governor Blease said:
II thank God that ! was not born a
coward 7 also thank God that l was
born a gentleman. And not being a
coward, but being q gentleman, I never
strike any man behind his back, by
word of mouth or otherwise. There
fore. I have no comment to make upon
Mr.. Joness actions or his candidacy