The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-08-03
GRACE LET'S LOOSE.
'CHARI4ESTON MAYOR RELATES
\ ALLEGED CONVERSATIONS
WITH GOVERNOR.
Says Bicase Credited Southern With
Practically Paying McDufie Hamp-
tons Campaign Expenses for Rail-
road Commlssioner--Tclls "Nigger
story.


at the Glenn Springs hotel tonight
John p. Grace. mayor of Charleston.
and member of Gov. Cole l.. Blease's ;
stan. dictated the following state
,>ment:
II have read Gov. Blease's release
TO me. IL i may so call 1t. under
which l now feel at liberty to make
the two statements to which re-
ferred In an interview given out last
night I notice he says: II have never
>made a confidant of John p. Grace in
>sny manner. shape or FORM This
only confirms what 1 said to the effect
that 1 did not regard the conversa-
tion as confidential and IL removes
the last scruple that might have In
the matter. 1 therefore now state
hat during a conversation in Char
WESTON. while Gov. Blease was in a
very convival mood. he saw fit to
direct his thoughts along the lines Of
some Of his experiences In matters so
delicate that / will expect the public
TO Judge OF their meaning whe., say
that women was the topic.
"As IL II were a great joke upon
himself. he said that there was once
a negro girl In Newberry for whom
he had formed an excessive desire. H.
felt that after he had made several
advances to her. with as many re-
huns on her part. the situation had
zone far enough and said that one
day, when he had on new suit of
clothes. he was crossing some little
bridge. either In or near the town
OF Newberry, and at the same time
she happened along from the other
.direction.
~ They met on the bridge. Instant
ly he became very aggressive In his
manifestations toward her. and In his
excitement and after laying hands
upon her. In the twinkling Of an eye.
she pushed him over into the creek,
new suit and all.
He laughed very h.grly hen
vD(ling this story and said
Didn't ! cut a rrrtg Ngle in
nv new su't ~ ciothts. Gown ia the
t@sek and the coloreG girl upou the
bridge. running aw' and iaurhing
n me-
- "As 1 said In my i ;-r,icS yester-
Nay. II seems to me fhat "a man who
with slch vUunted audacity under
takes 10 occupy this role should at
least besin ~ being able to show that
20 mad lived n life compatible with
...~.. l.ssiui-
"Got Flea Sc. by all sorts of
\ 'tqUo iusic atoms. has created the
Impression ihat Judge Jones' private
htr ir rel,rsuce to the colored race is
not what II should be. am not in q
position to say anything as to that.
other pro or con; but unless Gov.
please told me lie. which is. Of
ourse. not improbable. judged by
this one episode. his Is certainly not
what II should be. and I have heard
many, many rumors to the effect that
there are other more fagrant cases.
The only one. however, OF which I
R%,.,'. Rfss + the one which he told me
~ Second. have also said that I
would prove GOV. Blease was guilty of
corrupt connection with the Southern
railway. This have also from his
own lips and the best of my recollec-
tion Is that II was in the same CONVEX
sation.
y I'VE had been talking OF the pri-
mary through which he had Just
passed and about the primary In gem
eral and its operations In our state.
told him that he could never have
been elected governor but for the pri-
mary system. He admitted that. but
~eplled very contemporary about
the primary in general. lie said.
For instance. you people (meaning
the people OF South Carolina) believe
that you elected railroad commss-
sioner the other day I said. Yes.
u knew l worked very hard To elect
kHcDufiie Hampton lie said: Wei.
who did YOU thing you were working
for?' or something In that effect and
told him OF course for McDuhie
Hampton. lie said: Well. that's
exactly where you're badly mistaken.
~IIe said; Why YOU were working for
hc Southern Hallway and you didn't
know ~. hut l know H. for have
every reason to know IT. said: We'll.
how Is that?' lie said; Why I prac-
icalIy paid the campaign expenses ,.t
LcDufiiie Hampton out II money iur-
a xlishcd 10 me by the southern rnilv,r Y