The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-07-27

MANY QUESTIONS HURLED AT
BLEASE.
Governor Did Not Seem To Care for
Severe Cross-examinatiOu From
His Hearers.

turDulent, but not quite diSorderly
was the crowd of 900 persons which
was addressed In the court house yart
here today by candidates for State
offices. Strangely enough, In a county
which gave Gov. Blease a majorit,
of 527 votes over Featherstone in
1910. In a poll Of 2.953. and which
the Blease forces claim they will car.
ry this year with ease. the governor
was put through the warmest cross
examination by persons In the crowd
that he has yet been called on to en-
dure in this campaign. 1t is usually
the governors opponent. Ira b. Jones
who Is chiefly subjected to this heck
ling process. and judge Jones had q
considerable share Of such treatment
today. but the firing was heaviest
against the governor. Moreover Gov
Blease did not find his customary de-
tense against these attacks. this be-
Ing violent denunciation of the in
terruptor, to be success. He did not
undertake to answer the questions ex-
cept by insulting the questioner.
What about Stothart?" "How about
the pickpockets?" ''Hurrah for barn
burners!" Didn't you vote for Jones
after he voted as you say he did on
separate coaches 'T will explain my
record at Carolina IL you'll explain
yours" What have you done to up
hold the juries of South Carolina 2"
These were some of the queries,
taunts and challenges discharged at
the governor from the crowd. Gov.
Blease left the stand some minutes
before his time expired. He called
for hand primary, which indicated
a clear majority for Blease men in the
audience. The governor appeared to
have regained form as a campaign
er. but the ordeal of continuous cross
examination seemed little to his lik-
ing. Judge Jones was apparently de-
lighted with the days work.
Gov. Blease began his speech with
an allusion TO the alleged description
of Blease hackers by Judge Jones as
anarchists" BY way OF introducing
the anarchy" incident. he said that
he made an accusation against Judge
Jones at the campaign meeting in
Hampton. upon the authority of an
article In the Charleston News and
Courier signed s. Z. Boney. This ac-
cusation. he said. Judge Jones did not
answer at Hampton. though yester-
day he denied having used the lam
guase attributed to him. That por-
tion Of the article which the governor
read today ascribed to Judge jones
an exclamation, Down with you an
archists." In reply TO Blease sup
porter who had interrupted his ad.
dress.
Now. Boney." said the governor
turning to The News and Courier cor
respondent at the press table. "who
has lied. you or Jones?"
governor said. parenthetically: IT be-
lieve Mr. Boney is an honorable gen
tleman and will tell the truth"
Mr.. Boney arose. but the hubbub
was such that for moment he could
not proceed. II do not deny" he said.
the authorship Of the article. IL
Is possible for one to make an error
In reporting a speech. but / stand by
the article I wrote on March s, as
being correct as I heard It."
'Boney is Jones man." said the
governor. "and Boney says Jones said
IL. Now, what says Jonesy?"
! say I didn't say it," said Judge
Jones. from his seat on the stand.
I'll tell you what l did say. If you
wish" But Gov. Blease had turned
back To his audience and the incident
was closed.
Defeding his exercise of exccu-
tive clemency in the case OF Wash
Rawl. convicted OF burning the barn
Of ID. VI. Crosson. NJ. d.. OF Lexing-
ton. senator from Lexington county.
the governor said he would show in
the first place that Wash Rawl did
not burn Senator Crosson's barn. lie
read letter on Rawrs case. which
had been written by j. Brooks Win
gard OF Lexington. who had voted
against him every time i'm the legisla-
ture. he said. and who was now a
supporter OF that man there
meaning Judge Jones.
Mr.. wlngard at this point shouted
from court house window; "You
are mistaken. governor" 3ut the
speaker declined discussion of the