The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1912-07-10
(By McDavid Horton in The state0

swer 1t at the August primaries.
Whatever you do, l will be governor
anyhow for September, October, No
vember and December and 21 days In
January. II you want government
by injunction and a metropolitan po-
lice force, you vote for Ira 3. Jones,
and I'll give it to YOU" With this
audacious threat Gov. Blease closed
his long awaited address at the State
campaign meeting held here tonight.
an address in which he intimated that
the recent break between him and
Jno. p. Grace, mayor Of Charleston,
began when he refused to commission
as notary public a negro, s. w. Ben
nett, whom the mayor had recon-
mended. He said further, with ref
erence TO charges voiced by the mayor
that graft collected in Charleston had
been traced to the office of the gov
ernor. mo gentleman would insin-
uate that l had ever received any
graft and any, man who says / did
is a malicious character thief and a
cowardly liar" The governor also
declared his intention of standing by
Benjamin H. Stothart, chief of the
constabulary in Charleston, against
whom graft charges were recently
brought before a legislative inyestiga-
tion committee.
More than 1900 persons, no wo-
men being included, were assembled
in Hibernian hall when the candi-
dates for governor were introduced.
These spoke as usual The meeting
opened at o'clock in the afternoon
and continued until all Of the candi-
dates in the party had been heard.
1t was an attentive audience, but one
quick to express approval br dis
approval. Quick also to laugh as
some OF the speakers learned to their
discontinue, when a point put for
ward in all seriousness tickled, for
some reason. the risibilities Of the
crowd
Tremendous Demonstrations.
Tremendous demonstrations were
given in honor of both the leading
peared that applause for Judge Jones
came more generally from over the
house and men long acquainted with
Charleston audiences said the ma
jority opinion among those present
was In favor of Jones as against
Blease. Undeniably, however, the
volume of sound was greater In the
pro-Blease outbreaks, as it usually is.
Kissing was more freely resorted to
here than elsewhere on the campaign,
as an expression Of disapproval and
Gov. Blease was the target of a good
deal of 1t. Excellent order prevailed.
An extraordinary number of police
men in uniform was distributed about
the hall and these were prompt in
suppressing demonstrations which
they deemed improper. An admonl-
tory wave of the hand proved all
that was necessary in every case.
Judge Jones devoted some portion
of his time to n reply in detail to
the speech delivered at Bishopville
by Gov. Blease.
The governor made his usual de-
claration regarding negroes, lynching
and other matters, but gave his atten-
tion principally to points of local in
terest in Charleston Some of his most
interesting statements were made In
response to questions from the floor.
What about beer?" asked a voice
in the audience
you bring me glass of it up here
and can talk about 1t better" said
the governor
What about racing?" was another
question.
do as you did this year" retorted
Gov. Blease. Act like men and do
as you please" This question and its
answer related to the passage by the
last. legislature of an act outlawing
metropolitan racing in South Caro-
lima from July 1, 1912.
Gov. Blease spoke after the meet
ing to an audience, including num-
ber OF women, in the Irish Volunteers
hall.
Missing at Start.
Hissing instead of applause was the
frat expression from the audience
after the meeting opened. 1t broke
ont when the county chairman, H. W.
Connor, said the first speaker would
be Barnard b. Evans, a candidate for
attorney general. Evans was absent.