The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-08-10

| ne would nave nothing 10 do with
that damn committee and It could
go TO Hell. as far as he was concern
ed" This was Blease's reply to a
request to substantiate charges of
graft and corruption made by him
against such men as John McSween,
Dr. Murray. ]. Steel Brice, Avery Pat
ton. He made scandalous charges
against men OF good reputation and
| then refused 20 appear 10 prove them.
Senator Clifton took up the claim
| that Blease had saved money by
vetoing appropriations. He said that
Blease had vetoed few items in the
supply hill. knowing full we'll that
these items would have to be put back
in the bill, in order for the business
OF the State to be carried on. These
vetoes were just a sample of the sort
of sly, slippery practice of a cheap
politician to throw dust in the eyes OF
those who do not take the trouble 20
investigate and find out the falsity of
the claim that he is the friend of the
poor man and claims to save sixty
odd thousand dollars by vetoing bills,
but on the other hand he plans with
his friend Todd to tax the State
100000 to build useless State
House. and Of this sum Friend Todd
was to get more than sixty thousand
dollars for drawing the pictures that
| Gov. Blease said were beautiful. SEN
ator Clifton took Bleases record as
Governor and riddled It, giving facts
| to substantiate every statement, and
| he did not mince words either. He
was interrupted by innumerable qucs-
tions, but he never got ratified and
answered every one in turn. He made
good his defence and save for the
few who did not want to be convinc-
ed. he satisfied the crowd that he
had done his duty and that Blease
| and not the legislature should be con-
demned for the record of the past
two years. But on a part of the crowd
his argument and recital of facts made
no impression. One man remarked,
I'VE won't believe anything against
Blease and you needn't tell it. We
are going to vote for him if you were
to bring him through here with two
| around his neck"
1t was noticeable that reply was
vouchsafed to Mr.. Clifton's request
for an expression Of opinion of the
100000 State house plot, or to his
frequently repeated request for some
Blease man to tell him something that
Blease had ever done for the poor
man. He asked for one single act
that proved Blease's claim, and he got
no answer.
The meeting was held in the grove
In front Of Shiloh church. and DR.. T.
X. McElveen presided and introduced
the speakers.
Messrs. B. C. Wallace and r. E.
Wilder unopposed for Treasurer and
Auditor were introduced and made
brief announcements.
Mr.. r. e. Belser was introduced
first among the candidates for the
legislature. He undertook to give an
outline of his record. but was inter-
rupted frequently from the beginning
Of his speech. He discussed the ap-
preparation for the railroad, explain
ing the necessity for the appropriation
and the reasons for making it. He
discussed the good roads question and
the bond issue election, the cotton
warehouse bill for which he worked
hard In the House, and other mat
ters. The Interruptions by those who
wanted TO know how he stood on the
Blease issue finally became so fire. ,
quent that he digressed from his
speech TO tell them that he was for
Jones and expected to vote for him.
He was asked why and told the man
who asked. that Blease's message To
the legislature and his record was
sufficient answer. Time was called
on him before he could get back "a
the main theme of his speech
Mr.. L. VI. Pitts, candidate for SUI
pervisor, was next introduced Mr. |
Pitts briefly told of the work he has
done on the roads and in other WAYS
for the good of the county and assur-
ed the crowd that he would carry on
the good work as rapidly as il was
possible with the means at his dis
posal. Coming to the railroad appro-
priation he read the following state