The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-06-25
Governor BLease Cites
Record of Judge Jones
His Speech at BishopUie Campaign Meeting on Wednes'
dav. In Which He Reviewed Record
of His Opponent

created a. sensation throughout the
State. He said:
For six months before the opening
of this campaign, Mr.. Jones, who is
a candidate for governor, has been
going around throughout the State,
calling me an anarchist, and those
who support me, anarchists, and de-
nonncing what he termed "Bleaseism"
as anarchy.
have also made many speeches
throughout the State but have never,
on any occasion, called his name or
made any reference whatever to his
personal or political records, because
I did not consider it gentlemanly or
honorable to abuse man, or to crit
icise him harshly, where he had no
opportunity to make reply; but, on the
contrary, have conducted my cam
paign upon a high and honrable plane.
In my opening speech at Sumter,
did not make any reference to any
special candidate in this race, nor
did 1 make any attack upon the record
of any of them The attacks which
were made upon me are fresh in the
minds of the people. None can say
that I have brought about the personal
feeling which is in this campaign,
nor can anyone say truthfully that
have condescended to the plane of a
blackguard or blatherskite, but have
conducted my campaign strictly as a
gentleman should do, and whatever
may be the future results of this cam
paign, or whatever low plane it may
be thrown upon, personally or politi-
cally, none can say that it was brought
about by me or my friends. God AL
mighty has never planted in the breast
of man a higher or holier spirit
than that by which he is prompted to
resist oppression, and when one is at
tackled, none would be so cowardly as
to deprive him of the right to strike
back in his own defense; hence, what
1 am going to say now is in the de-
fense of myself. The term, "Bleas-
ism," was not originated by me; there
fore, am not responsible for its use.
now propose to give you some of
the public record of Ira B. Jones, as
made by him when a member of the
house of repres entatives, when speak
er of the house of representatives,
when associate justice and chief JUS
tice of the supreme court, and to show
you that however bad "Bleasism" may
be, it is not as bad as ''Jonesism,' and
that Blease, when acting in any pub
lie capacity, or in private life, has
never endeavored to force social
equality among the white ladies and
children of this country, with the ne
gro men, and that Jones has done so,
and that Blease has always worked
for the interest of the people of the
State, and that Jones has worked for
the interest of the money powers and
the corporations.
Mr.. Thurmond, who boasts that he
is Jones' campaign manager, and for
which / presume he is being paid by
some one, in a letter which he sent
out on the 25th of March, 1912, either
deliberately and maliciously (or being
ignorant of his candidates record
endeavored to mislead the people, to
whom he sent that letter, by stating
something in it which was absolutely
untrue and not borne out by the rec
ords of;the legislature.
He says, (writing Of Jones and him
self, Eve were both in the house as
Tillmanites;" which I think is true,
Judging by the votes which Jones al
ways voted, and particularly his nomi-
nation speech in seconding Col. 1rby
p for the United States senate against
General Wade HAMPTON, for which
have no criticism tc make of him, but
only mention it in order that the rec
ords may be kept straight, he having
been elected speaker, to succeed Col
Irby,l which was part OF his reward
for his speech, and for his support of
Col. Irby against General Hampton.
I think he further proved that when
he voted against Judge William H.
Wallace for associate justice of the
sunreme court (see house journal,
1907 naoe 171). and again when he