The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-08-14
Berry. former Spartanburg county dc
legislators. So

whereby the public schools would ne
barred against the children of the
poor man who failed or neglected to
pay his poll tax. Criticjsing the gov
ernor for reVolling the commissions
of all The nOtaries public, the speak
er said The excuse given by the gov
ernor for this action was his desire
to get rid OF the negro notaries.
And here's where the niger
comes III again." said Judge Jones.
He is an adept at exciting prejudice
and arousing passion"
Judge Jones denied strongly that
he was the candidate of the corpora-
tions or the newspapers, but said that
If the newspapers were supporting
him he was not ashamed Of their
help. but proud of it.
There are great differences. you
know. in newspapers. If you see il in
The State or The News and Courier
or in the Spartanburg newspapers, it's
lie, but If you see it in Mr. Boards
paper, The News-Scimitar Of Green
wood, it's the truth straight from
heaven Yes, it's so if you see it in
the little sheet that is being sent
broadcast over the State by this man.
the bodyguard of the governor. who
goes armed"
Turning to Mr.. Beard, who sat on
the stand, at the governors right
hand, Judge Jones asked: Are Won
not armed?" Mr.. Beard did not
reply
Judge Jones persisted will you
not say whether you are armed?"
Mr.. Beard slightly inclined his
head, and said: What authority
have YOU to ask?''
Judge Jones turned again to the
audience. He does not deny it," he
said.
Are you armed?" asked a voice.
mo" Judge Jones replied, and held
up his coat, turning completely
around. mo. but please excuse me.
/ forgot that i had in my pocket
little corkscrew. l show it to YOU
because if l should happen to pull 1t
out accidentally. Gov. Blease would
swear ] was about to assassinate him.
over at Gaffney yesterday he made a
great tO-do about his fear Of assassi-
nation and said if he went others
would go with him; which meant
that his body-guard. Mr.. Beard, with
his concealed weapon, would make
others go with him. The reason why
l exhibit this corkscrew is that the
governor Is not scared of corkscrew.
All this talk Of assassination is the
veriest rot. Why, it never occurred
to me that there was any dang ger
In speaking anywhere in South Caro-
lima. 1t was a slander on the good
people of Cherokee county to sug-
gest that he was in peril Of assassina-
ton at Gaffney."
Mr.. Beard, in conversation with
newspaper men after the meeting.
drew from his hip pocket an auto
matte pistol, when asked if he did
go armed, and said he was properly
constituted peace officer having spe-
cial instructions to keep order on he
stand at campaign meetings. He OK
hibited a commission as deputy
chief constable" signed by Gov.
Blease and bearing date Of July -.
1912.
Let il be understood" said judge
Jones, that it, is easy to commit
crime in South Carolina and easy TO
procure a pardon from a tender
hearted governor. and we will nave
lawlessness indeed"
Speaking of the pardon Of John
Black, he exclaimed: NO state can
stand for such Endorsement Of graft
by her governor"
He charged the governor with hav-
Ing rccklessly turned lose pickpock-
cts. barn-burners, robbers and muir
derers. and said that such policy
tore down the Only protection of the
poor man. The man who would do
best by the poor man. he said, was
he who would administer just laws
justly, fearlessly and impartially.
His opponent, he continued, said
Of him many small and mean things,
but had found himself utterly unable
to attack him in the citadel of char
acter. He declared that in making
this race he was animated by no
selfish or malicious purpose, but
moved only by the most earnest de-