The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1912-04-17
he GIVES HIS VIEWS
BLEAsE is NOT OPPOSING THE
CAMPAIGN CIRCUS"
Still FOR GOV. Harmon
The Governor Says the County to
County Canvass About Only Way
for Him to Get His Speeches Be
fore the People and Discusses Some
Other Matters.

fore the People and Discusses Some
Other Matters.
Governor Blease gave out an in
terview to The News and Courier cor
respondent in Columbia on Monday
night in which he emphatically de-
clared in favor Of the county-to-
county tour for State candidates for
Governor and every other Office; Wig
orously declared in favor Of an un-
restricted primary and advocated
sending an uninstructed delegation
tc the Democratic National Conven-
ton in Baltimore.
In the interview he also announced
that his friends were going to pre-
sent his name to the Convention as
one of the delegates at large, and
endorsed Gen. Vile Jones and advo-
Gated rejecting him State chairman.
! The interview Of the Governor fol-
lows:
II have noticed the editorial in
The News and Courier this morning
headed The Campaign Circus and,
as usual, the editor Of The News and
Courier and myself do not concur in
our political views; for I am most
assuredly, as have always been, In
favor of county-to-county canvass,
and of the election Of all officers,
from coroner up, including the Prea-
ident Of the United States, by direct
vote of the people.
81 am in favor Of unrestricted pri-
rlaries-that is, Of allowing every
white man in the State Of South Car.
clina the privilege OF voting at the
primary, and when majority
speaks, that the minority fall into
line and present solid front against
all corners.
81 would be very foolish to oppose
a county-to-county canvass, for 1t i:
we'll '-,own that all Of the daily news
papers are opposed to me, and nearly
al: Of the county papers, and the,
will not publish my speeches OF give
my reasons for any actions Of Zine
as Governor, with the exception O.
The News and Courier, which has
en- some occasions, given my reason!
for pardons; therefore, I would have
absolutely no opportunity to get N!
views before the people, or to de
fend my administration il it were no
for the county-to-county canvass.
am i; favor of the rules and the con
stitution remaining just as they arr
and requiring every candidate TO-
State Offices to go to each county sea
and delivering his speech, and if an,
!. attempt is made in the coming Con
vention to restrict the primary. or t
do away with the county-to-count.
canvass, my friends and myself vii
be found in the forefront fighting TO,
the present system.
$50 far as the delegates to the Ma
ticnal Convention are concerned,
have noticed it stated in some Of tht
papers that I was in favor Of sending
an instructed delegation for Har
mon. Twice in my life I have beer
offered the position as delegate to ths
National Convention from the thirt
Congressional district, and each time
declined to accept it, because I an
absolutely and unqualiaedIy opposed
to sending an instructed delegation
anywhere. If We are going to senc
men to Baltimore and instruct then
to vote for any particular candidate
we might as well save the expense
and just write out our votes and mai
them to the chairman Of the Con
vention and tell him, when Soutl
Carolina is called, to open the en-
yelope and announce our vote.
am in favor Of sending delegation
of good, strong, sober, representative
men and let them, when they get t.
Baltimore, look over the entire stu
alton from every viewpoint and ex
ercise their own judgment in voting
for that man for the nominee Of thu
Democratic party who is best equip
ped and most acceptable to the Dem
ccrats Of the entire country, in ordel
that We may all solidify, have no dis
sension and no splits and win Dem
ocratic victory.
Personally, am for Harmon, be-
cause I believe that Mr.. Taft will be
nominated and 7 believe that Harmon
IS the only Democrat that can carry
New York and Ohio against Taft, anG
without these two States, the Demo
Gratis cannot win. If I believed that
4 Southern man could win, Of course