Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-07-19

70
far as that is concerned, I don't wan
anything for nothing.
Mr.. Nichols: Oh, certainly, know
you don't. l know what Blease Is, M
isn't going to do anything that viii
let them get 1t on him, because
they would give him hell. Now, car
go to Blease with this proposition
I'm going to put up the money at Spar
tanburg, but it's my money, you have
got right to make donation II yot
want to; of course, everybody know!
In politics you have got to spend
money.
Mr.. Porter: Well, that clarifies tht
situation little bit. At the same tim'
l always want people to feel that I'm
not going to look for something fol
nothing; I'm going to benefit by this
of course.
Mr.. Nichols: 1t just amounts to this
in this proposition; If you made thi!
proposition before Blease Is elected
you couldn't have got 1t started,
don't know Of a governor that would
have granted a pardon, but II he is
take hold of your proposition there are
about three or four fellows in towr
here that could get on that petition;
they are among Blease's strongest sup
porters, and they always fought me
one was the mayor of this town, he
was quite a politician in town here
Landrum and; those fellows were
against me always and against Till
man; when I went out for Blease, they
walked right out for him, and they
will do anything ask them to. Now,
If take hold of your proposition, every
one of those fellows will back me up
in it, can get on the train and go and
see the governor, and every one OF
them will tell the governor II ought to
be done. That's the situation now
Landrum Is on the governors staff. All
those fellows influence will help us,
and that's what we have got to have.
Mr.. Porter: Oh, my, yes, speak of
those men, without them there
wouldn't be anything to 1t at all.
Alleged Promise.
Mr.. Nichols: Well, can enlist in
your behalf every strong Blease sup
porter in the Piedmont section. I'll tell
you what I'd do in regard to this mat
ter; I'd undertake this pardon, rep
resent your people in trying to get It,
on this sort of proposition-we haven't
got time to agree on the details now
I'll go ahead to get these petitions up
and I'll have them signed; If fail to
get the pardon, that's all right just
pay me for the actual work done; but
If l do succeed in getting the pardon,
then I be paid-Tll take no contingen-
cies, If l get it, be paid for 1t, and II
don't, then you pay the actual ex-
penses.
Mr.. Porter: That's very satisfactory,
that's all right.
Mr.. Nichols: Because II I don't get
1t, wouldn't want any money.
Mr.. Porter: Now in connection with
any agreement we might make in that
respectful be very CAD to do that,
and ! doubt we could come to some
agreement that would be satisfactory
very soon.
Mr.. Nichols: It's just as I say, II
take hold of this matter-I don't want
you to use this. It's just between you
and me; it's coming out Of you, my
trade Is with you, but you can do abb
solutely nothing in the matter by pay
ing. OF course you don't know the
governor; If take hold Of it and don't
get the pardon, you don't pay any
thing except the actual expenses, and
If we get it through, then you pay. I
would be associated with you in the
matter, and If take hold of the matter
you can go ahead and take your trip,
and l could wire you in a day or two
after I get my proposition presented
what will be done, because Blease is
this sort of fellow; he will tell you, II
will grant this pardon now," or II will
grant 1t after the election" or II won't
grant 1t at ALL" / can find out in fif-
teen minutes what he will do, and II he
tells you he amt going to do 1t, no use
to fool with him-no use for anybody
to fool with him.
Mr.. Porter: Well, I'm going to rely
upon your judgment. I have had deal
ings with men before and know how
to understand these matters. The way
the thing is tied up I can't get out
from under it very well, and I'm going
to be gone indefinitely, as 1 told you
before; l think I'm coming back, so
We'll leave it that way.
Mr.. Nichols: I'll tell you what I can
do: can take the matter up with you
after the court Is over with.
Mr.. Porter: About what date would
that be?
Mr.. Nichols: Court starts on the Sth
and we have two weeks Of 1t. 1t would
be about the latter part of July; the
campaign starts on the 18th. Cole will
be out making speeches every day un-
til the 26th; he has week off from the
26th, he will be in politics all that time,
and if can get away on the 22nd can
go that week and catch him in his Of
flee If he wants to act.
Mr. Porter: That's very good, very
good.
Mr. Nichols: think we can agree on
terms. I can let you know whether he
will be pardoned or whether he won't.
Mr. Porter: 1t isn't an entirely pleas
ant matter. but at the same time, these
matters arise.
at Isn't Pleasant"
Mr.. Nichols: 1t isn't pleasant. I'll
tell you why hate to take hold Of It..
have refused at least seventy five
petitions that have come to me to try
and get pardons. Now, here in Spar
tanburg. they give me the very devil
for supporting BleaSe, because all Of
my affiliations are the other way, you
know, and all my kin people. Now,
as l say, l hate to take hold Of these
matters because they have always
been against him, and 1 have always
supported him. and they say these
corporations that l represent employ
me on account of my influence with
the governor, and the same way with
these pardons-they say. "Oh, it's
nothing but graft, he's making money
out of it," but that's all damn lie.
For that reason, l have refused num-
bers and numbers Of them. The only
thing l have ever done since Blease
has been governor that caused a lot
of comment was this bill that was up
for franchise to this interurban rail-
road from Spartanburg and Green
wood CD to Charlotte CO: 1 was rep
resenting the Southern Power COM
pany, which was the same thing. l
drew up the bill giving these powers,
and there was quite lot Of lobbying,
it was only carried by about three
votes-just barely got 1t through. OF
course Blease signed 1t, but l had a
hell of time getting him to do 1t. l
got up to Spartanburg, and the first
thing l knew, they told me that it was
rumored about that BleaSe had said
that he was going to veto it. We had
an awful time getting it passed-just
passed by about three votes, and II
BleaSe vetoed it, it would take a two
thirds vote to carry it over his head
we only carried it by three votes.
went over there-I says, "Blease
hasn't vetoed that bill, he merely said