The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1912-07-26
"THAT,S A LIE" SAYS
JONES 10 GOV. BLEASE
Blease Charges Jones With Playing Into Southern Rail
ways Hands and Jones Hands Him the Lie-They Get
Blease's Goat at Lexington, So He Quits Before
Times Up-Blefse Could Not Answer
Questions Put Him.

Winnsboro, July 22.-At the state
campaign meeting held in grove
here today with an attendance of BOO
persons, Governor Blease was handed
the lie direct by Judge Jones. The
governor took a hand primary which
proved somewhat of boomerang 3nd
he made an offer to discharge B. N.
Stothart, chief constable at Charles
ton, under certain conditions.
Attacks Jones' Court Record.
Judge Jones spoke of Ben Abney
who is my cousin, and lives with me
at the mansion" Governor Blease
was saying. eff I had let Ben Abpey
fool as many decisions out of me as
he has fooled out of Judge JONES'
wouldn't refer to it, and that's not
all Ben Abney did. He appointed
Charlie Jones, son of Ira B. Jones,
as attorney for the Southern railroad.
Charlie, the automobile dude, Char
lie kept livery stable and he was
a groceryman; nobody ever accuSsd
him of being a lawyer, yet Ben Ab-
ney made him attorney for his road
and he megaphoned through Charlie
to Judge Jones on the supref3e
bench for what he wanted, andS,he
got it." "That's a lie," Interrupted
Judge Jones from his seat at the rear
of the stand. Governor Blease, not
hearing him, or not caring to repIy,
proceeded with his speech. "Evsry
time there was divided court, he
said, Judge Jones was always on
the side of the Southern railway.'
That's Lie" says Jones'. S.
"That's lie, governor" said Judte
Jones. ~,
Thereupon Governor Blease turned
ground and addressed him: alss%S4-..
~ esas n {ss g @ stsSs. sss.s n 6
you, they would say that struSk a
poor old decrepit man and that would
elect you. That's what you want me
to do, to hit you, but I'm too smart
an old fox to be caught in your
trap and then, turning to the crowd,
the governor said, 81 could take him
out in the back yard and tie his hands
behind him and spank him like your
mothers used to do you.
"If he had wanted satisfaction and
had desired to do the good, clean
thing. why didn't he come to me off
the stand, when ladies were not pres
ent, and when no one else will be in
danger of being hurt? Even then I
would do nothing but take hold of
him and keep him from hurting him
self"
Takes Hand Primary.
At the close of the speech the gov
ernor took hand primary, saying he
wanted to show the newspaper men
how many friends he had in the
crowd. AS the hands went up, Judge
Jones commented: "Just about a
third of them" Phereupon the gov
ernor called for another hand pri-
mary, saying ,"Just listen to that!
Hold up your hands so that every
body can see". About half of those
present raised their hands.
Blease on Stothart.
Criticised by Judge Jones for re-
tanning in office the chief dispensary
constable at Charleston, Ben H. Stot-
hart, against whom Judge Jones said
prima facie case of taking graft
had been made out, Governor Blease
said: Judge Jones wants me to kick
out Ben Stothart. I suppose, accord
ing to that, he thinks the people OF
South Carolina ought to kick him ou,
because of the vile slanders that have
been circulated against me. Stothart
has had no chance to defend himself
but if they will get two men whom
ex-Mayor Goodwin Rhett, of Char.
leston-and he is no political frient
of mine-will believe on oath and il
these two men will say say that
Stothart has taken graft, I will turr
him out"
| Asks Jones as to Blease.
While Judge Jones was speaking Of
Stothart, some one in the crowd in
quired: "Do you believe Blease has
taken graft?" do not assert that,
replied Judge Jones. T have ne
positive proof that 1t is so. Let the
facts come out and I will say il
then. ~
The crowd was chary of applause
Governor Blease received more thar
Judge Jones. .i