The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-04-17
Gov. BIease
i'm Anderson.

l.. BleaSe ana Representative L. h.
Cary of Oconee county created con-
siderable excitement in the midst
a speech by the governor here today.
In defending his record the governor
too occasion to criticise his political
enemies, mentioning the members of
the dispensary investigating commit
tee which has made unsuccessful eff
forts to have the governor appear
and testify to alleged improper acts
of the old winding-up commission.He
called particular attention to Mr..
Carey in the audience, saying Mr..
Carey had stated that all he wants
to know is what side l am on, then
he will take the opposite side"
When Mr. Carey denied it and
asked the governor his authority for
such statement, the latter replied:
Il don't want to speak to you or
have anything to do with you for the
way you have been treating me on
that committee"
The governor said he had read it
in The State.
In referring later to same commit
tee he declared:
Doesn't Like Committee
THAT is nice, sweet-smelling sort
of committee. Talked about making
me come before them.Thats pretty
sort of something to make decent
person do anything" l didn't do it,,
and by the eternal gods I'm not going
to. Where is Tom Fielder? If they
will get Fielder back into the State
of South Carolina, and give me II
men, Bleaseites or not, in any county,
I'll furnish enough evidence to con-
vict him of attempting to bribe
State officer. If fail to give enough
evidence to convict agree right now
to resign from the governorship and
60 to the Philippines"
More than 1000 people heard Gov
Blease speak.
He paid especial attention to State
Senator Sullivan and some of the
members of the lower house from
this county.
After an invocation by Rev. w. T.
Myers OF Pelzer, the governor began,
first. touching upon the 1911 general
assembly. He stated that that body
appropriated one-half million dollars
more than it arranged to collect.
: Governor Blease said that when
the 1912 general assembly met an
organization was perfected, the object
being to defeat his reelection to the
governors chair. He said that Mr.
Cary, member of the Oconee county
delegation, stated on the floor of the
house that all he wanted to know
abdut a measure is whether it has
thek approval of the governor, and
if it did he was against it.
At this stage Mr.. Cary entered the
lists, with his questions.
Goy.- Blease said that he has at all
times stood for an impartial govern
ment.
On Special Judges
He explained his side Of the con-
troversy over the appointment Of
special judges, claiming that his mo-
tive in refusing to commission some
other person when circuit judge was
disengaged was to save expense.
The governor stated that he favors
building up the schools, but is unal-
terably opposed to the taxes of the
white people going to educate the ne
groes.
Gov. Blease charged that the edi-
tor of The tSate is doing more harm
among the negroes than education is
doing. He said that when the white
men arise to the defense of the wo-
men of the State that the editor oi
The State makes the negro brute out
a hero, and calls the white men muir
derers.
"As for me, if the commission ot
the governors Office stands between
me and the protection Of the women
of our State, then will tear up my
commission and go to their defense,
he declared.
The governor wants to know what
Winthrop college is going to do with
the $4,000 it is going to get this
year, $780, O0Oof which comes from the
Peabody board. He said he was
friend of Winthrop, but he though
that the rural schools. which exs
only for four or five months with
scarcity of teachers,are more in neet
of money than Winthrop.
Attacks Legislature
The governor then attacked the leg
islature saying that everything in th'
power OF the members was done tt
humiliate him and defeat his reelec
ton. He said that there was some tall
of the legislature impeaching him.
it wasn't attempted because that bod!
was composed Of set of coward!
liars who were afraid. He said tina
the general assembly is being lea Z!
two North Carolinians, and that on
of these had been made independent