The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-07-27

winnsboro, July 22.-Replying to
the charges. made by Judge Jones.
! that Governor Blease Is derelict in his
Vduty as Governor. and does not hold
. proper regard for the good name Of
South Carolina, in retaining in office
MS appointee. Chief Constable Ben III.
;harges OF accepting graft have been
made. the Governor. at the State cam
oaign meeting here today. made a
proposition in the following state
ment:
IF they will get two men in c. r.
lesion. whom IL. Goodwin Rhet .;ll
say he would believe on oath. TO say
lhat Stothart has received any graft,
i will remove him from office at once.
Now that's a fair proposition. isn't
Il? And GOODWIN Rhett IL no friend
of mine. but he is an honorable man."
Judge Jones holds that sufficient
evidence has been submitted to the
legislative committee To constitute a
prima facie case. and. in effect
charges that the Governor in continu-
Ing Stothart in Office is aligned with
srafters.
Governor Blease prefaced the above
proposition by saying:
II suppose 1 ought to be turned out
Dcof Office because of the falsehoods
tod On mo Stothart has had no
chance 10 defend himself"
Nucthcr interesting feature of the
meeting was The hand primary taken
oy Governor Biease. Declaring that
kthe newspapers had misrepresented
~he sentiment Of the crowd at Ches-
ter; stating that a crowd Of 1900
people had heard him and only about
one-third as many had heard Judge
Jones. and that the papers had
credited Judge Jones with great
ovation. Governor Blease. TO satisfy
his personal desire. asked all his
friends In the crowd to hold up their
hands.
As they responded. Judge Jones.
who was on the stand. arose. and
giancing over the audience. remark
ed: About a third of the crowd
folding up their hands,"
Judge Jones says only third Of
the crowd are holding their hands
up" said Governor Blease. and he
asked his friends to hold up their
hands again. As nearly accurately as
this correspondent could estimate
from both tests. barely half Of the
1crowd responded to the Governors
call.
This was the occasion Of consider
able surprise to several on the stand,
for the gathering here was at first
thought to be easily Blease crowd,
especially in view of the hearty re-
= eption given him upon his appear
-ance.
Another noticeable fact was that
juifr Jones las accorded but sparse
arpious' when he began. but at his
telremeut rar eived hearty and gener-
- ,nmluUuc alton In the form Of
I nce~. lue and-clapping.
There is no dispute on the point
that when the Governor made the
fur fly" there was louder cheering
for him. but general distribution and
participation Is quite another ques-
ton. Furthermore. the Governor did
pot receive rousing ovation when
/ne appeared. but II was not long be-
fore he had em whooped up.
The lie was passed at today's meet
Ing. Judge Jones twice saying at the
conclusion Of statements by the Gov
ernor that's lle." However. this
49, not prodr. tive OF any trouble.
49, svca any considerable degree of
excitement. Governor Blease replied
-oat f Was n't gOirg to hurt this
-. usSsep,, nan." Chairman Nc
Donald had arisen. hut Governor
Blease proceeded with but mo-
uents interruption.
. In charging that Judge Jones had
- Justice and Chief Justice rendered
decisions favorable TO the corpor-
,.tions. the Governor said:
Ben Abney megaphoned through
ION Charlie TO the ear Of Pa Jones for
:. that he wanted. and he got IT,"
~ That's lie interrupted Judge
ones.
Governor Blease either did not hear
as or took no notice. for he proceed
a To- declare that i'm the decisions
rendered by the Supreme Court
Audgc Jones always. on a divided