The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1912-01-19
GOV. BLEASE'S VETOES
ARE BEING OVERRIDDEN
WILLIS RISES TO POINT
OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE

shot at the special message OF G. l..
Blease, governor Of South Carolina,
to the house on the libel act, which
contained scurrilous attack on the
press in general and in particular,
was taken just before the house ad-
iourned Thursday when J. Archie
Willis. the boyish representative
from Laurens county. Kissing to a
point Of personal privilege, deliver
ed dignified, yet impassioned de-
fense of what he termed an attack
upon his reputation as proprietor of
the Bolton Times.
The house listened to the youth
full speaker in silence until an effort
was made by w. w. Dixon, of
Winnsboro, hcnchman of the
governor, to have him ruled out of
order.
Speaker Smith declared Mr.. Willis
in order Dixon appealed from the
ruling Of the chair. The house, in
a rousing viva voce vote. upheld the
speakers ruling and Mr.. Willis con-
tinutd.
Dixon continued his interruption
until the speaker threatened to have
the sergeant-at-arms force him to
keep order.
In his address MIR. Wilfis took ex-
eeption to the portion of Blease's
special message on the libel act,
which declared that the account Of
his offending the lady ticketseller at
Beltoh, g. c., q lie Of the first water.
Mr.. Willis IL proprietor OF the
Belton Times.
His address, which created q pro-
found impression upon those who
heard it. follows in full: ,....
] rise to question Of personal
privilege, !" said Representative J.
Archie Willis. OF Laurens county,
and despite the fact that / hold in
my hand letter from the Black
hand of evua::u Ce.oiina' az the
writer OF writer's are pleased to term
themselves, warning me that If I
again pay my respects to the
governor III South Carolina, shall
be killed in short order. I want to
take this opportunity Of defending
myself against the uncalled for at
tack Of his excellency in special
message yesterday, when he took
occasion to call me liar, to which
was added O certain adjective
peculiarly all the governors own.
South Carolina is calling today
for some one to speak out in defense
Of her fair name, and protest the
unparalleled degradation that is being
heaped upon her by the man who
occupies the chief executives office,
and cost me what it may, am here
to answer that call. And / thank
God that it ia to you that / am to
have the privilege of appealing. Be-
fore go further, however, I want
to settle the matter of the ticket in.
cident at Bolton. The governor has
made the charge to you that i lied
when published the account OF lis
alleged nncivility to the young lady
ticket agent and he has produced q
letter signed by her, which, on the
face Of it. seems to substantiate his
claim. When once you understand
how he secured the letter, though,
you will understand little better
the cowardly, underhand methods
to which the governor will resort
when occasion demands.
Governor Blease, for reasons OF
which you are doubtless aware, is
the pet of certain officials Of the
Southern railway. At q banquet in
Newberry on December 20, 1910,
the governor made the statement
that because of Supt. Henry VIII
liams' friendship, after he had as.
snnhed the duties of governor, B. l..
Abney, the Southern's division
counsel for South Carolina, took up
his residence at the governors
mansion.
Are you then surprised that when
the governor in an unguarded mo-
ment forgot his alleged usual cour-
teous manner and treated n lady
ticket seller discourteously, that
twhen the public was acquainted
with the fact, which fact was sub
stantiated by an affidavit from the
young lady and by one from one of
the best known citizens of upper
South Carolina. man who was a
disinterested onlooker, that the
Southern road should feel it's duty
to take care of its own. Henry
Williams, Blease's warm friend and
division superintendent of the
Southern railway, forced the young