Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-06-28
THE STATE CAMPAIGN,

THE STATE CAMPAIGN.
Interest Centres in Fight Between
Blease and Jones.
The following story Of the meeting
at Florence last Tuesday Is by q cor
respondent Of the Atlanta Journal at
| Florence.
| UP from his seat and at Governor
Blease with drawn fists and fighting
demeanor, Judge Ira B. Jones. GO
years old, white bearded, white-hea
ed, was stopped by the chairman and
pushed back to his place here today,
and another slugging match in the
present campaign was avoided. The
meeting was the rawest, noisest, most
tumultuous yet held.
Judge Jones was jeered, hooted and
howled down. Governor Blease was
interrupted, cat-called and hissed
Supporters Of both were in evidence q
plenty with the Blease followers, per-
haps, going the Jones adherents
better by way Of applause and noise
The walls and roof Of the theatre
where the meeting was held will hard
ly cease for weeks echoing with the
tumultuousness of this engagement OF
the states political army now In pro-
gress.
The Jones -Blease set-to followed a
dramatic denunciation by Governor
Blease Of Judge Jones' vote In the
sos against separate railroad coaches
for whites and negroes.
| Addressing himself to very old
lady who sat in box to the right OF
the stage, the governor, In his best
oratorical manner, said:
| when Judge Jones was in the leg
islature he voted for you, and beauti-
full la1ies like you, to ride in the same
coaches with big black bucks and ne
gro wenches. This meant that the
whites had to use the same drinking
glasses as the negroes.
Judge Jones was on his feet in an
instant, but sat down at the motion of
]. w. MCGOWAN, the chairman.
Then came an uproar Of cheers,
jeers, howls, boots, stamping and
Kisses. 1t ratified from pit to dome
and made the speakers on the stage
look like actors in pantimime.
Finally, above 1t. Governor Blease
could be heard saying: Nothing
Kisses but a snake, and / don't doubt
but some Of you are crawling on your
bellies"
Here it was that Judge Jones was
up and at Governor Blease with fight
in his eyes. Chairman MCGOWAN took
hold Of him and demonstrating with
| him, finally got him back in his seat.
| Governor Blease looked around, but
| by this time Judge Jones was in
charge Of MCGOWAN and Chief Of Po-
lice H. M. Brunson, who was seated on
the stage and joined Mr.. MCGOWAN
when the latter seized Judge Jones.
There are more Blease men In
this audience than Jones men," COM
mented the governor, and there's
where the shoe pinches."
Judge Jones tried to answer Gov
ernor Blease when the latter had fin
ished his speech, but the crowd would
not hear him, and dispersed.
After the meeting Judge Jones said:
Il was going to demand that Govern
or Blease retract what he said about
the drinking glasses. II he would not
intended to strike him."
Governor Bleases speech followed a
rip-saw attack made on his pardon
record by Judge Jones. 1t was the
most scathing denunciation Of the gov
ernor that Judge Jones has attempted.
1t was spoken in a voice low but pene-
| trating in its tense earnestness. 1t
aroused the Blease supporters and 1t
was with difficulty that Judge Jones
got through this part Of his speech be-
cause Of the boots, jeers and inter-
| rupting remarks At every mention Of
a particular pardon. there were cries
of "Hurrah for Blease; he did right"
He pardoned John Black" said
Judge Jones, "of the dispensary graft
ers before he had ever served a day
of his sentence or paid dollar Of
| his fine"
There were more yells for Blease.
why not holler 'Hurrah for grafters,
rejoined Judge Jones, amid both howls
and applause. I'VE are fast drifting
| to the precipice where any large por-
| tion Of the people Of this state can
yell for lawlessness. 1 appeal to you
to help put down the avalanche Of
crime and disorder that is flooding the
state. The people Of this state will
not put the criminal in the saddle"
Who's going to protect the farmer
upon the lonely farm?" inquired the
judge.
Governor Blease," answered back
the crowd.
"Tll show you how hell protect
him." continued the judge.
"A negro burned the barn of Sena-
tor Crossan, farmer. and was con-
victed, but in few months Governor
Blease pardoned him. Perhaps he'll
burn another barn. That's how the
governor protects the man upon the
farm from the incendiary and his
dastardly deeds"
Governor Blease's reply was a pow
erful effort. He seemed literally to
surpass himself in his power over his
followers. They were like wax In his
hands. Beginning a statement he
would gradually work it to a climax
and his followers to the heights Of
enthusiasm. The interstices Of calm
were just resting places for still 9TH
er uproarious demonstrations.
Judge Jones said at Chesterfield"
began the governor, reading from
manuscript, that he wrote the deci-
sion Of that Atlantic Coast Lumber
company case"
Il said 1 voted for it," interrupted
Judge Jones.
1T is easy enough" replied the gov
ernor, Ito try to fool one audience and
then apologize to the next"
Judge Jones then rose to explain
further, but the crowd would not
hear him. The governor, however,
bade his followers be silent.
That's the cheapest play on words
ever heard" said the Judge. Il meant
NY "Hdl L lIldl i GU hhd
voted for the opinion that was writ
ten by Judge Rucker. This attempt of
the governor is too cheap thing for
decent politics"
The governor then continued to read
from his manuscript, saying that
Judge Jones' in a decision prior to the
Rucker decision, had said that the
timber on the lands in the controversy
didn't have to be removed in a reas-
enable time"
Jones Switched.
when did he switch over and side
with Rucker?" inquired the governor.
mo doubt it was when he was getting
ready to run for governor"
The governor then read letter
from Senator Tillman to a cousin in
which the senator said he was taking
no side in the Jones' -Blease fight.
Two Of my bitterest enemies" con-
tinued the governor, fixed up this