Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-03-29
GOV. BLEAsE AT FORT MILL.

The Fort Mill Times of yesterday,
has the following report Of the speech
that Governor Blease delivered In the
town hall at Fort Mill last Friday
night:
"Mr. Blease began his remarks with
a discussion of the states finances,
saying that the peoples money had
been wasted in numerous ways and
upon many things that were unneed-
ed and absolutely worthless He had
striven since assuming the governor
ship to conduct his administration In
a wise. conservative and economical
manner, and working to this end he
had turned back into the state treas
ury something like $500 Of the ap-
preparation allowed for the expenses
Of his office. He had revoked the
commissions Of all the notaries pub
lie to rid the state Of a number OF ne
gro notaries who had been put In OF
| flee by former governors. In issuing
commissions to the new notaries (all
white men) he had turned into the
state treasury fees amounting to sew
eral thousand dollars. 1t was his pur-
pose to continue this economy and
save the taxpayers Of the state every
cent possible.
"He invited particular attention to
his veto of many items Of the appro.
priation bill, saying that he said mo
when 1t came to spending $4,000 FOL
putting in a heating plant In the ne
gro college. declaring that he was
against doing this for the beautiful
black-faced doll babies" when many
white teachers and pupils in this state
had to do without such things and the
taxpayers are paying for them
Another item Of the appropriation bill
which he had vetoed and the legisla-
ture had passed over his veto was tina,
providing for the loan to the state OF
large sum of money by the sinking
fund commission. He said this was
unjust: that the money in the hands
Of the commission was paid In by the
people and 1t was wrong for the state
to tax the people for interest on mon
ey that already belonged to them.
"The governor paid his respects to
certain newspapers Of the state which
he claimed had been very unfair to
him. In this connection he cited the
Bolton incident, when 1t was alleged
by certain newspapers that he had In
suited a lady ticket-agent; that ne
had proven this false by affidavit from
the lady, but the papers would moi
print the denial. &. He spoke OF falsity
Of the Cincinnati incident; the lie
| had been told in certain quarters tha'
he had once held his child by the hall
out Of a second story window ano
Threatened his wife II she did not give
him a certain amount Of money ne
oh 10 w q
Of the whole cloth, for he had never
had e. child.
Governor Blease dwelt at length up
on the subject of issuing pardons. He
Criticised the newspapers for publish
ing the names of the prisoners pardon
ed and paroled and the number Of par
dons and paroles to date without CIV
ing his reasons for granting clemency
He has liberated something over 30C
prisoners since he had been governor
and was not through vet" If the
people didn't want him to turn 'em
out, to quit sending petitions down
there with their names signed to
them These petitions, many Of them
often contained the names Of the trial
Judge, the jury and hundreds OF citi-
zens of the community from which the
prisoner was sent up. What was he
~ oo ih ooSh SoSSo Ses
was asked?
He had never sold a pardon as had
been charged. If he were so disposed
he could get rich enough In one week
to resign the governorship and sii
| back in ease the balance of his days
I'm the audience were a number oi
boys and to these the governor gave
some sound advice. They should ever
strive to attain the highest rank ir
their vocations, no matter what they
be. He had begun work as a helper
around a livery stable, his duties be-
ing that of currying horses, greasine
harness, etc. ..
I'm conclusion the governor stated
that 1t was a pleasure for him to &c
out to the small towns and rural dis
tricts and talk to the people. How
ever these visits were not made fol
the purpose Of begging the people fol
their votes. He had no apologies tc
make for any official act since he had
been governor.
| Governor Blease was given hearty
applause during his remarks by shouts
of "Hurrah for Blease," together with
prolonged hand -clapping and stamp.
ing. The governor has many friends
| in Fort Mill. and the township and
these formed a majority OF his audi
lence."