The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-08-06
Greeted With HOWlS.

Greeted With HOwls.
Mayor Grace was met with hoWls.
Gentlemen" he said, when the
governor of South Carolina went to
the city of Charleston I sat in the au-
dience and saw that he had respect
full hearing"
The jeers and yells of "Hurrah for
Blease!" prevented mir. Grace from
being heard further. He said some
thing about the right to free speech
being one of the cardinal principles
of liberty upon which the republic was
founded.
Mr.. Grace quietly paced back and
forth upon the stage, waiting for the
uproar to cease.
Where are the police?' cried many
in the audience, while many persons
moved forward with a plea to be al
lowed to act as officers.
Postmaster w. M. Floyd mounted
the stage and made an earnest appeal
for a respectful hearing for Mr.. Grace
His words were almost drowned in the
noise, but in the lulls, with hand up
raised, he -entreated the audience to
allow Mr.. Grace to speak.
Whether you are for Blease or
JONES' said Mr.. Floyd, 'be a man
and don't disgrace our city"
Il realize" said Mr.. Grace, when
temporary calm had been restored,
'that I am standing tonight within
the sanctuary of American liberty. If
there was ever place on American
soil where the right of speech should
be sacred it should be in the shadow
of Kings Mountain and Cowpens. I
believe there flows ip the veins of you
men the blood of the men who fought
at Cowpens. I have been taught that
one thing for which your forefathers
fought was the right of free speech
and when you dishonor that right you
are unworthy of the name of Ameri-
can citizens. I have. no objection to
your hurrahing for Blease, but snow
I'll venture to predict you will not be
hurrahing for him when am
through"
"We don't need you," shouted dis
turber. 1--WE have mayor of our
own. Go back to Charleston"
why did you come here if you did
mot want to hear me?" answered Grace.
''You are governed by the same anar-
chy that your leader is governed by"
A Tremendous Din.
The din again became deafening.
Under threats of arrest some OF
disturbers left the theatre and held a
Blease meeting On the street. Samuel
B. Jones, who was sitting in the bal
cony, arose and called for the chair
man of the meeting. When he finally
succeeded in getting the attention of
DR.. Leonard, Mr.. Jones demanded
ed of him that he appoint sufficient
deputies to clear the gallery of the
"hoodlums.
Somebody yelled at Mr. Jones to
sit down, that he was drunk. "The
man who said that is dirty liar" said
Mr.. Jones, and offered to fight him. A
pistol was displayed, and Mr.. Jones
folded his arms and called, Shoot
me, you coward"
All this time others in the audience
who wanted order were denouncing
the mayor and the police with sneers.
julius L. Carson, Ralph K. Carson and
number of others called on the police
to do their duty and eject the disturb
ers.
Solicitor J. C. Otis advanced to the
stage and called upon those who were
willing to act as special policemen to
restore order to come and stand with
him. There was quick response, one
of the first to come forward being a
gray-bearded man well up in years.
Arch B. Calvert DR.. C. r. Gaillard,
Aug. w. Smith advanced and were
followed by perhaps so others.
Solicitor Otis then called upon all
those who believed in law and order
to leave the balcony and come to the
first floor. All but about Is persons
left the balcony. Sheriff White, amid
cheers, then ascended to the balcony
and took seat among the leaders of
the disturbance.
Mr.. Grace continued.