The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-08-14
sAFFNEY GAhPiIGH MEETING.
LIVELY AND INTERESTING MEET.
ING HELD.
Blease II Not Assassinated. Despite
Avowcd Fear of Governor, No Such
Fate Awaits Him at GaiYncy.


l'ooo Cherokee voters turned out to.
day to hear candidates for State of.
noes, but the meeting nevertheless.
was lively and interesting, the Jones.
Blease debate providing the briskest
exchanges. Judge Jones spoke with
moro than usual fire and spirit and
was frequently applauded. Gov
Blease made his speech without inter
rnption and this evening departed un.
harmed for Spartanburg. though in
the course of his remarks he said he
had been informed both orally and Nv
letter. that he would be assassinated
on the stand here today.
Both Jones and Blease referred in
Sheir addresses TO the correspondence
printed in morning papers between j.
L. Sims of Orangeburg and Il. r. Till
man, United States senator, regarding
the senator's attitude. towards the
Jones-Blease race. Judge Jones call
cd special attention to the senator $
assertion that Jones would make a
GOOD governor. because he is eminent
~ qualified" and said ne would give
800 to the man who would procure
rom the senator statement over his
Signature referring the same terms
20 Gov. Blease.
Judge Jones also declared, in the
course Of fervent appeal for better
Conditions in the political life of the
state. that the churches would fail to
juscify-fully their existence IL they did
not do Their part to stem this awful
ide of lawlessness that is sweeping
over our commonwealth"
Nothing that was new and import
ant was developed in the speeches of
c,.her candidates. The crowd was
generous Of applause. Gov. Blease
was repeatedly cheered by his ad-
mirers and like Judge Jones was pre-
sented with some handsome flowers.
Blcase. defending his pardon Of
George Hasty. the Gaffney man who
killed the actors. Abbott Dawson and
Milan Bennett. while they were guests
In his brothers hotel. said that j. w.
Thurmond. campaign manager for
Judge Jones. was tried for murder at
Edgeheld and Leroy Springs, to whom
Mr.. Thurmond had referred men who
asked fer Jones campaign money was
trieG for murder at Lancaster ac-
quital resulting in both cases in pow
er and influence of the defendants.
Mr.. Thurmond he said. was a public
officer Mr.. Springs a rici, man worth
more than $1,000. 900. Hasty. i'm his
opinion. you'd have been acquitted
also u ne had enjoyed squat advau-
tages Petitions for the pardon ~
Hasty were accompanied by a letter
from j. c. Otis. the solicitor. saying
the other indictment against Hasty
would never be pressed and by a fpt-
ter from T. B. Butler. now mayor os
Gaffney, saying the writer hoped the
governor would see his way clear TO
grant the pardon. There was also a
letter from Ia ". DeCamp, editor of
Gaffney Ledger. saying among other
things that the writer saw no good
reason why the pardon power should
not be exercised in Hasty's behalf.
Blease said that Mr.. DeCamp had de-
manded that he read the entire letter.
He did nos have the letter with him.
but would send IL TO Mr. DeCamp AMI
II he published IL the effect would be
to put him In worse hole he Is i'm
now dhe women In the case. ne
said, were no better than they should
be One Of them. vernie sheridan
afterward led an improper life in Sa-
vannah. he alleged. and on departinZ
took with her several violins tn,
properly OF other persons.
These she pawned i'm New York
sending the pawn tickets back to the
owners.
Referring To an interview with r
Is. Butler. mayor OF Gaffney. which
was published In the morning paper,
OF May i5 and I'm which Mr.. Butler
inquired why Mr.. Blcase did not re
sign ns trustee of the State colleg,
for negroes at Orangeburg before on
tering the state senate. Blease sale
he did resign the trus,eeship tefor
said the speaker. that thcr is
scheme on foot To count out,
know II is a fact that .ne peopl
are endeavoring TO provide for It," III
urged his friends To watch the poll