The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-08-24

BlEASE RATTlEB, SAYS JONES.
SAYS HIS SUPPORTER HAVE
GOVERNOR ON THE RUN.
Latter Talks OF Tillman and Again
Seeks TO Lay Stress on Senior Sen
atOr's Position of Neutrality.


Pickens, Aug. 21.-Gov. Blease to-
day again revealed the extent Of his
anxiety over the effect of the Till
man-Sims correspondence and the
subsequent Tillman interview on the
Jones' Blease race, by reading part Of
letter from Senator Tillman to him
dated August 16. That portion of the
letter which the governor read was
as follows: II did not think 1 ought
to try to dictate to the people as to
whom they shall vote for, for 1 have
done my hest to remain hands off as
between the candidates for governor
and l shall continue to do so. l am
not deceiving the people by putting
lies in the headlines" Blease also
took occasion TO deny that he had
pledged his influence to Col. Jasper
Talbert in the Dial-Talbert-T -Tillman
senatorial race. He said that P. H.
MCGOWAN. the Washington corre-
spondent who reported a rumor to
this effect Ought to be called P. H.
Liar" Blease talked much today Of
AN alleged plot to compass his de-
feat by election frauds and was
roundly ridiculed for it by Jones
who said: Why, he is scared to
death, friends. He is grabbing at
straws like drowning man. Up at
Gaffney he even talked of assassina-
ton. Now he is talking about being
counted out. Why, l have not the
slightest anxiety about the election.
He Is ratified; we have him on the
run. gentlemen"
Gov. Blease charged that the State
Democratic executive committee was
working against him by sending an
insufficient number Of blank ballots
into Blease counties. He said j. Man
ley Smith. former sheriff Of Lee
county, had written him that only
1000 tickets had been furnished for
that county. though the enrolment
exceeded 5000. Blease said the
county chairman at Pickens informed
him that for this county 1000 less
than the quantities Of tickets asked
for had been supplied. "Pickens and
Lee" the governor said, "are Blease
counties"
Blease's address was for him un-
usually mild in reference to Judge
Jones. Today the governor gave
most of his time to defense of his ad-
.ninistratiOn and Of his distinctive po-
liticai policies. He said he would
not take brick from the State in
stitutons Of higher learning but they
are being developed to the detriment
OF the common schools. Then he
turned to a comparison Of denomina-
tonal and State colleges to the dis
paragement Of the latter.
'Blease and all his cohorts can not
keep me out of the governors chair
now" said Judge Jones. 1.-The great
heart of South Carolina has been
touched. The hurrahs for Blease have
been getting weaker and weaker
every day-and these howlers-why
1t has only done me good each time
they have hollored me down OF at
tempted to DO so.'' There we're one
or two half-hearted attempts to howl
him down here but Judge Jones easily
overcame them. Those apparently
were led by Jack Powers, a sign
painter, who has been actively work
ing for Blease I'm Greenville.
Judge Jones severely arraigned the
governor for his threats at Charles
ton and Camden, especially the lat
ter, which was that he would make
this Jones crowd sweat blood" if
they should be lucky enough" to
elect their candidate.
A portion of the crowd left when
Biease had finished speaking but
numbers of persons who did not hear
him came up as Judge Jones began
to speak so that the latter candidate
addressed as large an audience as
Pickens had furnished during the
day. At no time. however were more
than $500 persons present Only one
arrest was made and that was for
drunkenness.
speeches of minor candidates All
the campaigners showed signs of fa-
tigue and Of relief at the near end
of the canvass, which has been per-