Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-07-19

pardon until after the election. they
will get after me about 1t.
Mr.. Porter: But it should be shown
that the circumstances are extenuat-
ing. wouldn't that make a difference?
On Securing Petitions.
Mr.. Nichols: Oh, we'll, don't mean
to give up hope Here's what: Get a
petition in circulation, get 1t signed
we can get the petition signed all
right, a great many people here Will
sign 1t for the simple reason that
want them to. Blease don't care a
damn who signs the petition, all he
wants Is the petition signed; he knows
the money influence Is against him
anyhow. I'll take the petition, send
it out and get 1000 names in week,
and that's all the evidence Blease
wants. These are the people VINO
vote for him, apd he knows these
other people-he amt caring damn
for them-and they will be justified
in signing their names, you know,
they are the people who elected me,
you know; so 1 wouldn't go down
there without a petition of that kind,
you know.
Mr.. Porter: No, I wouldn't want
over with him, place yourself In this
position, that there's a good deal in
volved here
Mr.. Nichols: Here's what I would
tell Blease, If was down there with
this petition, I would tell Blease
heres the facts and circumstances;
this man was convicted in Spartan
burg, and he was sentenced for this
thing; it was all one and the same act:
Now, II means good fee to me II
there's a pardon; 1 think there's par
~ that ought to be granted, and
some l don't think" They thinK
Blease Is taking graft, that's damn
lie. Blease has never received cent
since he has been governor. But WIN
me, I'm practicing law, and cases
come to me and have to make fees
out of it; he wouldn't take anything
himself, though. Now, I know him;
Blease says "I'll tell you what I'll do,
think your pardon ought TO De
Granted" and that's all. 1t might be
that could 60 up there and save you
a trip down here.
Mr.. Porter: There's splendid SER
vice between New York and Chicago;
it's only eighteen hours from wash
ington to Chicago
Mr.. Nichols: Are you going to New
York?
Mr.. Porter: And it may be that 1
could catch you down there.
Mr.. Nichols: That's what l say; are
you going to New York?
Mr.. Porter: No, I'm expecting to go
to Chicago, but 1 might go over 10
New York, and it's only a short ride
from New York to Washington. or IT
may be that you could come to New
York to see me?
Mr.. Nichols: When are you going
tonight? You ought to leave this
afternoon, if you're going to Chicago.
you take the Carolina Special, thats
the best train, the Carolina Special
YOU can get a through sleeper to
Chicago, without change OF cars
leave here at 4.15 this afternoon.
Mr.. Porter: Where could l reach
you? Where do you stop in Washing
ton?
Mr.. Nichols: I'm going from here
to Baltimore. In Washington I stop
at the--House, I expect, but you'll
find me at the Albemarle Hotel In
Baltimore.
Mr.. Porter: That's so, you're going
to Baltimore instead of Washington.
Mr.. Nichols: Yes I've got brother
there in the hospital, and I'm going TO
stop off there and see him. Here's the
way feel about it; I got letter ask
ing me to come up there to be on the
ground, and I know that he knows
that in case-we're for Wilson, our
delegation is. and they'll vote for him
on the first ballot and as long as mes
got chance, but after that we are un-
instructed.
Mr.. Porter: I could reach you by
wire at the Albemarle, at Baltimore,
could I?
Mr.. Nichols: Yes, sir, at any time al
ter Monday morning, I'll be there If go
to Chicago or New York to meet you,
I'll be there when the convention is
over, but If you find that ylou can't get
back to New York, If you could wire me
there, why it might be possible that l
could leave-heres the only reason l
don't know whether ] could leave or not
I wouldn't leave the convention II l
thought I could do Mr.. Harmon any
good but I could see in a day or two
whether he's got chance, and II ne
doesn't stand a chance, I'll go out, and
If I can fix things for him before !
leave, then I'll go out. but If 1 could
do him any good then, of course j
wouldn't go.
Mr.. Porter: Then, in that case.
I'll keep i'm touch with you and we
may meet in Chicago.
Possibilities of Pardon.
Mr.. Nichols: Well, I'll tell you this,
Mr.. Porter, just as / say, you are much
more familiar with the case than l
am. but I don't want you to overlook
the fact that whatever is to be done
must be done right away. think
Blease will be elected. I don't know
whether he will or not. but in my
| Judgment in politics, he will be, and
| IL he is elected. he's going to keep on.
he isn't going to change his tactics al
all, he's going to pardon who he feels
like If he's defeated. that man won't
get out there in ten years.
Mr. Porter: Oh, / believe with your
influence with the governor-you un-
derstand him thoroughly-and 1 think
you might get up some circumstances
Mr.. Nichols Well, I think this: I
think If Blease would say Here, I'm
going to grant this pardon until after
the election"-I think he would prom
| ise me that-we can count on him.
| If he is elected, to give this pardon.
| Now, I've got a case right now, where
fellow escaped from down there, he
was sent up for life, and he has been
out five years and served about ten
years; Blease told me that matters
all right, and he will pardon this man,
he's fugitive from justice, I'll par
don him If you say so, but If | pardon
him before the election. they'll say
I'm pardoning fugitive from justice.
He don't care what they say, if he feels
like it, he can pardon them.
Mr.. Porter: OF course, I'm not a
man that expects something for moth
ing, and If you think we'll of it. we
might make a suitable donation to his
campaign fund. OF course, We all
know that these elections are eXpcn-
sive, and require the expenditure OF
more or less money.
| Mr. Nichols: No, he wouldn't dc
that. he wouldn't accept cent. OF
course. in politics i'm this county. you
have got to use money, that's all there
Is about that. At that last election
RleaSe of course, got up his campaign
fund and | wrote him and told him
about things he wrote and told me to
] draw on his for whatever is necessary
| and use il for whatever | thought best
' All the funds that was necessary, put
up myself. so l wouldn't let him pay
a nickel. and | really paid all the eX-
| penses of his campaign in this county
at that time. and I'm going to spend
some more this time, I'm not going tC
let him do it. but I'm going to do It
I'm not going to let him do it at all.
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