The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-07-26
CAMPAIGN MEETING AT
WINNSBORO WAS SPICY
GOVERNOR MAKES PROPOSITION
IN STOTHART NATTER.
Jones Applies "Lie" to Statement of
Governor, Who Says He Won't
Hurt "Decrepit Man."

Wjnnsboro, July 22.--ReplSing tc
the charge, made by Judge Jones that
Governor Blease is dereiict in his duty
as governor, and does not held prop
er regard for the good name of South
lCarolina, in retaining in office his ap-
pointee. Chief Constable Ben H. Stot-
hart, of Charleston, against whom
charges of accepting graft have been
made, the governor, at the State cam
pagin meeting here today, made a
proposition in the following statement:
eff they will get two men in Char
lesion, whom R. Goodwin Rhett will
jsay he would believe on oath, to say
that Stothart has received any graft, l
will remove him from office at once.
Now, that's fair proposition, isn't it?
And Goodwin Rhett is no friend OF
mine, but he is an honorable man."
Judge Jones holds that sufficient
evidence has been submitted to the
legislative committee to constitute a
prima facie case, AMI, in effect,
charges that the governor in continu-
ing Stothart in Office is aligned with
grafters.
Governor Blease prefaced the above
proposition by saying:
'I suppose ought to be turned out
of office because of the falsehoods told
on me. Stothart has had no chance
to defend himself"
Another interesting feature of the
Injecting was the hand primary taken
by Governor Blease. Declaring that
the. newspapers had misrepresented
the sentiment of the crowd at Chester;
stating that crowd Of 1.G00 people
had heard him and only about one
third as many had heard Judge Jones,
and that the papers had credited Judge
Jones with a great ovation Governor
Blease. to satisfy his personal desire;
asked all his friends in the crowd to
hold up their hands.
AS they responded, Judge Jones,
who was on the stand, arose, and
glancing over the audience, remark
ed: "About a third of the crowd hold
ing up their hands,
Judge Jones says onlg third OF
the crowd are holding their hands
up," said Governor Blease, and he ask
ed his friends to hold Up their hands
again. AS nearly accurately as this
correspondent could estimate from
both tests, barely half of the crowd
RESPONDED to the governors call.
/ This was the occasion of consider
able surprise to several on the stand,
for the gathering here was at first
thought to be easily a Blease crowd,
especially in view Of the hearty re-
ception given him upon his appear
ance.
Another noticeable fact was that
that Judge Jones was accorded but
isparse applause when he began, but
at his retirement received hearty and
general commentator in the form OF
cheers and hand-clapping.
There is no dispute on the point that
when the governor made the fur fly
there was louder cheering for him, but
general distribution and participation
is quite another question. Further
more, the Governor did not receive a
rousing ovation when he appeared,
but it was not long before he had 'em
whooped up
Jones Gets Hot.
The lie was passed at to-day's meet
ing, Judge Jones twice saying at the
conclusion of statements by the Gov
ernor that's a lie." However, this
was not productive of any trouble, nor
even any considerable degree OF ex-
citement. Governor Please replied
that he was not going to hurt; "this old
decrepit man." Chairman Mcdonald
had arisen, but Governor Blease pro-
ceeded with but a moments Interrupt
ton.
in charging that Judge Jones had as
Fjustice and chief justice rendered de-
cisions favorable to the corporations,
the governor said:
"Ben Abney megaphoned through
Son Charlie to the ear of Pa Jones for
what he wanted, and he got it,
/ That's lie," interrupted Judge
Jones.
Governor Blease either did not hear