The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-12-11
BlEAsE'S VIEWS REpUO|ATED.
CONFERENCE OF GOVERNORS
DECLARE FOR LAW AND
ORDER.
Bieasc Declares He Will Go to Sem
ate and Be Famous Figure When
Present Governors Are Forgotten
I'm Private Life-StOrmy Session of
Gathering.

Richmond, Va. Dec. 6.-At the
close of a stormy session, which on
account of personal remarks and de-
fiant utterances several times threat
ened to assume most serious aspect
the conference of governors this aft
ernoon passed resolutions offered by
Gov. Mann Of Virginia. administering
a rebuke of Gov. Cole L. Blease of
South Carolina for his utterances re-
garding lynch law.
| Gov. Blease openly defied the con-
ference and dared it to expel him.
With all the vocal tricks Of oratory of
which he is an undoubted master, he
challenged the conference to do its
worst. hurling scorn at it's members
with all the bitterness and scathing
sarcasm at his command. He declared
that IT made no difference to him
what the conference did. He had al
ready been elected governor of South
Carolina and would be elected to the
United States senate in 1915, he as
serted.
when you are forgotten by even
your own people and obscure In the
shades OF private life, Blease OF South
Carolina will be known from one end
OF this great country to the other"
he shouted, "and the plaudits OF the
nation will De ringing in his ears"
Vainly Gov. Vessey of South Da-
kota, temporary chairman, and Gov.
w. w. Kitchin of North Carolina at
tempted to divert the issue. but the
conference apparently indignant that
such remarks should have been ut
terec by one of its members, by an
overwhelming vote adopted the reso.
lutions.
Ihe storm broke when Gov. Emmet
O'Neal Of Alabama arose and Of
fcred resolutions putting the confer
once on record against lynch law and
mob rule. He declared that the re-
marks of certain member Of the
Conference had gone forth to the
world. and that, inasmuch as the re-
marks were made during the conduct
u regular Session of the conference
aad were OF such a nature as 10 be
Ncfant ~ law and order and repug-
naDt TO law-abiding citizens. the con-
ference should without delay repu-
diate them as contrary to the views II
the conference"
He declared that he represented a
state which had a large negro popu-
lati'n. but it had courts, he said,
which could punish criminals. He de-
MED that it could ever be necessary
to license lynch law. and. looking full
at Gov Blease, asserted that he did
not believe any law-abiding State
would countenance 1t.
Gov. O'Neals resolution was sec
onded by Gov. Gilchrist of Florida,
who warmly stated that the confer
Blease's remarks to go unnoted." and
was for the immediate passage OF the
resolutions.
Amid calls from Chairman Vessey
To be in order, Gov. Kitchen Of North
Carolina took the floor. He argued
with great earnestness for the de-
feat OF the resolution. He said that
they were aimed directly at a member
Of the conference and tended to
throttle free speech and the express
sion of individual views.
Gov. Mann. "the host" offered a
substitute to Gov. O'Neal's resolutions.
Gov. O'Neal at once accepted 1t and
called for a vote.
Gov. Baldwin OF Connecticut moved
that the substitute be laid on the
table.
Shouts of "No. No. came from
every part OF the hall.
Pass the resolutions, pass 'em.
pass 'em; what do care?" shouted
Gov. Bleasc.
| Kisses came from the gallery
chairman Ncsscy raped for order.
THE vote on the motion TO lay the
resolutions on the table will be
| taken he announced, "and the sec
| tary VIII please call the roll"
IL was Immediately seen that the
conference had no intention Of tabling
the resolutions. Several governors
took occasion to explain their votes.
declaring that they stood for and
would always stand for reputation
uf mob rule.