The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-08-13

tiS
ernor, according to Judge Jones,
should examine carefully every law
passed and sent to him for inspection,
but Gov. Blease, during the recent
session, allowed 172 measures to be-
come laws without either approving
or disappearing them. "Yet this" he
exclaimed, "is your great governor,
who discharges so we'll his sworn du-
ties"
Once more Judge Jones challenged
Blease hackers in the audience to
mention one thing that Gov. Blease
had done for the poor man. Failing
to get single response elsewhere, he
said he could ask GOV. Blease him
self when his turn came to speak to
answer the question There was one
thing he recalled that Blease hat
dine for the poor man. This, was to
seek the passage of an amendment
whereby the public schools would be
barred against the children of the
poor man who failed or neglected to
pay his poll tax Criticising the gov
ernor for evoking the commissions
of all the notaries public, the speake2
said the excuse given by the governor
for this action was his desire to get
rid of the negro notaries.
'And here's where the niger
comes in again. said Judge Jones.
'He is an adept at exciting prejudice
and arousing passion
Judge Jones denied strongly that he
was the candidate of the corpora
tions or the newspapers, but said that
if the newspapers were supporting him
he was not ashamed of their help, but
proud of it.
There are great differences, you
know, in newspapers. If you see it in
the State or the News and Courier
or in the Spartanburg newspapers, it's
a lie, but if you see it in Mr.. Boards
paper, the News-Scimitar, of Green
wood, it's the truth straight from
heaven. Yes, it's so if you see it in
the little sheet that is being sent
broadcast over the State by this man.,
the bodyguard of the governor, who
goes armed"
Turning to Mr.. Beard, who sat on
the stand, at the governors right
hand, Judge Jones asked: "Are you
not armed?" Mr.. Beard did not reply.
Judge Jones persisted "Will you
not say whether you are ar:ned?"
Mr.. Beard slightly inclined his head,
and said: What authority have you
to ask?"
Judge Jones turned again to the
audience. "He does not deny it," he
said.
"Are you armed?" asked a voice.
'No," Judge Jones replied, and held
up his coat, turning completely
around. "No, but please excuse me.
I forgot that l had in my pocket a
little corkscrew | show it to you be-
cause if 1 should happen to pull it out
accidentally, Gov. Blease would swear
I was about to assassinate him. Over
at Gaffney yesterday he made a great
to-do about his fear Of assassination
and said if he went others would go
with him; which meant that his body
guard, Mr.. Beard, with his concealed
weapon, would make others go with
him. The reason why I exhibit this
corkscrew is that the governor is not
scared of a corkscrew. All this talk Of
assassination is the veriest rot. Why,
1t never occurred to me that there was
any danger in speaking anywhere in
South Carolina. 1t was slander on
the good people of Cherokee county to
suggest that he was in peril of assassi-
nation at Gaffney."
Mr.. Beard, in conversation with
newspaper men after the meeting,
drew from his hip pocket an automatic
pistol, when asked if he did go armed,
and said he was a properly constituted
peace officer, having special instruc-
tons to keep order on the stand at
campaign meetings He exhibited a
commission as deputy chief consta-
ble," signed by Gov. Blease and bear
ing date of July Is, 1912.
"Let it be understood" said Judge
Jones, that it is easy to commit crime
in South Carolina and easy to procure