The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1912-08-16

wise ana tne voters nave not forgot
gen how he favored the unloading of
100000 debt on the state for a
new State house.
Will Blease lose Charleston? He
will.
The blindtiger element in Charles
ton and the political ring rulers of
that municipality will stand for al
most anything except what is known
as "doubledealing and double cross
ing" The citizens of that cultured
community have been doubledealt and
doublecrossed. That is the reason
John P. Grace the mayor if Charles
ton is today waging bitter fight on
Blease. Bear this in mind, Judge
Jones has nothing to do with the
Grace-Blease affair. John P. Grace is
member of the staff of the govern
or. Whatever might have been said
or done has nothing to do with the
campaign of Judge Jones.
This much is certain Judge Jones
will receive the vote cf the anti-Grace
faction in. Charleston. This much
is certain that Mayor Grace will
swing every possible vote to Judge
Jones. To split the Grace vote would
give Jones majority in Charleston.
Further bear this in mind. Elmore
Martin, the sheriff of Charleston
county, and a political power, has not
much love for the governor.
Gov. Blease has expressed great
confidence in Ben H. Stothart, his
chief constable in Charleston county.
'Stothart is the personal representa-
tive of the governor. Stothart has
been directly charged with receiving
graft money from the blindtigers. He
refused to testify when placed on the
stand on the grounds that it "might
lncriminate him." Several days ago
he wrote letter to Blease in which
he protested his innocence. The sit
uation is doing Gov. Blease a great
deal of harm. The question arises,
Will Governor Blease dare to dismiss
Stothart? Will Stothart tell all that
he knows? He may be forced to or
be held in contempt when he appears
before the legislative committee.
In the last election Gov. Blease
carried Richland county by 2,544 to
1923. He will not carry Richland
county in this election. There are IL
men in the race for the legislature
and seven of them are out and out
Jones men. There is serious doubts
as to whether George r. Rembert,
the styled Blease leader in the house,
will be returned. He has lost ground
fast in the last several weeks and Is
still losing it.
The general opinion expressed is
that Judge Jones will carry Spartan
burg county by substantial major
ity. The disgraceful affair in the
Harris theatre several nights ago has
caused all Jones men in that county
to get busy. That affair was a prac-
tical demonstration of Bleaseism in
action. 1t has served notice on the
people and shows just what the citi-
zens of the State may expect. In the
last election Blease received 1850
votes to Featherstone's 4,544. Gov.
Blease has done nothing to gain votes
in Spartanburg and there is no reason
to believe that he will cut down the
anti-Blease vote.
Greenville county will give Judge
Jones large majority. In the 1910
primary Blease received 2,214 votes to
Mr.. Featherstone 1886 in Greenville.
Many things have happened since that
time. In the meantime the governor
has incurred the enmity of G. H. Ma
hon, former mayor of Greenville;
Adam Welborn a we'll known attorney
and j. N. King and o. M. Watson.
Mr.. King is well known throughout
Greenville county and has a large
following. He was at work for Blease
in that county when insulted by the
governor. Both Mr.. Welborn and Mr..
Mahon have large followings in
Greenville and these men will not be
found in the Blease column.
The big fight for votes is going to
be over in Anderson county. In the
last election the vote stood, Blease,
3,497 and Featherstone 2,819. The
friends of Judge Jones have organ
lied bureau in Anderson and will
make an aggressive campaign. In
Anderson county Bleaseism means
Ashleyism. Josh Ashley is the leader
of the house of Ashley and that same
family which is large in numbers and
influence in that county is working
for Blease. If Josh Ashley is re-
turned to the legislature Blease will
carry Anderson county and if Blease
does not carry Anderson then JOSH
Ashley will he left at home Rlaasa