The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1912-08-21
Gov. Blease Then Refused
to Spe ak.
HE LATER SPOKE
AT COURT HOUSE
When the Crowd Howled Down Judge
Jones Gov. Blease Claimed that a
Part of the Jones Crowd was Max
Ing the Racket and Said He Would
not Speak Either.

eoh' AuS' If.-lne greatest
bowling down yet accorded a speaker
in the present political campaign was
that given Judge Jones today by An
derson county voters, or an element of
them. Judge Jones made four sepa-
rate efforts to begin his speech but
none was of any avail
Governor Blease, Acting County
Chairman S. d. Pearman and "Citi-
zen" Josh Ashley all made efforts to
quiet the crowd, but the crowd would
not be qiuetded. A well groomed citi-
zen said after the meeting that he
had heard many of the howlers say
before the meeting started that they
came for the purpose of preventing
Judge Jones from speaking They
succeeded
Blease Didn't Speak.
But neither did Governor Blease de-
liver his speech, for he said unless
the crowd would hear Judge Jones he
would not talk. The governor did
say few words and took hand pri-
mary thus showing that a large part
of those who put up their hands were
in that section of the crowd from
whence had come the bowling. The
meeting was adjourned, the days
event breaking up in, CONSERVATION.
Pandemonium prevailed for a while
and the crowd so packed the speak
ers' stand that the stand came near
collapsing.
Hand Primary Failure.
About 5000 people heard the can
didates and it was evident that the
Blease sentiment was strong though
when the hand primary was taken less
than half the hands went up. There
was large part of the crowd which
could not hear the governor call for
the vote" so great was the conster-
nation. Good order had been main
tanned during the meeting up until
the introduction of Judge Jones.
Judge Jones was announced and the
crowd began its racket There was
a continual uproar for many minutes
and Judge Jones folded his arms,
placed his knee upon the railing in
front of him and waited. The chair
man demonstrated with the howlers,
but could not quiet them
Governor Blease rose to his feet.
louder shout went up and then
lulled. The governor asked the crowd
to hear the speaker respectfully and
said that he would not speak unless
udge Jones was given a hearing.
BleaSe's Charge.
"You Jones men up in the trees
and a few scattered around are hol-
lering for Jones to make it appear
he was howled down and to arouse
sympathy for him." said the governor
and pointed to several men in a tree
and shouted: you Jones fellows,
shut your mouths"
Judge Jones, above the din, said a
few words, urging good citizens to
grant the right of free speech, but
the noise was renewed more loudly,
and he sat down.
Four Attempts.
Four times did he start to talk and
as many times sat down without hav-
ing been given resp ectful hearing.
Josh Ashley made al Il s)peal to
the crowd, adding: "You won't hear
marry one If you don't hear Jones. Be
quiet fellows" But this likewise was
in vain.
The mayor OF the city, L. G. HOlle-
man, also made an attempt to quiet
the crowd, but his effort likewise
failed Governor Blease was heard
to tell Judge Jones that he thought
both factions were making the noise,
and at one time the governor and
Judge Jones had word tilt as to the
element Of the crowd that was Great
ing the disorder.
A policeman stepped up, but the
candidates had no intentionS of an en-
counter. Governor Blease tured to
the newspaper correspondentSNand de-
manded that they tell the truth In their