The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-06-28

accepting larger per diems for service
in the legislature than was consistent
with such a policy, Governor Blease
said: "In 1908, while a member Of
the senate, an adjourned session was
called for the purpose of electing a
successor to Senator Latimer; pro-
vision was made to pay the members
of the house and senate for this extra
session. I took the position that the
law allowed the legislators a certain
amount for per diem and that they had
no right whatever to any additional
pay, and that when they came back
they should not receive extra compen-
sation, and when the same was advo-
Gated by Mr.. Mauldin I answered him
in debate, but was voted down in the
senate by vote of % to Z, (see page
S43. Senate Journal, 1909, the seven
on the honor roll being Applet, Black,
Blease, Crouch, Griffin, Kelley and
Talbert
Sent Check Back.
.Howeyer, we were defeated, but
when my check for the extra compen-
sation was sent to me. I returned it to
the Office from whence it came, and
presume it is now there. l never &C
cepted or received one cent for my ser
vices rendered at that extra session of
the legislature, but paid my expenses
out of my individual pocket, as will be
proven by the books in the Office OF
the comptroller general and State
treasurer, and no one was in better
position to know this than Ira b.
Jones. When he got mad and resigned
as Speaker I was not then a member
of the house and the impression which
he attempted to make that I had taken
extra compensation was misleading"
Senator Tillman's name was brought
into the debate today by Governor
Blease, in reference to which of the
two candidates the senator was sup
porting for governor. The letter was
written to number OF citizens OF
Woodruff, replying to an inquiry, to
the effect that, as repeatedly stated IN
press dispatches, Senator Tillman is
hands off in this contest unless some
thing unforeseen arises. The clause
"unless something which has not yet
been brought out against Blease
arises" was caught in the reading OF
the letter. The governor read this let
ter in reply to a rumor that he says
is being circulated by Jones men that
Tillman was supporting Judge Jones
in this race.
Tillman Neutral, Says Blease.
Senator Tillman is not now support
ing either candidate, declared Cover
nor Blease, "but if he were supporting
one he would favor the man who is
for white supremacy"
Governor Blease today referred to
the employees relief system as provld-
ed for in a bill introduced in the leg
islature by ]. Willard Ragsdale, of
this county, which Judge Jones de-
clared unconstitutional and upon
which he said "Mr. Justice Corpora
ton Jones" was reversed by the Unit
ed States supreme court" This refer
ence to Mr.. Ragsdale here in Florence,
in connection with measure in behalf
of the laboring men, was of special in
terest, because of Governor Blease's
charge at Bishopville that Mr.. Rags
dale, a bank president, was among
those in control of the Jones State
Democratic convention, which Cover
nor Blease has referred to as a cor
poration convention and
against the interests of the poor,
working men of the State.
Again today charging that in effect
Judge Jones had voted to make the
white women of the State ride with
negroes, the governor employed parti-
cularly lucid language in describing
conditions. There were a number of
ladies in the boxes close to the stage
and the governor pointed to them as
he told of the awfulness of making
"our pretty women ride close to or by
a big buck niger, or a sinking niger
wench, often using the same drinking