Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-04-16
TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 1919.
BLEASE IN ANDERSON.
Governor Makes a Warm Speech From
Court House Steps.

court F1ouSo SSSPs.
Anderson special Of April 13 to
Columbia State: More than 1000 vot-
ers Of Anderson county heard Cover
nor Blease speak from the court house
steps this afternoon when he severely
arraigned the members Of the COM
mission appointed to investigate the
Ansel dispensary board, and when he
criticised the legislature, paying par
ticular respects. to State Senator Sui
livan and some of the members of the
lower house from this county.
After an invocation made by Rev.
w. T. Myers, Of Pelzer, the governor
began, touching upon the 1911 gen.
eral assembly. He stated that tnat
body appropriated one-half million
dollars more than they arranged to
collect. He told of the savings he mac
made to the state; that he had turned
back into the treasury more than So,-
600 Of the governors contingent fund'
and that the revocation OF the COM
mission Of the notary public not only
put out of office a great many lncom.
petent men and negroes, put ma tina. ~
had brought $4,000 into the treasury.
He told of his vetoes OF the 1911 gem
eral assembly, whereby the taxpayers
were saved $4,000. He figures that
he saved the people more than $l0O,-
900 during 1911.
An Anti-BIease Cabal.
Governor Blease said that when
the 1912 general assembly met that
an organization was perfected, the op-
ject to defeat his reelection 10 tne
governors chair. He stated that that
was the sole purpose, and the result
was that not one law was passed Wnlch
will benefit all the people OF South
Carolina. He said that F. Nd. cary
Nnnntv dele
CATION, stated on the floor Of the house
that all he wanted to know about
measure is whether 1t has the approx
al of the governor and If 1t did ne
was against 1t.
The governor said he was elected
on a platform to cut down eXtraVa-
gance, and that the county delega-
tions were elected to assist him IN
holding down expenses, but that corn
Iiouor and cigars that were passed
around were instrumental in keeping
him from getting their assistance
some time.
Governor Blease said that he has
at all times stood for an Impartial
government; a government for all tne
people: that some people didn't like
him, and that was because he would
not submit to being bossed by them.
He said he had been governor or the
state for nearly two years now ana
that he will be governor for the next
two years.
He explained his side of the con-
troyersy over the appointment of spe-
cial Judges, claiming that his motive
in refusing to commission some other
person when circuit judge was dls-
engaged was to save expenses. An
derson. county has just had special
term of court, and a circuit judge
was saved more than $3.50, because
1t would have cost approximately that
much IL a special judge had been
commissioned.
Schools and the Negroes.
The governor stated that he favors
building up the schools, but is unal-
terably opposed to the taxes OF the
white people going to educate the
negroes. He read from a pamphlet
compiled by Prof. Tate, whom the
speaker said was no friend of his, In
which was stated that 193,4OO ne
groes are going to school In South
spent on their education. Professor
Tate in the pamphlet stated, that
when he enters the school rooms he
often thinks that the state is wasting
too much money on the negroes.
Governor Blease said that the edi-
tor of the State, whom he styled as
a Spanish Cuban half-breed," Is do
ing more harm among the negroes
than education Is doing. He said that
when the white men arise to the de-
fenSe of the women OF the state that
the editor of the State makes the
negro brute out hero, and calls the
white men murderers. The speaker
says that such endorsement as that
encourages the negroes in their devil
ment. In his opinion when the edi-
tor writes such an article that the edi-
tor is just as bad as the negro who
has been lynched. But, then, negro
blood always sticks to negro blood,
said the governor "As for me, II
the commission Of the governors Of
flee stands between me and the protec-
ton of the women Of our state, then
1 will tear up my commission and go
10 their defense" he declared.
The governor next referred to the
Rucker bill introduced year or so
ago to regulate the negro secret So
cieties. He declared that negro So
cieties were responsible for the kill
ing of Bryson in Laurens county, and
for the burning Of three houses at
Olar, which resulted in the lynching
of three negroes.
Winthrop's Money.
The governor wants to know what
Winthrop college is going to do with
the $4,000 it Is going to get this
year, $4,000 of which comes from
the Peabody board. He made it plain
that he is a friend of Winthrop, but
he thinks that the rural schools,
which exist only for four or five
months with a scarcity of teachers
are more in need of money than
Winthrop.
Afraid to lmpeach.
The governor then rasped the leg
iSlature, saying that everything in the
power of the members was done to
humiliate him and defeat his re-elec-
ton He said that there was some
talk OF the legislature impeaching
him. but it wasn't attempted because
the body was composed Of set OF
cowardly liars who were afraid. He
said that the general assembly is be-
ing led by two North Carolinians,
and that one of these has been made
independently rich off the fees receiv-
d from the graft cases. He says
that he expects to tell the people Of
this mans county Chesterfield, re-
ferring to Mr.. Stevenson) during the
campaign this summer Just what sort
of man they are sending to represent
them. IF the people of the state
WOulu Senu uOWn 10 SOlulnDld gen
eral assembly composed of Josh Ash
leys we would have a general assem-
bly, worth having" said the speaker.
The governor said that some peo-
pie criticised him for refusing to ap-
point officers recommended by the
senate. "Of course 1 did. Have you
ever heard of the Lords kissing the
hand of the devil? l will not appoint
an enemy of mine to public office"
Governor Blease paid his respects
to Senator Sullivan, who, he said, did
not like him (Blease) because he de-
feated his nephew (Featherstone) for
the governOrship. He said that Mr..
Sullivan wanted his nephew to be
elected so he (Sullivan) could go
down and occupy the bridal chamber
of the governors mansion and be
BOSS Sullivan" He said that the
senator is one of the commission in
ting graft that hp