The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1912-08-09
(Spartanburg Journal.)

pollce force, acting under orders from
those in authority, failed to preserve
any semblance of order Saturday
night when Mayor John p. Grace of
Charleston endeavored to speak to a
tive citizens of Spartanburg and
about one hundred discourteous crea-
lures at the Harris Theatre. After
trying to gain a hearing from $50
o'clock until nearly II the gritty lit
tie mayor of the City by the Sea, with
the statement that Spartanburg had
the poorest police force in the world,
and "this could never happen in
Charleston, quit in disgust and was
only prevented from leaving the
stage by hundreds of admiring friends
who gathered around him to shake his
hand, congratulate him on the excel
lent effort and the tremendous good
accomplished for the overthrow of
Bleaseism in South Carolina. More
votes, it is stated today, were made
for Jones than there would have
been had Grace completed his speech
"Spartanburg sacrificed her de-
cency, her self-respect, her regard for
law and order, her reputation as be-
ing an educational center, her nation
wide fame for being a city of cour-
tesy, all for the sake of the cause of
Jones and the overthrow of Blease,"
said a prominent citizen this morn
ing in speaking of the disgraceful and
disgusting occasion.
Called to "Order."
The meeting opened at $3.50 o'clock,
when Alderman o. w. Leonard, may
or protein, introduced Mr. Grace. 1t
was with extreme difficulty that DR..
Leonard gained a hearing. He man.
aged, through the din of the uproar
of boots and jeers from the balcony
to say:
"In the absence of Mayor Johnson
and as mayor protein, it becomes my
pleasant duty to introduce the mayor
of that historical city, that City by
the Sea. Especially is it pleasant at
Spartanburg are taking active steps
to see that Charleston is one of the
greatest shipping ports in the South.
GAS mayor protein, have not ap-
pointed committee of 100, nor has
the chief of police employed any ex-
ira police force to preserve order, as
some have anticipated such disorder,
but / will ask each and every one to
act as Spartans-as citizens of the
best city in the Piedmont. %
"Let every one present tonight ap-
point himself as a committee of one
to see that he so conducts himself
that Spartanburg will never have
cause to blush for shame. 1t is with
much pleasure that I now introduce
Mayor Grace of Charleston"
Then disgrace after disgrace was
heaped on the fair name of Spartan
burg county. Mayor Grace arose and
was greeted with shouts and ieers
from the little group Of Blease sup
porters, some of whom were appar-
emily drunk, and who congregated in
the balcony of the theatre near the
door and where it was extremely dark
as no lights were burning in that por-
tion of the house.
Cheers for Blease, Jeers for Grace.
"Hurrah for Coley" and eve want
Blease," "who are you?" "Go back to
Charleston" Your eyes are too
close together" and the like resound-
ed from the gallery. Mayor Grace
who was suffering from a cold sever
al times got start, only to be
stopped on the completion of a SEN
tence. He appealed to the men who
live within a stones throw of Cow
pens and Kings Mountain, where
their ancestors fought for liberty, to
accord him the privilege of free
speech, for which their forefathers
had died. Such plea, of course, had
no effect on the men in the gallery
and the jeers continued.
Attacks Blease's Record.
After some time Mayor Grace was
permitted to utter a few sentences,
willis some of the leaders of the
bowling brigade were outside, per-
haps taking another drink. Grace as
sailed Blease's reference to the con-
stitution when the governor is said
by Grace to have said, "To hell with
the constitution" He appealed to
the mill hands on this ground and
pointed out that Ira B. Jones sat on
the supreme bench which upheld a
dscision giving one of their number
a verdict of $1,000 against Lewis w.
Parker's mill because the mill black
listed him and prevented him from
securing work