Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1912-01-17
BLEASE ON THE PRESS.
DcnOunCes Editors to Legislature us
Lot of Dirty Liars.

Columbia, Jan. 10.-In a special
message to the General Assembly to-
day accompanying his veto of q bill
passed at the last session of the Leg
islature, permitting newspapers in
case Of libel suits, to plead in mitiga-
ton Of damages the fact that correc-
tion Of the libel complained Of had
been made, Governor Blease bitterly
assailed the press Of South Carolina
and was especially ferocious in his
assaults upon the Columbia State
and It's editor, although he branded
the whole tribe Of newspaper men in
this State as a dirty set of liars.
The message, with exhibits attach
ed, covers fifteen typewriter pages.
The word Gle" appears some 80
times, "liar" times, and intermixed
at frequent Intervals are such choice
epithets as "falsehood," "vitupera-
tion," SANDER" "scurrilous at
tacks," "dirty," "cowardly," "assas-
sin-like," Slime" Infamous"
"blackguard," low-down," "unscru-
pulous," malicious" and contempt
ible."
The Governor recites long list Of
stories which he says have been
printed about him in one newspaper
or another during the last year, such,
for example, as the Winthrop Col
lege matter, the incident of the al
legged insult to young lady, the al
legged Gaming Of negro in Cleveland,
the liquor constable who was accused
of selling liquor, and in particular the
matter Of the Cromer story published
by the Columbia State on the eve Of
the second primary in the campaign
Of 1909. All Of these he pronounces
dirty lies.
"rhere are many other infamous
and dirty lies that could call your
attention to-" says the message, "but
these, feel sure, are sufficient to
show you that these dirty editors,
assassin-like, strike their victim in
the dark and from behind, and then,
when seen on the streets, dodge, to
keep from meeting the man whom
they have lied about; and, Of course,
he who is thus insulted, cannot 20
into the office and shoot the dirty ed
itor, for your courts hold that no
words will Justify blow; and here
you wish to allow a man to publish a
lie and have seven days in which to
cool off and apologize for it, after all
the injury has been done, and when
they cannot require or have all par
ties who read the lie, to read the
apology; hence, the injury is done
and cannot be remcdied by apology;
yet, if a man shoots another in sud
den heat and passion, after reading
one Of the dirty ISLANDERS, your be-
loved and highly learned courts say
that it is 'manslaughter,' or possibly,
as no words Justify blow, 1T is muir
DER"
The shooting Of \. u. Gonzales by
Lieutenant Governor Tillman is re-
ferrcd to, although no names are
called, and the Governor paints a
picture of the prisoner, following a
verdict Of not guilty, "lcaving the
court house with the endorsement OF
the law Of his State as having done
we'll for himself, his family and his
fellow citizens"
Reference is made to a "ncwspaper
trust embracing the Charlotte OBJ
server, the Columbia State and vari-
Gus up-country dailies; some Of the
statements made by Governor Blease
being unprintable under the decisions
Of South Carolina courts.
The message, after being read, to-
gether with all the papers, was re-
ferred to the judiciary committee of
the House, which is expected to re-
port tomorrow morning. It IS be-
lieved that the committee will rec
ommend that all of the message re-
ferring to personalities and kindred
topics be expunged from the House
journal, and only a bare statement
be printed.