The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1912-04-10
which society had raised up for It's
protection, and characterized such
action as anarchism.
Ecfnr,.eG 10 IHncl,in,

Judge Jones next took up Gov.
Please's declaration that he would
lead a mob to lynch negro guilty
| of a certain offense. He referred to
the lynchins of three negroes in
Bamberg county for attempting Of
burn a dwelling ard to the lynching
Of two negroes for another offense.
Both of these offenses, he declared,
were different from the one Gov.
Blease had in mind when he made his
declaration about leading mob,
and yet they were the result Of the
dangerous stand the governor had
taken when he declared in favor OF
lynching for certain crime. Judge
| Jones declared that the governor of
State could not afford to voice such
sentiment, for by doing so he let
down the bulwarEs that society had
built up for its protection. The
speaker made strong appeal for the
punishment of crime through the
courts, which is the proper medium.
He referred to the terrible tragedy
! in Hillsville, Va, some days ago, but
pointed out the manner in which Vlr-
sinia had gone about Furnishing the
perpetrators of the foul deed-not By
organizing a lynching bee and start
| ing in pursuit Of the criminals, but
by placing another judge on the
bench, another solicitor at the bar,
another sheriff in the court and sum-
moning a grand jury and handing
down indictments against the assas-
sins, while officers Of the law were
out hunting them down in the noun
tains. He cited this as an example
of the enforcement of law in the
proper way.
DIcase's Pardon Record.
The next line upon which Judge
Jones spoke was Gov. Blease's s pardon
record, and this is where the speaker
made his greatest impression upon
the audience He stated that since
Gov. Blease's Inauguration he had
pardoned and paroled something like
$40 prisoners. He stated that the
constitution provides for board Of
pardons, to whom shall be referred
all applications for clemency. This
board, he said, is intended as an ad-
visory council for the governor,
though the chief executive can go con-
trary to the recommendations or sug-
gestions of the board.
"Of these $40 convicts pardoned
and paroled," stated Judge Jones,
l"Gov. Blease did not once call the
pardon board for advice or assistance
in determining the merits Of the case
at hand. I see now by the newspa-
pers where he has referred some sew
enty or eighty applications for par
dons to the pardon board. What
| does this mean? Does it mean that
| have made it too hot for him."
The speaker asked why had the
governor pardoned John Black, Wash
Hunter, George Hasty and pickpock-
cts and others, and why didn't he re-
fer these cases to the pardon board.
He asked if there ever was a COVER
nor under the sun who would dare
pardon one Of his clients without re-
| ferring the matter to the pardon
board. And yet this is what Gov.
Blease did when he pardoned Wash
Hunter. He characterized such ac-
ton as Bleaseism. "What is the use
Of court cachinery,' asked Judge
Jones, If by stroke OF his pen the
governor can practically empty the
penitentiary
What Of the Widow.
Here the speaker referred to the
side of the case that is put up by
Gov. Biease-the pathetic side-that
OF the wife and children of the con-
vict who are in sore need Of his care
and protection. "But what of the
widow and the fatherless children Of
the victim? Why open one ear to
the pleading of the people Of the
criminal and close the other ear to
cries of the widow and the children
of the victim? There is the cry that
Justice be done. and it should be
needed more quickly than the cry for
mercy from the other side.
The speaker then asked what
would be the effect upon the State
when all these criminals were thrown
back upon society. The power Of
pardon is trust" he declared, "and
Gov. Blease has abused that power.
Here is bank cashier holding pos
ition of trust A beggar comes along
and asks for help, and the cashier
reaches his hand into the cash draw
er and hands out S. to him. 1t is not
the cashiers money. but the banks
money that is handed out-that
which belongs to the stockh olders.
What shall you say Of that cashier?
Can you recommend that act? No
indeed, for he has abused his trust.
Gov. Blease has been put in the Of
fee of the chief executive, and an the
wholesale pardoning Of criminals he
has abused his trust as much as the
bank cashier who would hand out the
stockholders money to beggars. II
were governor I would grant par
don if in my best judgment and the
judgment Of the board of pardons 1t
was a. good case. would grant the
narGoo REGARDLESS OF the mum Der OF
signatures on the petition, whether
there was one or many. But before |
would stain the high Office OF COVER
nor b. using the pardon power to fur
ther my own interests I would suffer
both hands laid on block and chop
ped off with dull axe. -
ibue os Veto Power.
Judge Jones next spoke of Gov.
Rlease's abuse Of the veto power. He
referred to the governors declaration