The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-07-23
TAKES UP "CHARGES"
FROM FIELDER ET AL.
HIS REPLY WITH
NUMBER OF AFFEDAVITS.
Goes Into Motives Behind the InSinua-
tons and So.Called Charges at
Augusta Hearing.

Following is the full text of Cover
nor Blease's address at the Chester
campaign meeting, in which he sub
mitted his reply to the so-called "tes-
timony" taken at the Augusta session
of the dispensary commission:
Fellow South Carolinians:
On Friday, July IL, and on Satur-
day, July 13, committee, appointed
by the State legislature, commonly
known as the dispensary Investigating
committee, held meetings in the city
of Augusta, Ga. The acts of that
committee and the matters brought
out before it have been sent broad
cast over your State, and to all other
parts of the United States as well.
Every daily newspaper N South Car
olina, and practically all the weekly
newspapers, have carried accounts OF
the meetings held on those two days.
In a number Of newspapers my name
has been carried in large headlines
headlines not setting forth even the
truth of the reports appearing In the
papers themselves. I candidly state
that have been inclined to pay no
attention to the ISLANDERS, rumors and
insinuations-none of the matters re-
ferred to should be dignifed by. be-
ing STYLED Charges have ap-
peared in the newspapers, as coming
before this committee, but it has oc-
CURED to me that it is not me and
INV good name alone that are involved,
but the good name and honor OF the
Palmetto State and her great people
are also affected. As your chief ex--
ecutive, it is my duty TO defend my
State and my people; therefore, l
shall, at this time and in this man
ner, lay bare before you the damnable
conspiracy to cause che people OF
South Carolina to lose confidence in
INV honor and to tarnish the proud
name of the greatest commonwealth
in the American union.
On July 1S, in the public prints a
prominent citizen of this State, who
has been a personal friend OF Ira b.
Jones, an opponent OF raine in the
race for governor, and who has re-
Gently been giving Mr.. Jones MS polltl-
cal support, commenting on the rot
|tenness of the Augusta proceedings,
demanded that Mr. Jones denounce
those proceedings. Presumably In
reply to that demand, Mr.. Jones, at
the camapign meeting in Columbia on
July 19, announced that ne approved
the conduct and actions at Augusta.
Differing from the view taken by Mr.
Jones, I am now bound to give my
reasons for my disapproval, that the
people may pass judgment between
Mr.. Jones and me, and our respective
opinions. My statements must neces-
sarily be of some length, but l ask
Won to become informed of every word
of it, remembering that it is not one
tenth as long as the reports which
have appeared in the newspapers IN
the attempt to reflect upon your honor
and mine. 1t is my purpose to give
you facts in a plain nanner-and l
shall comment on those facts. My
language, in some instances. must be
strong, but it is language that gen
tleman can use and must use On such
occasion, for the reason that no other
words will properly describe my
meaning and convey the truths 1 shall
set forth.
Powers of the Committee.
First, 1 wish to call to your atten-
ton the power given to this dispensary
investigating committee by your leg
islature and the duties required OF it.
! refer you to the acts Of the general
assembly for the year 1912, page 1O41,
for the law under which this commit
tee is supposed to be proceeding. The
title of that act is as follows:
can act to provide ior an lnVestl-
CATION of the acts and doings of the
State dispensary commission, and the
acts and doiugs of the attorney gen