The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-12-04
LYNCHERS NEED HAVE NO FEAR
 OF GOV. BLEASE
IF THEY GET THE RIGHT MAN NO TRIAL WILL BE HELD JUSTIFIES HIS MANY
 PARDONS.

Richmond, Va Decs ,4-There are twenty-seven Governors present at the fifth annual conference here. Gov Harmon Of Ohio is presiding. There were speeches of welcome by Gov. Mann of Virginia and Mayor A1nslle of Richmond, and response by Gov. Norris of Montana.
 At the session yesterday afternoon there was an interesting discussion of Modern Pef1ology'' led by Gov Sha- froth of Colorado and Gov. Baldwin of Connecticut, both of whom delivered very able and careful addresses, In both of these addresses there was the temper of justice. mixed with mercy Gov. Shafroth told of what has been accomplished in Colorado by the parole chance by his own efforts and honor, for restoration, the idea that men are criminal often by accident rather than design, and with little help now ana then, and within well-defined lines from the State, men who have been cond demned for their offenses may be eSta blished in their own respect and
 in the confidence of society.
 The contention of Gov. Baldwin was little more severe but both of these addresses, and in the free discussion
 that followed, was the idea that there
 is much to be gained for the ends of
 justice by tempering it with mercy of Missouri, Eberhardt Of Minnesota,
 Gilchrist of Florida. Blease of South Carolina, and Brown of Georgia, all took part in the debate, and it was agreed generally that there is great opportunity for uniform action by the Governors in the promotion of justice by the administration
 Gov. Blease of South Carolina, who seemed to mistake the conference for a political mass meeting in his native State, turned himself loose, much to the amusement if not the instruction of his grave and revered audience. However. he made a speech which l made it's mark in the House of Gov against whom political fight had been waged, because of his exercise of l the pardoning power. In South Caro- 1 linz. this power is lodged in the Gov ernor alone. His Is the authority and his the responsibility. and he had ex- l ercised it without fear of conse- quenees, and in extending c1emency to those who were in prison he said he had simply carried out the Divine in ! junction. He went further and declar- | white women would go free in his | State. He said:
 l &sI have said all over the State of i South Carolina, and I say it again now, that I will never order out the militia to shoot down their neighbors
 and protect black brute who com
 itT fe agains6 sotn "nEe caroIina ie. 1 it be understood that when a negro
 assaults a white woman all that is
 needed is that they get the right man, ' | nor receive a trial"
 Gov. Blease justified the use he had made of his pardoning power by con ditions he found in penal institutions f in the State.
 q walked through the penitentiary
 of South Carolina he said, E"and | where poor devils were dying at their | ta slss making money for other people; 1 poor devils who had no choice but to I stand and '-arl< or take the lash. Just 1 the other. day Jim Roberts negro from Charleston, stopped me as was l walking through and. respectfully ask | ed permission to speak to me. He ! told me that he had been kept in jail for twenty-two years for stealing a
 s27 -watcbm
 l oIf you Ere telling me the truth you ] will eat your Christmas dinner with
 your folks at home'' I told him. 1 'ss Governor, I have no folks he said
 Amy way you will eat it away from here I replied And he will ] Another. negro had served eleven years l and seven months for stealing S9- A Judge wrote to me that he had sen fenced to death a man when he die not believe the man had been con- v1cted beyond a reasonable doubt. An l other wrote me that he had sentenced l to death a man whom he did not be neve should be put to death He did | not believe it at the time, nor does he believe it now
 l ssThese are the errors of justice thai ! T am irvine to right with my power o1 rN1-(