The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-04

erpor Shafroth. been In use in South
Carolina, he would have been saved
much personal trouble.
He then launched into defense of
his record.
Negroes. said Governor Blease, had
been sent to prison for long terms.
Their parents might die, and they
would be forgotten by the world With
no money to pay a lawyer. they would
STAY in the penitentiary. Many white
people were in the same condition. He
had received petitions signed by the
best people, and when public sentiment
| had clearly indicated its desire. he mad
considered himself the servant OF the
people and had issued the pardon MS
he did regardless Of criticism
Sometimes, said Governor Blease. ap-
plication would be made for politicai
purposes by his enemies. so that If he
issued pardons they would be used
against him. There. he had to be care
full.
Denounces Lease System.
ct went to the penitentiary myself,
he continued There I found tuber-
cuIosis incubator, called a hosiery mill,
spread disease among their families
Men were dying at work. making
money fo1 people who fattened on
blood and bone and flesh Of those VINO
had TO work or take the lash. with none
to sneak for them. | took their names
and learned their history. and / am
glad to say ] have pardoned or pa
rolled 400 persons i'll twenty-five
months. BY the end Of my present term
hope 10 make 1t 500 for the four
years
.Sorne of the best men in South
Carolina have helped to lynch negroes
In shall never order out the militia to
shoot down their friends In order
to protect a black brute who has laid
his hands OH a white woman.
He then uttered his comments in IA
vor OF lynch law.
He told OF the political influences
that come to a judge. who may have
two men coming up for sentence for
the same off nse. One has friends who
represent that one Of them Is a boy
I of a good family. The Judge gives
| him two years. and gives the other. Cor
whom no one has passed cigars. and
over whose case no social glass has
been raised seven to ten years
Position Of Judges
T<ov.xnor Rleasc said he has letter
fror, south Carolina Judge who said
he would indorse a certain Application
for clernency. as the evidence did MOI
Justify the Sentence. Yet. he asserted
\ that Judge had imposed the life sen
tence in this case. There IS a negro
I now awaiting execution. and the judge
said that at the time Of the trial n
/ did not feel the man ought TO die Yet
ne sentenced him to death.
When he has issued his psrdons. sait
I Governor Blease. the press has come
out With big NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
/ Clemencv.' followed by the words
] 'pardons and communications 50 many Z
/ date That IL the proudest so many
T have ever had said Of ne
ne found one negro IN prison NJ
said. who had served twenty-five years
for stealing 3. watch. and had beer
convicted OF houschrcakiuE He got
pardon Another had served clever
Years and seven months for steaiine
/ s. from the person He wa- pa-non0o
Martyr 90 Dsty.
But SAID Governor Biease. VIII
nne rnodestv. ~ycs done always IND
I Governors who are not afraid o. th'
political issue"
Al .he newspapers iu south Caro-
lima. nc said. except three. nd iousn'
him. with all the corporations. The ran
roads. The cotton mills and Other n
/ ferests. in ihe bitterest CAMPAIGN eve
vared in the United states. Vie nsf
! dcfe udcd his recosd ir every commu
ritv Of tho forty -four counties. an
Rad triumph D. Brrns detectives ma
bounded him. trying % FRA u par
dons had been sold.
! ono an ssrared convict came % hn
&C. Sc had no friends NOT money
ana had run away - get pe'itio'
Tor ciomencv. Governor Biesse sat
4. could rot pardon him az ~ mo
nsuf. Or half the prison popuiat'''
. would b. running away % 81 . par
don So ~ sent the man back 20 tax
the punishment for hts onense. and