Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-12-07
the Governors Conference, today, b

snapped his finger in the faces of the
other Governors and declared that he
cared not one Whit what the confer
ence did cor left undone.
-Four times, this morning, has my
life been threatened for my utter
ances," declared Governor Blease.
II was quoted, yesterday. as saying,
TO H with the Constitution / say
now to all the Governors of all the
states and to all the people of the
United States what / said them
The conference hall was thrown into
an uproar.
Governors of Alabama, wyoming.
Missouri, New York, Maryland and
wisconsin denounced the South Car
gilman in strong terms for his utter
ances. Governors of North Carolina,
ARKANSAS, Connecticut and Idaho vot-
ed against the resolution.
The resolution adopted was intro
duced by Governor Mann of Virginia
as All amendment to one offered by
Governor O'Neal of Alabama. 1t reads
as fellows:
Resolved, That it is the sentiment
of the Governors conferences in ses-
sion at Richmond, Va, today, that
the whole power of the several states
should be used, whenever necessary,
to protect persons accused of crimes
on womanhood, against the violence
of mobs, and to provide for speedy.
orderly and impartial trials by courts
of competent jurisdiction to the end
that the laws for the protection of
life and property be duly enforced
and respected by all the people,
'F hold in my hand" said Cover
nor Blease. when he rose to defend
himself, the fourth letter threatening
1t was handed me just now by some
one / did not know and it was adj
dressed to me In the care of the gov
ernor of Virginia.
"I know nothing of the letter. SIR"
retorted Governor Mann of Virginia.
II never heard of it before; 1 did not
receive it; I know nothing of it's con-
Tents
ut doesn't natter continued Gov.
Blease, II speak nobody's opinion bat
my own. The newspaper headlines
have misrepresented me. When /
spoke, yesterday, about the maria ge
of Jack johnson in Chicago, / didn't
say he would be lynched in South
Carolina; did say that the laws of
my state forbade the marriage, aad
did say that I did not know, if the
marriage had been performed in South
Carolina. whether the law protecting
him would have been possible of en-
forcement or not.
Now, what want to say to ysus
is this: l don't care one whit wheths
er you adopt this resolution or not.
You may expel me for all / care. on
the 21st day of next January / viii
begin my second term as governor.
On the 4th of March, 1915, if God
spares me, / will be sworn in as
member of the United States Senate.
snap my fingers at your resolution.
for all the resolutions and all the
motions you may act upon will not
avail to keep me out.
Long after many of you gentie-
men here, today, are resting in the
retired shades of private life, l will
be reaping the rewards of public ser.
vice. Long after you good governors
are no longer governors, the white
women of South Carolina will, pray
for me with their arms around their
girls. and will arise from their knees
to kiss their husbands and beg them
to go to the ballot box and vote for
Blease to protect them from hair
daily terror"
A faint round of applause ripp,ef
over the conference hall, succeeded by
a storm of Kisses.
A dozen governors, thinking the
South Carolinian had concluded, clam
ored for recognition, but he held the
floor, and smiled at the turmoil,
What care / for your hisses?" he
shouted. shaking his clenched fist at
the chairman and turning to face his
colleagues. Hiss If you must! Only
snakes and geese hiss
Again his voice was drowned iii the
storm. When the vigorous rapping of
theschairman had brought order he con-
tinued:
.'You are making yourselves ridiculous
i'm the eyes of the nation. WhyNdo you
have to declare against mob law They
ought to know you back In your homes.
They ought to meet you each one at the
railroad station with brass band and
say: Governor, We're glad You didn't
endorse the utterances of that South Car
olinian.
'When I said I never would order, out
the militia to protect the black bi ute
who laid his Decorating hands upon a
white woman 1 spoke the truth. / say
it now again."
Richmond, Va, Dec. 6.-The governors
conference, today, appointed a commit
tee of five to draft uniform state legisla-