Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-04-12
BLEAsE TALKS POLITICS.
Governor Wants Party Rules to Re.
main Just As They Are.

Columbia, April S.-Special: Be-
fore leaving for Gaffney on the Caro-.
lima Special at noon today, where he
goes to attend the convention Of the
Red Men today and tomorrow, Gov
ernor Blease gave out an interview in
which he emphatically declared ir
favor Of the county-to-county tour for
state candidates for governor and
every other office; vigorously declar-
ed in favor of an unrestricted primary
and advocated sending an uninstruct-
ed delegation to the Democratic ma
tional convention in Baltimore.
In the interview he also announced
that his friends were going to present
his name to the convention as one of
the delegates at large, and endorsed
Gen. Willie Jones and advocated he
electing him state chairman. The in
terview Of the governor follows:
II have noticed the editorial In The
News and Courier this morning head
ed The Campaign Circus and, as
usual, the editor of the News and
Courier and myself do not concur In
our political views; for I am most as
suredly, as have always been, in ia
vor Of county-to-county canvass, and
of the election of all officers, from cor
oner up, including the president of
the United States, by the direct vote
of the people.
'T am in favor of unrestricted pri-
maries-that is, of allowing every
white man in the state Of South Caro-
lima the privilege of voting at the pri-
mary, and when a majority speaks,
that the minority fall into line and
and present a solid front against all
comers.
BIease and tho Newspapers.
IT would be very foolish to oppose
county-to-county canvass, for 1t is
we'll known that all Of the daily news
papers are opposed to me, and nearly
all Of the county papers, and they will
not publish my speeches or give my
reasons for any actions Of mine as
/
News and Courier, which has, on
some occasions, given my reasons for
pardons; therefore I would have abb
solutely no opportunity to get my
views before the people, or to defend
my administration If 1t were not for
the county-to-county canvass. I am
in favor Of the rules and the constitu-
ton remaining just as they are and re-
quiring every candidate for state Of
fees to go to each county seat and de-
livering his speech, and If any attempt
is made in the coming convention to
restrict the primary, or to do away
with the county-to-county canvass, my
friends and myself will be found in
the forefront fighting for the present
system.
Against Instructions.
$50 far as the delegates to the ma
tional convention are concerned, 1
have noticed 1t stated in some Of the
papers that 1 was in favor Of sending
an instructed delegation for Harmon.
Twice in my life 1 have been offered
the position as delegate to the ma
tional convention from the third con-
gressional district, and each time I de-
clined to accept it, because am abso-
solutely and unqualifedly opposed
to sending an instructed delegation
anywhere. II we are going to send
men to Baltimore and instruct them to
vote for any particular candidate. we
might as we'll save the expense and
just write out our votes and mail them
Ito the chairman of the convention
and tell him, when South Carolina Is
called, to open the envelope and an
nounce our vote. I am in favor Of
sending a delegation Of good, strong,
sober, representative men and let
them, when they get to Baltimore,
look over the entire situation from
every viewpoint and exercise their own
judgment in voting for that man for
the nominee of the Democratic party
who is best equipped and most accept
able to the Democrats Of the entire
country, in order that we may all
solidly, have no dissension and no
splits and win a Democratic victory.
Why Hes for Harmon.
PERSONALLY, I am for Harmon, be-
cause 1 believe that Mr.. Taft will be
nominated and believe that Harmon
is the only Democrat that can carry
New York and Ohio against Taft, and
without these two states, the Demo-
Gratis cannot win. If I believed that
a southern man could win, Of course,
l would be for a southerner, first, last
and all the time; and, when the dele
cation reaches the convention, and
looks over the situation, and after
consultation with Democrats from all
over the country, 1t Is believed that a
southern man can win. then l would
vote for a southerner. My present
ticket would be Harmon and Foss.
1T has been the custom to send as
delegates at large from this state, the
two senators; the governor and the
state chairman. I do not know what
the policy of the convention will be
this time. My name will be presented
for one of the positions. OF course,
1t is left to the delegates to say wheth-
er. or not 1 will be elected. 1 take 1t
for granted that Senator Tillman will
be elected without opposition and that
he will also be reelected a member
Of the Democratic national executive
committee without opposition.
State Chairmanship.
"As to the state chairman, Gen.
Jones has been a faithful officer for
many years, without reward or with
out the hope Of reward, and 1 think
he Is now making a serious mistake
to withdraw when a Democratic VIC
tory seems to be in sight; for, If the
Democrats should win, the state chair
man would naturally be in a position
to be Of much service to his friends
in dispensing of patronage in the
state. and really think that the gen.
eral, having served so long under
Republican regime, that it Is but due
him that he should be kept in the po-
sition whether he wants 1t or not, In