Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1912-01-17
j. "A. WILLIS DEFENDS HIMSELF.
House Hears First Reply to Libel
Act Veto Message.
(The State, 12th.)


privilege just before the adjournment
Of the morning session Of the House
yesterday, J. Archie Willis, the
youthful Representative from Lau-
rens county, delivered a dignified ad-
dress in defense Of his reputation as
former proprietor and editor of the
| Belton Times, which the Governor of
South Carolina attacked in his spe-
cial veto message to the House on
the libel act Wednesday.
Mr.. Willis stated that he had re-.
ceived letter signed by 1.-The Black
Hand Of South Carolina" threaten
ing him with death If he answered
the charges contained in the special
message of c. l.. Blease.
The House heard Mr.. Willis to an
end in silence, except for frequent in
terruptions by w. w. Dixon, Of
Winnsboro, who demanded that Mr..
Willis be declared out Of order.
Speaker Smith ruled that Mr.. Willis
was in order, and Mr.. Dixon appealed
from the ruling Of the chair. The
House sustained the ruling of the
| Speaker.
Dixon Interrupts.
Mr.. DiXOn's Interruptions became
so frequent that Speaker Smith in
formed him that unless ho took his
seat the sergeant-at-arms would be
instructed to make him keep order.
Mr.. Dixon sat down. When Mr.. Will
lis had finished the discussion of his
! question Of personal privilege, Mr..
Dixon tried to open debate, but
was ruled out Of order by the
Speaker
There was no action that the
House could take on Mr.. Willis
question Of personal privilege, but it
heard him attentively.
Mr.. Willis Speaks.
The speech of Mr.. Willis on his
question Of personal privilege, pre-
senting atiidavits to prove the truth
Of the story printed in the Bolton
Times in regard to the conduct Of C.
l.. Blease toward Miss Mary ]. Rog-
ers, the ticket seller in the office of
the Southern railway at Bolton, fol-
lows in full:
"Mr. Speaker: | rise to question
of personal privilege, and despite
the fact that ] hold in my hand a
letter from the Black Hand Of South
Carolina as the writer or writer's
are pleased to term themselves, warn
ing me that If again pay my re-
spects to the Governor of South Caro-
lima, | shall be killed in short order,
| want to take this opportunity Of
defending myself against the uncall-
ell for attack of his eNccllency in a
| special message yesterday, when he
took occasion to call me a liar. to
which was added certain adicctivcs
peculiarly all the Governors own.
South Carolina is calling to-day
Tor some one to speak out in defense
or her lair name, and protest against
tho unparalleled degradation that is
being heapod upon her by the man
who occupies The Chief Executives
office, and, cost nc what it may, !
am here to answer that call And
thank God that it is to you that am
to have the privilege nf appealing.
Obtaining tho Letter.
before | go further, however, |
want to settle the matter Of the ticket
incident at Bolton. The Governor
has made the charge to you that
lied when | published the account Of
his alleged incivility to the young
lady ticket agent, and he has pro-
duced letter signed by her, which,
on the face of it, seems to substanti-
ate his claim. When once you under
stand how he secured the letter,
though, you will understand methods
to which the Governor will resort,
when occasion demands.
"Governor Blease, for reasons Of
which you are doubtless aware, Is the
pet OF certain officials of the South
crn railway; at a banquet in New
berry on December 20, 1910, the Gov
ernor made the statement that be-
cause Of Supt. Henry A. Williams
friendship for him, the Southern
road would have warm friends in the
Governors office for the next two
years. Not content with his assur-
anccs Of friendship, however, after
he had assumed his duties as Cover
nor, b. l.. Abney. the Southcrn's di-
vision counsel for South Carolina,
TOOK up his residence at tho Cover