The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1912-08-02
COLE BLEASE HANDED OUT
BRIBE MONEY, SAYS GRACE.
CONTINUED from page ~

would do for Charleston if we elect
ed him, and which / at once made
the basis for the campaign against
Featherstone. In fact, when I get
back to Charleston l will make this
lie of his perfectly clear
Anent His Appointment.
II have told before about my ap-
1T in detail under oath in my testi-
mony before the Investigating COM
mittee. Here is what l then said:
He said: John | want to express
to you the gratitude 1 feel for what
you have done; l want to give you an
appointment on my Staff-one to
each of the original Blease counties.
And he said: Charleston is one' And
he said: Il want to ask you to serve
on my staff | said: Governor, that
doesn't appeal to me at all. l never
have been inclined in the direction of
display. brass buttons, etc. | said
1T really would be disttasteful to me
from that standpoint And | said:
Give 1t TO some one else
He said: mo. | want you to have
it. | also instinctively felt that |
did not care to have so great polit-
ical debt to any extent paid with a
military uniform. I felt it might
lessen a real claim ! might have on
him at some time, thinking always
from political angle which is some
times characteristic.
"He said: you take this He said,
That does not mean that | feel it is
adequate to express my gratitude, be-
caused | intend hereafter, while | am
governor, to consult you finally and
conclusivelv on all questions concern
ing Charleston, and what you say
nd fN ,,,t,, &c.
one can be appointed unless you say
yes | said: THAT is all right, but |
do not deserve quite that much He
said: yes, you do
Repeated Afterwards.
In the presence of others he re-
peated the same thing. He put me
on the staff. | got notice to come
up to Columbia. told him appre,
ciated it. | was measured and the
uniform was shipped, and stands in
the original express package in my
office, duSt-coated.
81 think a recital of the above will
show what | thought of his staff ap-
pointment.
GAS to his statement that l have
never been in the mansion but one
time, that also is lie and he knows
it. / do not myself know exactly how
many times l was there but several
times at any rate, and particularly
when he begged me to come to the
governors reception, which l did.
Game Rooster Incident.
"The incident of the game rooster
/ remember well. He says came to
get fine game cock which he gave
me and also to request him to ap-
point my brother to position in case
war came on with Mexico.
" In the first place I never knew
he had game cock until I got. upon
one occasion to the mansion. It may
have been the time when I did 20
with my brother, who is a graduate
of West Point, and who has ever since
been lieutenant, and is now first
lieutenant in the army, stationed in
the Philippines. 1t was a perfectly
natural request for me to make of
one under such deep obligations to
me and for one to whom I am most
tenderly attached ;but it was not to
get position in the army.
Request for His Brother.
"Of my own belief that Blease
would give any preference to him
when it was the easiest thing in the
world for Belase to do it, I asked
Blease if he would not designate him
under some act which permitted him
ment the officers in charge of the
South Carolina regiments.
eff it was on this occasion-and I
am almost sure that it was not-but
upon whatever occasion it was-I re-
call that when l was about to go
Blease asked me if liked game chick
ems. | told him that | did very
much. He said: "Well, have a game
cock that was sent to me few days
ago by man who said that he was
sending the best cock in South Caro-
lima. / don't want it and | will give
it to you"
81 took it and have it yet. But
in connection with this visit, if it was
the visit when my brother was there
with me, / distinctly remember this
lncldent-and 1T seems to me it
throws flood of light on whether or
not he trusted me.
About this time there was a great
deal being said about the dispensarv
and Blease's corrupt connection with
lt-particularly the charges made by
Fielder.
"He said to me: Il have something
in my pocket that l want to show
you, and / want to get your jude-
ment upon it, He went down in his
coat pocket and pulled out letter,
and, handing it to me said: Read
that 1t was none other than the
now famous letter signed IT. B., al
legged to have been written by Fielder
to Hub Evans, in which it was pro-
posed that Hub Evans and Fielder
organize some gigantic graft scheme
in connection with the old state dis
pensary.
Csrouse at Wrights.
GAS ! read this letter l recalled a
scene at Wright's hotel the night be-
fore his inauguration. 1t was the first
real insight l had ever had into Blease
and the atmosphere in which he
moved. And ! think / can say that
without exception it is about the mas
tiest recollection OF my life.