Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-04-09

Its protection. The speaker made 6
strong appeal for the punishment Of
crime through the courts, which is the
proper medium. He referred to the
terrible tragedy at Hillsville, Va, some
days ago, but pointed out the manner
In which Virginia had gone about pun
ishing the perpetrators of the fou
deed-not by organizing lynching bee
and starting in pursuit of the criminals
but by placing another judge on the
bench, another solicitor at the bar, an
other sheriff in the court and summon
ing a grand jury and handing down
indictments against the assassins
while officers Of the law were out hunt
ing them in the mountains. He cited
this as an example Of the enforcement
of law in the proper way.
BIease's Pardon Record.
The next line upon which Judge
Jones spoke was Governor Blease's
pardon record, and this Is where the
speaker made his greatest impression
upon the audience. He stated that
since Governors Blease's Inauguration
he had pardoned and paroled something
like $40 prisoners. He stated that the
Iconstitution provides for a board Of
lpardons, to whom shall be referred all
for clemency. This board,
he said. Is intended as an advisory
council for the governor, though the
chief executive can go contrary to the
Recommendations or suggestions Of the
board "Of these $40 convlcts pardon.
ed and paroled," stated Judge Jones.
"Governor Blease did not once call up
on the board for advice or assistance
in determining the merits OF the case
at hand. see now by the newspapers
where he has referred some seventy or
eighty applications for pardons to the
pardon board. What does this mean?
Does 1t mean that l have made 1t too
hot for him?
The speaker asked why had the gov
ernor pardoned John Black, Wash
Hunter, George Hasty and pickpockets
and others, and why didn't he refer
these cases to the pardon board. He
asked If there ever was governor un-
der the sun who would dare pardon
one of his clients without referring the
matter to the pardon board. And yet
this Is what Governor Blease die when
he pardoned Wash Hunter. He charac-
terized such action as Bleaseism.
What Is the use Of court machinery"
asked Judge Jones, 'if by stroke Of
his pen the governor can practically
empty the penitentiary?"
What Of the Widow7
/ Here the speaker referred to the side
of the case that is put up by Governor
Blease-the pathetic side-that Of the
wife and children Of the convict, who
are in sore need Of his care and protec-
ton. But what of the widow and the
fatherless children Of the victim? Why
open one ear to the pleading Of the
people of the criminal and close the
other ear to cries Of the widow and
children of the victim? There Is the
cry that justice be done. and 1t should
be needed more quickly than the cry
Hor mercy from the other side"
The speaker then asked what would
be the effect upon the state when all
these criminals were thrown back up
on society. 1.-The power Of pardon Is
a trust" he declared, land Governor
Blease has abused that power. Here Is
a bank cashier holding position Of
trust. A beggar comes along and asks
for help, and the cashier reaches his
hand into the cash drawer and hands
out IS to him. It Is not the cashiers
money, but the banks money that Is
handed out-that which belongs to the
stockholders. What shall you say OF
that cashier? Can you commend that
act? No, indeed, for he has abused
his trust. Governor Blease has been
put in the office Of the chief executive,
and in the wholesale pardoning OF
criminals he has abused his trust as
much as the bank cashier who would
hand out the stockholders money to
beggars. If I were governor / would
grant a pardon IL In my best judgment
and the judgment Of the board OF par
dons it was a good case. I would grant
the pardon regardless Of the number
of signatures on the petition, whether
there was one or many. But before
would stain the high office Of governor
by using the pardon power to further
my own interests 1 would suffer both
hands laid on a block and chopped Off
with dull axe"
Abuse Of Veto Power.
Judge Jones next spoke Of Governor
Blease's abuse of the veto power. He
referred to the governors declaration
that he would lead a mob to lynch
negro for committing a certain crime,
and then pointed out where he had re-
fused to nay a circuit judge who pre-
sided at a term of court where a negro
was tried, convicted and sentenced to
death for this unmentionable crime.
Yes" stated the speaker, Judge Will
liams presided at the special term OF
court where this negro was tried and
convicted. He presented his little bill
for $4185 to the Legislature. That body
honored the claim, but Governor Blease
vetoed the bill. What GOVERNOR
will lead a mob to lynch a negro for a
certain crime, but I won't pay judge
for trying a case of this kind according
TO law
Il wish to tell you of Governor
Blease's vetoing of the citizenship bill.
The citizenship bill was designed to
prohibit foreigners. who had not be-
come naturalized, from voting In the
primary. There Is in the city of
Charleston 1000 or more foreigners
They have never become naturalized,
have never signifed any intention of
doing so, are not concerned with the
welfare of our government. our laws or
anything. they cen be made to vote any
way. Suppose the voting strength OF
Fountain Inn Is 1000. Those 1000 for
eigners can go to the polls in the pri-
mary and absolutely destroy your en-
Il