The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1912-09-27
BLEASE SAYS HE is
NOT MAN LET
BULL MOOSE IN
THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE is A
DEMOCRAT-NOT WITH
TEDDY.
Accompanied A by His Attorneys, Gov.
Blease Goes to Spartanburg to
Attend Meeting of Subcom-
mit-Expects Harmony
in the Legislature.
(Spartanburg Herald.)

| NoV. Cole II. blease came to Spar
tanburg yesterday afternoon on the
Carolina Special with his brother and
attorney, Eugene Blease; his cam
paign manager, Fred H. Dominick.
and Senator j. D. Bivens, a member
of the subcommittee of the demo-
cratic executive committee, who are
investigating the charges of fraud in
the primary election of August 81,
In a landau provided by friends of
the governor, they drove to the
Finch hotel
The executive was assigned to what
Is known as "the dictagraph room,"
from the fact that in this room was
concealed the dictagraph through
which were recorded the words of
Sam j. Nichols when E. S. Reed, the
Burns detective, tried to trap Mr..
Nichols and Governor Blease into
pardoning convict for bribes. In
this room the governor held an in
formal levee for his friends, of whom
a dozen or more called during the af-
| ternoon.
In Cheerful Mood.
The governor was in a cheerful
mood. He expressed confidence that
he would be declared the democratic
nominee for governor, and voiced the
hope that bitterness and partisanship
would be laid aside and all forces
unite for the upbuilding of the state
in tie things worth while.
"What have you to say" the gov
erlor was asked, "as to the report
Tat you may form coalition with
Koosevelt?"
Its lie," answered Mr.. Blease.
81 will form no coalition with Roose-
welt, or with Taft, or with anybody
else, against the democratic partys I
am a democrat first, last and all the
time. L was nominated as such and
l will be elected as such. am strong
er now than I ever was. I am get
ting letters from men who supported
Judge Jones, even in Lancaster coun-
ty, who are disgusted with the dila-
tory tactics Of the executive commit.s
tee and promise me their support. IL
have had 10000 letters from men
who voted for me-
The governor was asked what he
expected in the coming session of the
legislature.
Looks for Harmony.
II look for good, clean, sensible
men," he answered, "except a few,
others who will lay aside PARTISAN
ship and work together harmonious
ly for the prosperity and uplift of the
state and government. This will be a
do-something session. Of course
there will be some opposed to me po-
| litically, but / look for at least some
patriotism in them, and 1 expect them
to join hands with me for the up
building of the state"
The governor was asked what legis-
lation he would urge the legislature
to enact.
For Two Cent Fare Law.
Il will recommend all measures"
he said, (which I recommended to the
last Legislature and which were ig-
nored. If they had merit before they
have merit now. will renew my fight
for two-cent fare law. Pm with it.
I'm for it, and we're 'gwine' to have
| it."
AS one Of the reasons given for the
governors liberal exercise of the
pardoning power was that MANY
cases worthy of clemency had been
| allowed to accumulate in the peni-
tentiary through the inactivity of
preceding governors in this respect.
Mr.. Blease was asked if he had weed
ed out most of Sc the meritorious
cases.
"There are some left" he answered,
but not great many. I have in
mind negro named Caroline, or
something like that, who has served
23 years of life sentence. That
man has been kept in the penitentiary
Tor no other reason than because he
makes such toothsome pickles that
the penitentiary officials are unwilling
to lose his services. On that account
they have resisted his efforts to get
a pardon. l intend to act in his case,
however, as l believe that a man, af-
ter having made good prisoner for
22 or % years, ought to be given
another chance outside of prison
walls.
Forgotten Prisoners.
There are some prisoners in tie
penitentiary who have been there so
long that they have been forgotten
by people on the outside. So far as