The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1912-12-06
GOVERNOR BLEASE STIRS -
CONFERENCE AT RICHMOND
Declares in Certain Cases
Lvnchers Will Be Protect
ed bv -Shaffroth. of
Colorado, Urges Lenient
Punishment to Criminals
as a Deterrent to Crime.
Other Topics Discussed.

Richmond, Va, Dec 3.-In tl
state of South Carolina, Governt
Blease served notice to the Governor
conference this afternoon that Lynch
ers OF negro assailants of white VIC
men IN his State would 90 unpunisf
ed. The Governor warmly defende
MS use of the pardoning power, a
well, declaring that in % months h
had pardoned or paroled approx
mately 400 persons and that h.
hoped the number at the end of tn,
second term would be 800.
Il have said all over the State O.
south Carolina and l say it again
now,' he declared, chat I will nov.
er order out the militia to shoot down
thelr nelghbors and protect a black
brute who commits the nameless
crime against a white woman.
therefore, in South Carolina. let
IL be understood that when a negro
assaults a white woman, all that is
needed is that they get the right man
and they who get him will neither
need nor receive a trial"
1uStiheS TdrdOn Use.
Governor Blease justified the use he
had made OF his pardoning power, he
SAID, by conditions he had found in
penal institutions in the State.
walked through the penitentiarv
OF South Carolina" he said. "and
found 1T a tuberculosis incubator
where poor devils were dying at their
1asks' making money for Others ns;a.
pie; poor devils who had no cjsoscssI
put 70 stand and work or tan s{ksi
lash Just the.--....-..-.-.---
erts, negro from ~Chariepn'f
stopped me as l was walking through
and Respectfully asked permission to
speak to me. He told me that he had
been kept in Jail for % years for
stealing a $27 watch.
81 said, if you are telling me the
truth you will eat your Christmas
dinner with your folks at home He
said, Governor l have no folks
"Then, replied, you will eat it
away from here And he will. An
other negro had served IL years and
T months for stealing SO; judge
wrote to me that he had sentenced
to death a man when he did not be-
lieve the man had been convicted be-
yond a reasonable doubt. Another
wrote me that he had sentenced to
death a man when he did not be-
lieve should be put to death. He
did not believe it at the time nor
does he believe it now.
Of ,rttcf ftnn
am trying to right with my power
to pardon. I am proud of my rec
ord"
Advocates Whipping Post.
The restoration of the whipping
post for certain classes of criminals
was advocated by Governor Baldwin
of Connecticut this afternoon in az
address before the fifth annual Gov
ernor's Conference which opened here
today. Governor Baldwin's addres:
Immediately followed an address b.
Governor Sharoth of Colorado il
which Governor Sharoth advocated
lenient, but certain, punishment t.
criminals and cited his own Stat
as an example where this system ha
worked well.
Governor Sharoth said severe pun
ishment had proved. no detriment t
crime. Certainty of punishment,
his opinion, with an opportunity t
shorten the sentence through labo
and good behavior, not only punishe
the criminal but served alike as
deterrent against future crimes an
an incentive to reform. He advocate
the system in vogue in Colorado vi
der which gangs of so men worke
without guards, save at night, on tt
public roads and expressed the hoI
that the time was near when Il
State could do more than this al
pay the convict a nominal wage Fl
the work he performed.
For Severe Penalty.
Governor Donaghey of ArkanS
declared for a severe penalty f
lynchers, no punishment, save deal
he said, would deter murderers frc
their crime.
"Why, it's gotten to the pass"
declared, "where a man is certain
punishment if he should steal hor
but where, nine times out of ten,
is able to go scot free if he comm
a murder"