Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-08-09

the reputation Of Judge Jones-nor will
any other responsible publication.
Pretty adroit Is all this; but in view
of the general situation, the records
and present facts, the force of it Is
mostly lost upon us.
Although we have never made a
statement rejecting upon Mr.. Blease
except in the best of good faith, but
we are frank to admit now that II Mr..
Blease had instituted libel proceedings,
we would have been in a pretty bad
way. We could have sworn with a
clear conscience that we have never
entertained any feeling Of malice
against him; but If he had demanded
proof of any of our derogatory asser-
tions, the best we could have done
would have been to cite statements and
alleged records as they have appeared
in newspapers, mainly the Columbia
State, and also the statements Of indi-
viduals in whom we had confidence,
but who on a test, would probably have
backed down from what they said. And
especially since all these Investigations
and that Augusta fiasco, We consider
ourselves fortunate indeed that Mr..
Blease never saw proper to put us to
the proof.
While we have not at hand the files
of the Columbia State. dealing with
the early days of Tillmanism, we are
quite sure that they can be found filled
with vituperation and abuse of Hon.
Ira B. Jones, especially while that gen.
tleman was a conspicuous leader OF
Tillmanism, and speaker Of the house.
etc. But we want none Of this. We
have no reason to believe that Ira b.
Jones is other than a Christian gentle
man, and the State knows as well as
we do that it Is for that reason, rather
than fear Of libel that we do not make
any reflections on his character. Its
bantering effort to incite us to attack
Hon. Ira B. Jones Is absurd.
Our friend the Columbia State will
kindly bear with us while we reproduce
a portion Of an editorial published in
The Enquirer Of March 1, 1912, under
the heading of The Middle Of the
Road" II the State wants to reproduce
the editorial in full 1t Is welcome; but
the portion that we deem appropriate
Is as follows:
Now we cannot believe that the
wrong is all on one side, and we are
no apoligist for Governor Blease, the
legislature or Chief Justice Jones. We
look upon the whole thing rather as
tempest in a teapot" and feel that the
best interests of the state will be sub
served by settin gaside the entire out
fit, and going back to the people for
fresh material.
According to our view the election
of Judge Jones will indefinitely con-
tinue the present unspeakable condi-
tions, and the only hope Of permanent
relief from these conditions Is give
and take agreement upon some big,
broad man who can occupy the gov
ernor's chair without perpetuating the
miserable feud that has been thriving
in this state for more than genera
ton.
We do not care to undertake to in
dicate Just at this time the influences
hesitation in saying that we believe
they are such as will make thousands
vote for Governor Blease simply be-
cause they do not see how they can
vote for Jones without stultifying
themselves.
Again there Is a large and intelli-
gent class in this state which Is so
disgusted with political conditions
that it deliberately refrains from going
to the polls. This class sees nothing In
the present turmoil and strife except
factional politics. These men should
be given an opportunity to come out
and vote without having to identity
themselves with a faction.
OF course we recognize that we may
be entirely wrong. but we have
thought over the matter seriously and
without any selfish motive so far as
we are aware of. II We have an axe
to grind" we do not know 1t. The only
consideration we are willing to ac-
knowledge Is what we conceive to be
the good of South Carolina, and un-
til there Is more light than has appear
ed up to this time, we beg leave to re-
main Gin the middle of the road"