Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1912-07-10
GOVERNORS NOVEL METHOD.
introduced spicy New Feature i'm
Speech at Charleston.

Charleston, July 6.--I want to
put a proposition to you, and you
answer 1t at the August primaries.
Whatever you do, will be Governor
anyway for September, October, No
Vember and December, and for 21
days in January. If you want gov
ernment by injunction and a metro
politan police force, you vote for Ira
B. Jones, and I'll give it to you"
With this audaclous threat Cover
. nor Blease closed his long-awaited
address at the State campaign meet
ing held here last night--an address
In which he intimated that the re-
cent break between him and John P.
Grace. mayor of Charleston, began
when he refused to commission as
notary public negro, S. w. Ben
nett, whom the mayor had recon-
mended.
lie said, further, with reference to
the charges voiced by the mayor
that graft collected in Charleston
had been traced to he office of the
Governor: ''No gentleman would in
sinuate that | had ever received any
graft, and any man who says | did is
a malicious character thief and a
coWardly liar"
Ihe Governor also declared his in
tention OF standing by Benjamin II.
Stothart, chief Of the constabulary in
charleston, against whom graft
charges were recently brought before
legislative investi eating commit
tee.
More than 1900 persons, no wo
men being included, were assembled
IN Hibernian Hall when the candi-
dates for Governor were introduced.
These spoke last, as usual
me meeting opened at 5 o'clock
IN the afternoon and continued until
all OF the candidates in the party had
been heard. 1t was an attentive au-
dience, but one quick to express ap-
proval or disapproval; quick also
TO laugh. as some Of the speakers
learned to their discontinue, when
point put forward in all seriousness
tickled, for some reason, the risibili-
ties of the crowd.
Tremendous demonstrations were
given in honor of both the LEADING
candidates for Governor, but it an
peared that applause for Judge
Jones came more generally from over
the house, and men long acquainted
with Charleston audiences said the
majority opinion among those pres
ent was in favor Of Jones as against
Blease.
Undeniably. however, the volume
of sound was greater in tho Blease
outbreaks. Kissing was more freely
resorted to here than elsewhere on
the campaign as al expression OF
disapproval, and Governor Blease
was the target Of good deal Of it.
Excellent order prevailed An ex-
traordinary number OF policemen in
uniform were distributed about the
nan, and these were prompt in sup
pressing demonstrations which they
deemed improper. An admonishing
wave or tho hand proved all that was
necessary in every case
Judge Jones devoted some portion
OF his time to reply in detail to
the speech delivered at Bishopvllc
ny Governor Blease. The Governor
maze ms usual dccla rationS regard
ing negroes, lynching and other mat
ters, but gave his attention princi-
pally to points of local interest in
Charleston.
lie made some Interesting state
ments IN response to questions from
the floor
What about beer?" asked a voice
in the audience.
You bring mo a glass of it IN
here and I will talk about II bnttor !,
said the Governor.
What about racing?" was ano-
ther question.
do as you did this year" retort-
ed the Governor--"act like men and
do as you please"
This question and its answer re-
lated to the passage by the last Leg
islaturo Of an act on tlawing metro
politan racing in South Carolina
from July /, 1912.