Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-07-23

detectiye. Including copies of aff1da-
Wits the statement makes about sixty
pages of typewriter manuscript. Eacn
and every charge or rumor Is taken
up separately and answered oy the
governor.
Gov. Blease says Fielder lied when
he says ne went to Charleston between
the t'yO primaries in 1910 to get mon
ey from the tigers Dr his (bieases'
campaign expenses.
He says that the statement that he
is getting graft from Charleston blind
tigers originated with Mayor Grace, OF
that city owing to the governors re-
fusal to allow Grace to control the
constabulary there.
The governor denies that he receiv-
ed any money for his signature 10 the
interurban railway act or that ne knew
of any plans to buy a pardon Tor Gus
DeFord or any one else and says that
not one word about it had been said
to him by Nichols.
AS to the pardon for F. w. Bentley
the governor denies that he received
nav for it's issuance. He says check
for s25 was sent him for the payment
of Bentley's railroad fare to his home
i'm Iowa, but that no other money ng-
ured in the transaction.
The governor mentions persons
from whom petitions were received re-
questing pardons, one Of whom was the
Rev. DIR. w. A. c. Mueller, a Lutheran
pastor of Charleston. He says the &C
cusations made by Fielder that $z,OOo
had been paid by Rabens for his Lree-
dom was a wilful falsehood and ne
submits affidavits from Rabens ana
DR.. Mueller purporting to deny tnis
charge.
He presents an affidavit from H. II.
Evans to the effect that he has never
had any transactions with Biease as 70
dispensary affairs or that he and
BIease were never in Atlanta together
nor has he ever had money paid to
him by any party for Governor Blease.
Governor Blease also presented al
fidayits from a dozen persons that ne
was not concerned in any liquor or
other corrupt transactions.
AS to the famous 'T. B. letters,
of which Fielder has denied author
ship, the governor said that he had
submitted the letters to several gen
tlemen Of Columbia who are familiar
with the handwriting OF Fielder ana
that these gentlemen are willing 10 go
on the stand ana swear that the let
ters were written by 7. b. I'elder.
Persons in the state OF Georgia VINO
are also familiar with the hanoWrt-
ing of Fielder had made the same as
sertions. I have also two letters writ
ten by Felder-one from England and
one from a point in the United States
to a woman, and the writing of these
letters compared with those OF the II:
B." letters shows that the letters
hold were written by Fielder
In conclusion, the governor says
that he has endeavored to answer eV-
ery charge made against him, but II
any honest man in South Carolina de-
sires any information regarding any
thing, however, small, regarding any
alleged dishonorable act, he Is Willing
to answer the accusation. The gov
ernor's statement is as follows:
Fellow South Carolinians:
On Friday, July IL, and on Satur-
day. July l3, a committee, appointed
by the state legislature, commonly
known as the dispensary investigating
committee, held meetings in the city
of Augusta, Ga. The acts or that
committee and the matters brought
out before 1t have been sent broadcast
over your state, and to all other parts
of the United States as well. Every
daily newspaper in South Carolina,
and practically all the weekly news
papers, have carried accounts or the
meetings held on those two days. In
a number of newspapers my name mas
been carried in large headlines-head-
lines not setting forth even the truth
of the reports appearing In the papers
Themselves. I candidly state that I
have been inclined to pay no attention
to the slanders, rumors and insinua-
tions-none of the matters referred 10
should be dignified by being styled
"charges'-that have appeared In the
newspapers, as coming before TINS
committee, but it has occurred to me
that It is not me and my good name
alone that are involved, but the good
name and honor Of the Palmetto state
and her great people are also affected.
AS your chief executive, 1T is my duty
to defend my state and my people;
therefore, / shall, at this time and In
this manner, lay bare before you the
damnable conspiracy 10 cause the peo-
pie of South Carolina to lose conf
dence in my honor and to tarnish the
proud name of the greatest common
wealth in the American union.
On July IS. in the public prints,
prominent citizen of this state, who
has been a personal friend Of Ira B.
Jones, an opponent of mine in the race
for governor, and who has recently
been giving Mr.. Jones his political
support, commenting on the rotten
ness of the Augusta proceedings. de-
manded that Mr.. Jones denounce those
proceedings. Presumably in reply to
that demand, Mr.. Jones, at the cam
paign meeting in Columbia on July 19,
announced that he approved the con-
duct and actions at Augusta. Differing
from the view taken by Mr.. Jones, l
am now bound to give my reasons for
my disapproval. that the people may
pass judgment between Mr.. Jones and
me, and our respective opinions. My
statement must necessarily be OF some
length, but I ask you to become In
formed of every word Of 1t, remember
ing that 1t is not one-tenth as long
as the reports which have appeared
in the newspapers In the attempt TO
reflect upon your honor and mine.
1t is my purpose to give you facts in
a plain manner-and I shall comment
on those facts. My language, in some
instances, must be strong, but 1t is
language that a gentleman can use and
must use on such occasion. for the
reason that no other words will prop
erly describe my meaning and convey
the truths I shall set forth.
Powers of the Committee.
First, 1 wish to call to your atten-
ton the power given to this dispensary
investigating committee by your leg
islature and the duties required OF It,
] refer you to the acts of the general
assembly for the year 1912, page 1O4l,
for the law under which this commit
tee is supposed to be proceeding. The
title OF the act Is as follows:
AN act to provide for an investiga-
tion of the acts and doings of the state
dispensary commission. and the acts
and dongs of the attorney general In
connection Herewith. and of the acts
and doingS of the committee of the
general assembly appointed under a
concurrent resolution of the general
assembly. dated January 81. 1905
and of the acts and doings of any
other person or persons In any way
connected with the affairs of the state
dispensary. and the investigation and
winding up thereof
1t authorizes and empowers said