The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-06-21
JONES AND BLEASE In
FIRST JOINT DEBATE
STATE CAMPAIGN OPENS IN GAME.
COCK CITY.

Gubernatorial Race Officially Starts,
But Nothing of Sensational Ma
ture Developed.
Sumter, June 1S.-A peoples gov
ernment as opposed to corporation
rule, a government by and for all of
the people and not by oae man and
for his friends, appears 70 be the basis
of contention in the gubernatorial
\ contest, the campaign for which office,
together with that for all the other
State Offices, began here today.
& Twelve candidates for Offices in
!which there are contests appeared be-
fore an audience Of probably LOO
U voters from Sumter county and con-
tiguous territory in this, the opening
meeting of the campaign of 1912.
The features of this first clash OF
,contesting candidates were the speech
es of Governor Cole. L. Blease and
Judge Ira B. Jones, candidates for
governor, and the tense situation
brought about between Attorney Cen
.eral J. Fraser Lyon and Barnard B.
Evans, candidates for the Office of at
torney general. Mr.. Lyon has issued
his ultimatum, which Mr.. Evans has
defed, and the former promises to ex-
pose the record Of the latter at Bish-
opville tomorrow. This is the result
of Mr.. Lyons statement that he would
show by court records and afidavits
that Barnard B. Evans is not worthy
the confidence of the public, if the lat
ter persisted in his accusation against
the winding-up commission of the Old
State dispensary headed by DR.. W. J.
Murray. This incident was by no
means overshadowed by the Jones'
Blease contest.
Jones VS.. Blease.
Those who expected to see the "fur
fly" today in the gubernatorial con-
test were disappointed. According to
his custom, Governor Blease read his
platform, although he did comment
somewhat as he proceeded And those
who were keyed up to the expectations
of hearing Judge Jones devote his en-
tire time to an attack upon the COVER
nor and his administration were also
disappointed. Governor Blease made a
strong speech, despite the fact that he
read greater portion of it: it took we'll
with the crowd; it was effective Judge
Jones stressed the point that he was
not negative candidate, but that he
stood for something that would mean
advancement and progress for the
State. About half of his speech was
devoted to discussion of progressive
legislation
A Peoples Government.
1t develops that the keynote of Gov
ernor Blease's campaign is his claim
of being the peoples governor, and
the charge, by implication, again and
again, that Judge Jones is the candi-
date of the corporations. Judge Jones
makes the counter charge that Cover
nor Blease is on strong friendly terms
with one of the biggest corporation
chiefs in the State, w. H. Andrews, Of
the Atlantic Coast Lumber company,
of Georgetown, and that he dwells un-
der the same roof with the chief coun-
sci of the biggest corporation in the
Col B. L. Abney, counsel for
the Southern railway Governor Blease
claims to be the peoples governor;
Judge Jones replies that, instead Of
this being true, Blease is the governor
of his friends only, and not of all the
people.
Charges of Fraud.
Another matter of particular inter-
est was the charge made by Governor
Blease that money and other illegal
influences were being employed in
this campaign to accomplish his de-
feat. He does not attribute the use
of money to Judge Jones. but charges
unqualifedly that money, intimida-
ton and liquor are being used to de-
bauch the voters of the State, and
frauds at the ballot box are contem-
plated, said the governor.
Raises Cry of Fraud.