The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-08-07
BlElsE MAKES DENIAL,
BRANDS RECENT STATEMENTS
OF MAYOR GRACE AS FALSE.
Says Grace ''Licd" In Railway story.
Tells of Political Relations with
Grace and Possession of IT. b."
letters.

columbia. August 1.-Denying the
charges made by Mayor John y
Grace OF Charleston. at the Glenr
Springs hotel this week, branding
them as UNANIMOUSLY false and con.
temptible," Governor Blease toda,
gave out statement for the press
The governor goes into the reference.
made by Mayor Grace TO the IT. b.
letters: the mayors political affilia.
tions with the governor; the alleged
"carous" at the wrights hotel the
nieht before the inauguration: the
charge that the governor had wet
nursed" McDufie Hampton. candidate
for railroad commissioner. into office
I'm the election of 1910. and had doled
out Southern railway money for
Hamptons campaign. and other mat
ters dealt with by the Charleston off,
eial In his recent story Of the COVER
nor's conduct.
The governor said:
Il have read the statement sent out
by John p. Grace from Glenn Springs.
5. c., which contains that foul and
dirty lie. displayed in large headlines
in The Columbia State-"A Negro
Story"
1t Is 50 UNANIMOUSLY false and con-
temptible that do not desire to lower
myself as a gentleman to further no.
tice IL. and am satisfied that all of the
people of South Carolina will agree
with me that nobody with any gentle
manly instinct whatever would make
such a foul and filthy statement. I
could not but wonder what the moth
ers Of this State thought when they
saw that the daily papers would pub
lish such a thing. to be read by their
sweet and innocent daughters, par
teularly those between the ages Of 12
and is. These same newspapers re-
Gently refused to publish some re-
marks OF mine because they said they
were not fit for publication. yet they
were made from the stump. But, they
now give space and herald to the
world. In great headlines. the filthiest
article that has appeared in the South
Carolina papers In many years. This
Is but another evidence OF their un-
fairness and meanness. Shame upon
a press that would publish such a
thing. even though IL be true--but
this is truly In keeping with the pa
per which the editor of The State re-
GENTLY read upon the Ethics OF
Journalism'-and II Is pity that q
city. composed of such proud people.
should have such person for it's
Mayor.
As To his staten mt about the south
ern kailway-that IS absolutely and
maiiciously false. l never made such
a statement TO him or anyone else in
my htc. and when he speaks of the
son Of South Cardinals grand old
hero. Wade Hampton, as common
drunkard he speaks falsely and
places himself beneath the notice e
am man with pure white blood in his
veins. Mr.. McDufie Hampton and
myself were on She campaign together
two years ago: we were friends;
treated him kindly and politely as
treat all gentlemen. The statemen;
that ] handled money for the South
ern railway and took vouchers from
Nr. Hampton for the same is as foul
a lie as was ever spo:cn or written
by human being. have never han
died dollar OF Southern Railway
delivered A dollar or any other sum of
money To Mr.. Hampton during the
entire campaign. and have never so
stated to any man--in fact 7 did not
even loan him any amount Of money.
"As o. Grace's statement that hc
supported me; he told me himself that
he did not support me In the first pri-
mary. AMI | was informed 10y those
who had charge Of affairs for me in
Charleston that he was against me
and for Mcleod. but that he claimed
To lie for me I'm the second race. II
ne was for me and worked for me In
the first primary. ne must have had
very little influence. for only re.
eeived G3S votes In the entire county
Of Charleston.
As To appointing him ON my staff.
have already said that that was don,
at the request OF Mr.. Rossclcr. die
not want Grace on the staff. but want
ed Mr.. RCssrler. MIR. RoSsclcr in
sisted thnt I appoint Grace. which