The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1912-07-26
BLEASE MAKES REPLY
TO FIELDER CHARGES
In Statement Made at Chester Campaign Meeting Gov
ernor Denies Charges Against Him---Attacks
Burns Detectives and Dspensary
Probers---Synopsis of Speech

Chester, July 2O-Charging that
the South Carolina legislative inves-
tigating committee proceeded in viola
tion of the law which created it; that
it took testimony from. a fugitive from
justice, in locality where the wit
nesses were immune from indictment
for perjury, Gov. Cole L. Blease, at
the State campaign meeting here to-
day, denied specifically and in detail
the charges brought against him in the
evidence submitted last Friday and
Saturday, at Augusta, by Thomas B.
Fielder and the Burns detectives.
In addition to his attacks upon Eel
der, whereby he sought to prove his
unworthiness of belief, the Governor
also paid his respects to Detective
VIM. j. Burns, to discredit whom he
quoted, from magazine article writ
ten by Samuel Gompers, labor leader,
statements which tended to show that
when the Burns agency failed TO dis
cover wrong it manufactured case
Not Enough Hot Stuff"
Governor Blease's statement was
read in a very calm voice, and al
though he warned the people that he
would likely use some very strong Ian
guage, which the occasion, he said,
demanded, it was patent that his SYM
pathizers were somewhat disappointed
in not being treated to more "hot
stuff than was contained in the state
ment. There were many calls of "give
it to him." etc.
1t was further noticeable that ap-
plause was evoked not so much by the
Governors defense of himself as by
the few strong words he employed in
denouncing his accusers.
Another element was the disap-
pointment of many of his friends in
not hearing the Governor lambast his
opponent, Judge Jones. This does not
mean that strictest attention was not
accorded, fo rthe audience of possibly
1,100, were intensely interested in the
statement. But the absence of fire to
stir the feelings of his hearers was
more than noticeable in the effect up
on the crowd. A synopsis of Governor
Blease's statement, in reply to the
charges brought by Thos. B. Fielder
is as follows:
"Damnable Conspiracy"
Allen s:-ssnskecatjys, At is my
\ duty to defend my State and my peo-
pie, therefore, shall at this time and
in this, manner lay bare before you the
damnable conspiracy to 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 realm, said Governor
Cole L. Blease in his statement, is
sued this afternoon, replying to the
charges brought against him by Thos.
B. Fielder and Detective w. ]. Burns,
before the dispensary investigating
committee in Augusta.
The Governor takes up the charges
one by one, disposing of them with
aifidavits in several cases. His reply
covers forty-seven type written pages,
and the Governor demands" that the
newspapers publish it in full. else he
says he will charge that they were
leagued with Fielder and the investi-
eating committee
| He says that if they do pub blish his
reply in full, 81 shall have accom-
plished one purpose, at least land that
is to teach these editors one small
lesson in the ethics of journalism"
Says Probers Exceeded Authority.
The Governor first discussed the Act
/ creating the investigating committee
and charges that they have exceeded
their authority and power in probing
into the Charleston graft" charges
and in taking the testimony of Fielder
and Burns at Augusta. He dubs the
committees act as "unlawful."
| Taking up next what he terms "Fel-
der's motives" the reply charges that
Fielder is fugitive from justice and
knew of the Governors information
that Fielder had been guilty of at
tempting to form a conspiracy to cheat
and defraud the State. He refers to
Felder's charges made against him,
when he promised to write book, as
threats that were jokes"
He charges that Fielder having moth
ing and being unable to find nothing
against him, hit upon the plan of
making case" and employed Will
liam j. Burns an dhis associates, re-
ferring to them collectively as "plenty
of money and scoundrels."
"Body Guard" and "Pallbearers"
The governor says that if Fielder
was afraid to come into South Caro-