The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-05-16
GOVERNOR BLEASE TALKS
TO NEWSPAPER MEN
ON MATTERS OF STATE WIDE IN
TEREST AT PRESENT.
Discusses Tillman. 3. B. Evans De-
ciSiOn And The Senatorial
Race. W
special to The Herald and News.


while in attendance on the Odd Fell
lows grand lodge meeting, was asked
several questions as to statewide mat
ters by newspaper men.
what do you think of the present
agitation with reference to fraud IN
the primary" Governor Blease was
asked.
"Well, in the first place" the gov
ernor replied, 81 think it is really
amusing to see Benjamin Ryan Till
man and Willie Gonzales playing an
tvover. Benny throws the ball over
to Willie, and Willie kisses it ana
throws it back to Benny. 1t used to
he with those two distinguished
"sbinny on your own side but now
thew have got ta be great chums, and
wouldn't be at all surprised to see
BENNY lead the fight to have Willie
confirmed for any position that Mr.,
Wilson may give him, as Benny seems
to have surrendered absolutely and 10
have forgotten the many bitter, mean
and vindictive things which the Span
isb-cuban mixed-blood bureau has
noured forth against him. Last sum-
mer, at the very opening CT the cam
paign, l offered a reward OF i've nun
dred dollars, l believe it was, for the
conviction of persons violating the
election laws, and, in addition TO thaC'
as governor of the State l did every
thing within my power to see that
free, fair and impartial primary was
held. When the charges Of fraud ana
corruntion were made l offered to 90
NV part in investigating it, and putting
. stop to it, if it existed, and de-
nounced it from the State house steps.
Later when the legislature met
sent them a message asking them to
investigate the matter, and offered
them proof from certain counties: A
resolution was introduced and passed
bv the house, but it was smuggled IN
to its grave by an anti-Blease senate.
IF there was no fraud on the other
side. why didn't the other side wei
come my request for an investigation
welcome the Fortner resolution, ana
have such investigation. Oh, no,
thew knew who had violated the cleo
ton laws, they knew who had nlreo
NON IN travel South Carolina for them,
and when I al cused, on the stump
their candidate for governor OF haV-
ing hired men travelling the State tor
him, daring him to deny it, he sat
silent. No wonder that he did, now
that we know what we do. And IN
the light of these 'hings, it is not
now at all surprising that the Columbia
mixed-breed incubator is accusing all
South Carolinians Of being bribe CIV
ers or bribe takers IN primaries, ana
II is not at all surprising that some
South Carolinians who took part IN
this bribe-taking and bribe-giving, are
Mating the Cubans upon the back and
saving. Give it to 'em, buys
at is a curious combination, but as
said in Charleston the other day and
ronaa+ now, it is a dirty, dirty bird
that befouls its own nest. And this
hcllering fraud in the primary by some
people reminds me of another thing:
Whenever you hear fellow hollering,
I~.stop, thief" you watch him, and
whenever you hear fellow always
talking about somebody else stealing,
Won will ind that be is thief him
self. 999 times out CT a thousand. SO,
with these people who are hollering
for pure. clean elections; hunt the
proof and see whether they are clean
or not
and Senator Tillman proves that
he is weak-minded, and getting old
and feeble, because he admits and
boasts Of the fact that he is the faith
er CT the primary. and yet he says that
he was not a statesman, but politl-
clan fixing something for the present
in 1890 and for his own ends and pur-
noses. for if he had been a statesman,
far-sighted, looking for the best in
tergsts of his people, and not solely
looking fer his own interests, he would
have so safeguarded his primary that
he would not today be befouling his
&C. md saving that his own