Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-05-16
GOVERNOR AT ANDERSON
Talks About Evans Disbarment and
the Senatorial Race.

While at Anderson the other, Gov
ernor Blease gave out a red-hot inter-
view in which he discussed various
matters, including Senator Tillman,
Editor Gonzales and others.
He commented quite caustically on
what Senator Tillman has been saying
of the alleged corruption In the First
district primary, and charged the sem
ator with indirect responsibility In
failing, when he established the pri-
mary, to guard against abuses. He
said that at that time Tillman was
looking out only after the promotion
OF his own selfish interests instead
Of the welfare. Of the state. He de-
scribed Tillman and Gonzales, former
bitter enemies, as having gotten to-
gether in common cause for their own
interest, and repeated about both Ian
guage similar to that he used in the
newspaper message sent to the last
general assembly. With reference to
was written by Editor L. M. Green of
the Anderson Intelligencer, continues:
Asked what he thought OF the deci-
sion OF the supreme court in the B. B.
Evans case, Governor Blease said:
You have asked me q question now
that l do not expect to discuss. ap-
pointed, when Judge Gary was dis
qualified, my young friend Sam Mich
oils to serve on that court, because
knew he was q young man of the
highest character. Of exceptional abil-
ity, and worthy to wear, not only tenn
porarily, but permanently, the ermine
Of q supreme court justice, and the
legislature could do no better at its
next session, If 1t be called upon to fill
q vacancy on that bench, than to elect
Sam J. Nichols. i - :ftn, aa''
However, will say this; that It Is
gratifying to me to see that the su-
preme court Is adopting my method Of
parole--that method for which I have
been so severely condemned by some
members Of that court and by others
lin that they say to Barney, You are
guilty, but we parole you on condition
that you are Of good behavior and
drink no intoxicating liquors for two
years They thereby endorse my
policy Of paroles, because I have often
said and now say to prisoners, I will
give you your liberty during your
good behavior and on condition that
you do not drink intoxicating liquors.
am glad that the members Of the su-
preme court have been reading their
Bibles and have reached, at least in
this case, the conclusion that they
may themselves some day expect mer-
cy, and to others mercy they must
show. fa. .t"
II believe in helping a man when he
that I could give Barney, In order that
might show him that ], was willing
to lend him q helping hand and to
give him an opportunity to prove to
the world that he Is q man. have
been thinking and studying, but !
cannot find anything at present that
Is within my power to give, that feel
he would be willing to accept. But II
had position I would go to him
and offer 1t to him and tell him, Bar
ney, stand up and be man, and show
to the world that you can make good.
II such opportunity comes to me II
shall be Barney's, Notwithstanding the
fact that some members Of his family
have been my bitterest enemies and
have done those things against me
which did not think would ever have
come from such source. However, ]
hold not against one brother that
which others do, but let every man
stand for himself, and be a man for
a. that and a. that
What about the encampment for
Anderson, governor?"
II am sorry," was the reply, that
/ am not In position to give you more
information. To be honest with you,
I am not as well posted on the mill
tia as I might be- but II II is within
my power to request, direct or COM
mand that regiment be encamped in
Anderson this summer, you will have
a regiment in Anderson. There Is no
better county In the state; there Is no
better place in the state, and there Is
no better people In the state. You are
due II, and you shall have 1t II every
thing I can do to bring II about can
accomplish 1t. OF course If can't, I
can't. but so far in my life have new
er recognized the words, I can't SO
II It Is possible for 1t to be brought
about, under the proper and legal
rules and regulations, you will have
an encampment."s .s .r.r a..E
Well, governor, what about your
senatorial racer
"As to that, have had very little
to say. have received from every
part Of this state invitations asking
me to deliver addresses this summer.
Some have accepted; many, official
duties forced me to decline. ! have
never been one Of those who thought
I needed rest. Since / entered the
political arena in 1890 1t has been
fight, fight, fight Last summer, when
the campaign was over my doctors
advised me II didn't go somewhere
and take a rest was liable to have a
serious breakdown. My duties fore
ed me to my office. Throughout the
legislative session and throughout the
entire winter, and even up until now,
n H., Al nj, a nrr1o h11t
and have been attending strictly to
not counting a few pardons that
have had to contend with, along with
an occasional parole. However, had
hoped that I would get rest this
summer, but II the people decree 9TH
erwise I am their servant and shall
letters from all over the state, and
wherever / go l receive strong person.
al assurances and endorsements Of
my race for the senate. However, ] am
free to say that / do not feel as much
interested in that race as / did In my
governors race. My life's ambition
was to be governor Of my state. My
whole life has been spent looking to-
wards that. and every dollar that I
could make has been legitimately
spent to the bringing about Of that re-
suit. And when / was inaugurated
governor I received, as / said then
and repeat, the highest honor that
South Carolina can give a man.
"Of course 1t will be very gratifying
to me to be elected to the senate, as a
further endorsement Of my service to
my people, but I do not propose to
submit to or to go through with, for
that office, what have been forced to
submit to and go through with to be
governor Of my state.
Everything, however, is bright, and
it matters not who enters the race
will be elected to the senate by my
friends, for my devotion to duty and
for my faithfulness to them. OF course
have lost some friends since the last
primary, because I have not done all
that some people wanted me to do.
have refused to pardon in some cases
pressed by my friends, and have re-
fused to make certain appointments,
and have done and refused to do other
things, and naturally some people are
sore. But, on the other hand, have
made some good, strong, able men sit
up and take notice for my fairness to
them, for my decisions in causes
which they were interested in, and
sometimes in which they were not
personally interested. In many such