Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-25
THE FIRST DISTRICT ELECTION
Governor BIease Gives Out Interview
Explaining His Position.

out to the News and Courier at the re-
terview explaining fully his position in
connection with the calling of an elec-
tion to select a successor to Congress-
man Legare:
Shortly after Congressman Legare's
death / wrote to each county chairman
in the First congressional district in or
der to get their views in regard to hold
ing a primary. All Of them answered,
favoring the primary. I myself, per-
sonally, favored 1t, as ! have always
favored the primary in this state. AS
the candidates were announced, I ad-
dressed a letter to each Of them, wheth-
er prospective candidates or those pos
itively announced, and each Of them
answered, favoring the primary. ] Sc
cured this information for two reasons,
first, so that when the executive COM
mittee met / could furnish 1t to them,
and, secondly, that / might order the
general election at such time as would
give opportunity for primary to be
held.
Il am member Of the state execu-
tive committee, but have not attended
a meeting since the present chairman
was elected, and will not attend one
him, and never expect to-personally,
on business or otherwise. Consequent
ly / would not attend any meeting over
which he presided, and II should be
so unfortunate as to be in one where a
majority would select him as their pre-
siding officer, would Immediately re-
tire. tH
When the committee met here last
Friday I was exceedingly busy, having
just received from my secretary, Col.
Aull, large number Of bills which had
been ratified by the general assembly
and were awaiting my signature.
thought, however, that the committee
would consult the governor-not the
member Of the committee from New
berry, but the governor Of the state,
whose duty II was to order the election,
upon the time the primary should be
ordered. However, the committee-or,
at least, those who met; understand
there was not quorum present, and
those In the meeting had no right to
transact any business-but those who
did meet, following their usual custom
OF last year, showed their political bias
and prejudice against the present gov
ernor by absolutely ignoring him in the
matter, and fel that I am In no way
bound to recognize the acts Of minor
ity Of committee, who did not consti-
tute a quorum, when they absolutely
ignored me in the matter.
Some time ago I announced to you
that would order the election possibly
the second Tuesday in April, but GER
tainly during the month Of April, for I
deemed 1t extremely important on ac-
count of Charleston's situation and
location towards the Panama canal, and
also for the reason that II has been
agreed that the appointments of Pres
ident Wilson In this state shall be gov
erned by the congressman Of the re-
spective districts-in view Of these
facts, I say, deemed II extremely i'm
portant for this important post at
Washington to be filled at the earliest
possible moment. was surprised, then,
when I saw that the committee had not
only ignored me, but had ignored the
date which had suggested, and post
poned the primary to date which, IL
1t should be allowed to govern the
date for the general election, would
deprive this district of a representa-
tive until the end Of the special session
Of congress which President Wilson
will call, which think would be very
detrimental to the best interests Of the
district, and particularly to the port
and city Of Charleston.
However, to be frank with you and
with the people Of the district, I do not
think primary advisable IL II is to be
used as a means to rob candidates by
force, and think 1t disgraceful and
disgusting that eay body Of white men
should say that another white man
shall pay the enormous and extrava-
CANT sum Of $500 for the bare privilege
Of being candidate In a white mans
primary in South Carolina It is out
rageous, because 1t utterly deprives the
poor white man Of the right of enter
ing the race. BY the time he raises
this $500, and then pays his absolutely
necessary expenses, and the contribu-
tions that will be expected Of him by
the county committees, and the indi-
didate does pay, and Is forced to make
under the disguise Of charity, he will
be ruined, II he is poor man, and, In
short, 1t simply means that nobody but
a corporation official, or corporation
furnished-money candidate can get In
the race. ] believe that is the purpose
for which II was done, and II, as the
governor Of the people Of this state,
can thwart 1t, believe 1t is my duty
to do so, and propose to do 1t. And
propose, in the next state convention,
to make a fight to fix the assessments
Of candidates, through a committee,
and take 1t out of the hands Of set Of
politicians who place themselves as the
special guardians Of the people and
attempt to deprive the poor man of the
privilege of entering a race. guess II
this crowd could fix the assessments
next summer they would put the as
sessment for the United States senate
so high that 1t would be absolutely i'm
possible for me to pay II, in order that
the corporations might elect their can
didate, and the poor people, unless they
took up private subscription to enter
their man, would be deprived even of
the privilege Of having some one to
vote for.
And, while we are speaking Of the
matter Of expense, and where the mo-
ney goes to, 1t might be well to see who
was present and who was paid for at
tending this so-cal!ed special meeting
Of the executive committee.
Il think 1t better for the First dis
trict to have no primary, rather than to
be forced to vote for only such men as
the corporations will furnish the money
to pay the campaign expenses and as
sessments Of.
Il consider this a grave situation,
and direct discrimination in favor of
the members Of the state executive
committee had better beware before
they go much further with this kind of
politics.
MY private secretary, Col. Aull, stat
ed my position in your paper, and !
stand by what he said. add what I
have here stated in order that my po-
sition may be given in full, and that
the people Of the state and Of the dis
trict may see and know what is going
on; and, for the further reason, to let
the people see that 1t is not q conflict
between the state executive committee
and the governor, but merely disa-
greement between the governor and a
little handful Of men-not even a quor-
the state executive committee,
who are attempting to dictate to the
white voters of a congressional district
And / have no doubt but that certain
for congress were consulted
In the matter, while others were ignor-
ed.
LAS matter Of fact, believe the ac-
ton Of those claiming to be the execu-
tive committee is entirely illegal, and
there was not quorum present. II the
committee wants to do the right thing
1t can now meet and have the primary
within the time mentioned in the pro-
and no one will be hurt. The
law recurring sixty days as to Charles