Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-01-28
THE GOVERNORS INAUGURAL
Outline Of Executive Policy for the
Next Two Years.
POSITIVE VIEWS ON CURRENT MATTERS

Appropriations for Colleges Must be
ltemized. Give the People Chance
to Register Before Amending Pri-
mary RuIes-Important Investisa.
tions Called For-Matters Persona
and Otherwise.
Following Is a stenographic report of
the address that Governor Blease de-
livered to the general assembly in joint
session and to crowds Of visitors in the
house galleries on last Tuesday, the
occasion Of his second Inauguration as
governor.
Mr.. President, Mr.. Speaker, Gentle
men Of the House of Representatives
and State Senate, Ladies' and Gentle
men:
God Almighty has never given to any
man truer or more devoted friends than
he has given to me, and no man loves
his friends better than I love mine.
Hanging on the wall in the office of the
chief executive Of South Carolina is a
motto which reads: "Of what shall a
man be proud IL he Is not proud Of his
friends" Sometimes the question Is
asked me why It Is or how 1t Is that
can get hold Of certain information
which seems to be secret between man
and man, or sometimes between a man
and his God. It Is because my friends
are true; they are ever Jealous and al
ways on the alert to protect me and my
interests wherever or whenever the oc-
casion may arise. / hold In my hand
the Bible upon which have taken the
oath of office as governor of South Car
olina for the second time. It was my
fathers BiLle. In it read, Thy
friends and thy fathers friends forsake
not" If never obeyed any other in
junction in 1t have tried to obey that
one, and by the help Of God, shall con-
tinue so to dc. I read another passage:
And all things whatsoever ye shall ask
in prayer, believing, We shall receive" /
hope that the ministers Of the Gospel
who prayed for my defeat last summer
feel within their hearts that they be-
lieved when they were praying; and,
II so, they should, be happy. Those who
prayed for the best man to win should
certainly be delighted, for, from that
passage Of Scripture, they certainly be-
lieved when they prayed, and ! have
the honor Of addressing this general as
sembly, by the voice Of nearly seventy
five thousand Of the white people Of
South Carolina. We were told that some
ladies prayed in that campaign. am
satisfied they believed when they pray
ed. God answered their prayer, and
thank them for praying for the best
man to win. ! thank them that am
here.
Gentlemen Of the general assembly. /
desire to say to you that regret the
fact that there is q fight between two
of your state colleges-one that think
should be investigated by you and one
that think should be investigated In a
serious manner. If am correctly In
formed, the Peabody fund being distrib-
uted throughout these United States
has as one Of the members Of its trus-
tees the Hon. Martin F. Ansel of South
Carolina. If I am correctly informed,
the trustees Of this fund had agreed to
give Winthrop college about $4,000.
The president of the South Carolina
college went north, ana am told that
Mr.. Ansel has in his possession state
ment signed by the president Of the
South Carolina college that If the Pea
body fund trustees would give to the
South Carolina college certain amount
Of that money, that he, as president of
the South Carolina college, would agree
and consent for the remainder of that
money to go to the education Of free
negroes. I have tried to get copy Of
that report, and have not succeeded;
son, the able and distinguished presi-
dent of Winthrop, that that Is true.
And, II II Is true, certainly the presi-
dent of the South Carolina college has
no place in the educational department
Of South Carolina. If he would rather
take that money to educate negroes
than to give 1t to the white girls OF
South Carolina, he certainly has no
place during my administration in any
department Of the government, or, par.
ticularly, the educational department Of
the state. You can get the information
If you will ask Mr.. August Kohn, who
l understand, was somewhat familiar
with the transaction; or possibly II you
will ask the state superintendent the
Hon. John E. Swearingen, or II you
will summon before your committee
DR.. D. B. Johnson, the president OF
Winthrop college.
Now, gentlemen, If the two colleges
are to fight one another-if Winthrop
is to fight the university. let Winthrop
fight the university like a man; or, II
the university is to fight Winthrop, let
the university fight winthrop like q
man; but for Gods sake, don't let
them use such methods as I have re-
ceived this information Of; don't let one
of them say, after it has received its
measly pittance, that 1t is willing that
the balance should go to educate free
negroes in South Carolina.
That Is a matter for you to investi-
gate, and 1t is a serious matter. II they
had let Winthrop alone, am informed
she would have got $4,000, and possi-
bly, more, but by this under-handed
fight she was cut down very consider
ably in that appropriation, and you will
be called upon this year, as result. to
make larger appropriation than you
would have had to make If Winthrop
had received that money. / tried to get
the facts palmer to lay them before
you; l wanted to get them in writing;
but l am satisfied that If you will send
for Prof. Johnson he will tell you what
he told me, and when he does tell you
I am satisfied that you will find or you
will excuse a common expression)
pretty dirty transaction on the part OF
somebody.
That is plain talk, but that is exact
ly what came up here for.
Now, gentlemen Of the general as
sembly, l want to call your attention to
another matter. I want to ask you,
when these colleges present their esti-
mates, and the appropriation bill is
drawn, that you require that the items
be separated. Some Of you have been
elected on platform Of economy; some
of you promised on the stump to try to
help to reduce taxes. l stand here to
join you in that fight, whatever may be
the consequences. And, my friends,
don't let the South Carolina college
come in here and say, for the South
Carolina college $21S,000; don't let
Winthrop say, for Winthrop s11S,O0O;
don't let the Citadel say, for the Cita-
del $33,500. If you do don't be sur
prised if l apply the veto, for, in that
event, expect to do so. even IL 1t shuts
up the colleges for the balance Of this
year; I am going to do it; l am going
to put the matter squarely up to you,
because 1 promised the people, by the
help of God, that I would do what /
could to reduce taxes, and I am going
to do my part. The 72 043 people who
voted for me shall never say did not
carry out every promise l made them
If Cod gives me the strength and lets