Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1913-11-05
RIRING THE FIRST DIG GUN.
Governor and Followers from Over
State Hold UOusing Meeting.

<---E-
Columbia, Oct. 29-Determination
to oppose any effort to restrict the
primary, and an equal determination
to control the next Democratic State
Convention and State committee,
were prominent features of the con-
ference Of 200 followers of Governor
Cole l.. Blease, who gathered to-
night in the Jefferson Hotel around
the banquet board and listened to
speeches from Governor Blease and
his prominent lieutenants.
The banquet began at o'clock
and lasted until midnight. speeches
from leaders worked the gathering
up at times to the highest pitch of
enthusiasm. Governor b ease was
given an ovation, and tho speakers
We'd with one another in paving trib-
ute to their leader. The meeting
brought forth the positive announce
ment from Charles Carroll Simms, of
Barnwell, a close personal and polt-
ical friend Of the Governor, that hr
next year. The Governor himself
emphatically stated that he would
take no hand in the Gubernatcrial
race in the first primary, but intimat-
ed that he would back the Blease
man in the second race if that lace
be between a Blease man and an anti
Bleaseite
TO Oppose Manning.
AS equally significant was the
statement from Governor Blease that
he would fight as long as he lived
the man who introduced the resolu-
tion in the State committee last sum-
mer providing for an investigation
into the charges Of fraud in the pri-
mary. While he called no names, the
reference was clearly understood to
be Richard |. Manning, Of Sumter.
1t brought forth storm Of cheers.
Senator McLaurin and c. G.. Simms
were the only Gubernatorial candi-
dates present. Both made speeches,
but Mr.. Simms appeared to be the
favorite OF the gathering, cries of
Our Next Governor" and cheers
punctuating his speech, which was
largely a glowing tribute to Cover
nor Blease and his followers. Sena-
tor McLaurin was given respectful
attention and drew applause, but ap-
parently his speech did not contain
the material the crowd wanted.
Assistant Attorney General Domi-
nick acted as. toastmaster and in his
Introductory remarks was given
wanted him to run for Governor, and
this was suggested by several speak
ers, but he positively declined, say
ing that he was going to be elected
10 Congress from the Third District.
Secure Control, Urges Blcase.
Governor Blease urged his follow
ers to attend clu' meetings and Sc
cure control OF 'N. convention, bit
terly opposed any restriction Of the
primary, announcing that he would
veto any legislation along this line,
urged every white man to register,
charged that fraud was committed
in the last primary by the Jones
people and that his majority over
Jones was really 10000; said fund
had been collected and used in that
primary from corporations in trying
10 help elect Jones, and said one man
now running for Governor had gone
around in his home town and took
up a fund, and that he hoped mo
Blease man would disgrace himself
by voting for that man for Cover
nor" Saying he would fight him on
the stump next summer.
The 200 Blease followers were
gathered from every county in the
State and comprise men from every
profession and walk of life. Gather
ed in the jefferson Hotel lobby to-
night We're Congressman, candidates
for Governor and other public men
and the keencst interest was mani
Tested in what the Blease conference
was doing.
EAT CABBAGE, FISH,