The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1913-06-13
BLEASE AND ms ':NIccER
(Fountain Inn Tribunel


A long time ago, when first came
South, / was told that the white man
was largely responsible for the ne
groes' meanness. was frankly
skeptical. Ia
But later learned that all respect
able Southern people are agreed
that decent negro is more desir-
able citizen than sorry white man.
I learned, also, that the lowest ele-
ment of the whites is really infeRfor
to the black race-morally, intellect
ually, and otherwise.
Knowing then how the negro pat
terms after the white man, and gaug-
es his manner of speech and conduct
by the white mans humor, was not
greatly surprised to find that the sor-
riest of white men can persuade the
black into devilment.
All Southern people recognize the
necessity for certain restrictions up-
on the colored race. -
Treat him shade too kindly, give
him shade too much encourage
ment, and the average negro be-
comes unbearably impudent.
Impudence leads to disregard for
law and officers of the law, and the
spoiled negro becomes criminal.
Cole L. Blease, whom unkind cir
cumstance placed in the governors
chair professed to be white-man's
man. He vetoed the appropriation
for heating system for the negro
school, and hastened to make politi-
cal capital out of the incident by de-
claring that many poor white
mans children had to dress on a cold
morning without fire, and he, the
Poor Mans Friend, didn't propose to
furnish steam heat for negro child
rem to dress by. S
1t was very heroic, and very good
politics-but it was pure sham!
Blease loves "nigger." No abo-
litionist of the '60s could have felt
the tender soul-yearning for the coli
ored folk that our beloved governor
feels. He dotes on 'em-and he will
protect 'em, have care, at any costl
Blease owns an auto. He hires q
negro to drive it for him. The negro
puffed up doubtless by the size of
his job, takes little thought of the
speed laws of our capital city of CO.
lumbia, and races up the main thor
oughfare regardless. a
Once the negro driver was arrest
ed and fined. Blease promptly par
doned him. Again he was arrested
and Blease issued another pardons
But the police authorities of Colum7
bia paid no attention to the pardonS)
The negro paid the fines-and cohtirX
ued to speed. Was not white man,
the governor of the State, looking
after him? Tell with Columbia's
police.
When his pardons were ignored,
Blease resorted to characteristic
trick.
Richland county is dispensary
county. 1t has constabulary force.
The men on the force receive 500 the
month, half of which is paid by the
county, half by Columbia. The gov
ernor appoints the men.
And now, every time Columbia
fines the governors chauffeur, the
governor "gets even" by appointing
another member of the constabulary
force-adding $40 the month to Co.
lumbia's expense accountant
boasting of it.
Picture, if you can, white gov
ernor of a white State, standing with
his protecting. arm about woody
headed black, and saying to white
officers of the law: "Stand back
there, white folks! Keep your hands
off my pet What if he does break
laws? Amt he MY nigger? Amt
I governor? You bet I am! And
I'll protect this darling nigger auto
driver of mine if it takes the white
State militia to do it,"
And he will, too.
Blease bids for notoriety by de-
claring that he approves of lynch
ing negroes-but he protects his
own negro. At that, he is consist
ent enough. For the lynching, of |
which he so heartily approves, is
lawless; and his chauffeur, whom he |
so fondly upholds, is also lawless.
Can it be that Blease is siapa7.l
against anything and everything
that smacks of decency and order?
Poor, ignorant governor!
And poor, unfortunate negro
chauffeur. He will, without doubt, |