Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-11
Maine New Jersey, North Carolina,

Maine, New Jersey, North Carolina.
land Pennsylvania.
II am unable to give you assurance
as to the troops to be selected In each
Istate as its representation. that being
a matter entirely within the control Of
the state authorities. but In a report
from the adJutant general, District OF
Columbia militia, dated February 1,
1913, 1t is stated that the first sepa-
rate battalion tcolored)-225 will
participate. ass ~
" ''very respectfully,
(signed) "a. L. Mills,
BRIG. Gen, General Staff, u. 8. A..
Marsha, Second Division, Inaugural
Parade. @ legf9
i From this letter Of Brig. Gen. Mills,
1t will be seen that negro troops will
/, not only take part In the inaugural
parade, but that they will be given
The position Of honor, at the head or
the column. You win note the words
OF the letter: "First-National
Guard Of the District Of Columbia
militia" in connection with the last
sentence Of the letter, '.in q report
Columbia militia, dated February /,
1913, 1t Is stated that the First
Separate Battalion (colored) )-225',
will participate" It will, therefore,
clearly be seen that II the South Car
olina troops should participate they
would not only be given q position be-
hind negro troops, but behind negro
troops holding the position Of honor
In the parade. have been informed
that Brig. Gen. Willie Jones has re-
ceived information that Maryland also
that Maryland has signified an inten-
ton Of participating In the parade and
has position near the head Of the
column. II L. therefore, an inevita-
BILE conclusion that the South Caro-
lima troops would be treated just as
expected they would be, TO wit: placed
In position In the parade behind
negro troops. ~ fSlSinsI ig ~
i desire to communicate this In
formation to you, gentlemen, In or
der that, IL your resolution should
understood, and in order that you
may know why do not consent for
the South Carolina troops to partici-
pate In the inaugural parade. Indi-
vidually, as stated In my inaugural
address, felt that would receive
Just such treatment In case should
attend, but do not expect to attend,
for the reason which have hereto
fore stated. And ! dc not believe
that the South Carolina militia
either the officers or the privates--
will desire to participate,
under the circumstances. know that.
under these circumstances, Brig. Gen.
Willie Jones will not participate.
notice the following large head
lines In Columbia newspaper this
morning: Wont Draw the LAne on
Negro Militiamen. Inaugural commit
tee declines to give assurance OF this
nature to Gov. Blease." Under the
headlines there is Washington dis
patch In which 1t Is stated: 1T IL un-
will march In the Wilson inauG1i-
raj parade, but the inaugural commit I.
tee authorities do not intend to take
the responsibility Of authorizing such
Ia statement" It will be noted from
the conclusion I have quoted above
that Il Is Officially stated that negro
troops will participate and will lead
the parade. The last sentence In this
Washington dispatch Is as follows;
Whether or not South Carolina will
be represented In the inaugural pa
rade is question still mp to Cover
nor Blease." In answer TO this ques-
|tion, Governor Blease" emphatically
says mo-" It may be, or 1t may not
be. that some Of those whose politi-
|cal and personal aninosity TO me Is
well known, and who will have part In
ARRANGING the ceremonies connected
with the inauguration. may be instru-
mental, In view OF the position which
I have taken. In eliminating negro
troops from the line of march. in Or
der to make It appear that have been
Iunduly exercised over the matter. But
am standing upon the official re-
cords in my hands from the authori-
ties In charge Of this parade, which
give the situation, or purport to give
the situation. officially. as It stands
today.
I have thus placed you gentlemen
in possession Of the entire facts upon
which my position in the matter is
based.
Very respectfully,
ll Cole. L. Blease,
81 Govarnor