The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-11-25
GOVERNOR BLEASE ASKS
NEWSPAPER FOR PROOF
WRITES EDITOR OF THE COLUM-
BIA STATE.
Will Close Up Alleged "BarrOOmS' Ii
Editor Will Furnish Him Neces.
sary Proof.

Columbia, Nov. 22.-Governor
Blease has called upon the editor of
The State, the morning paper pub
lished IN Columbia, to furnish proof
of open bar rooms in this city as it was
charged existed in recent editorial in
that newspaper.
"Now, if you desire your community
rid of these institutions of which you
complain in your editorial, furnish this
proof, and as Governor of Souta Car
olina, promise you results" says the
governor today in a letter addressed to
the editor of The State.
The matter is of general public in
terest throughout South Carolina.
Governor Blease's letter follows:
Editor The Columbia State, Columbia,
S. C.
Dear Sir: On my return to the office
from a visit to jacksonville, find, in
your issue of Thursday morning, Nov
ember 20, editorial, page 4, column 2,
headed, Columbia Bar-rooms. have
had stated to me on several occasions
that there were club rooms in Colum-
bia, the names of which l do not here
care to mention, but I assure you that
their membership is composed Of the
very best people of Columbia and some
of these clubs have been in existence
ever since l remember the city of CO.
lumbia. It was stated to me that
whiskey and beer were being sold in
these clubs. l reported the matter to
my chief constable, who Immediately
made thorough investigation of the
matter, and requested my informants
to make afidavits to these sales, but
each time | was met with the answer,
"Oh, no, don't use my name in con-
nection with the matter, would not
for anything let these people know
that 1 had gone into their clubs and
enjoyed their hospitality and gone out
and betrayed them; merely wanted to
tell you whiskey and beer were being
sold." Therefore, l have been unable
to get the proof which was necessary
in order to prosecute these parties.
But in this article Of yours notice
the words, eve have recited the plain,
glaring facts You will please, there
fore, be kind enough to furnish me
vita the names and the locations Of
these borrooms of which you speak,
and the names of the party or parties
in control thereof, along with an
affidavit and the names of your wit
neses that beer and vhiskey are being
sold in said places, and l promise you
that within a few short hours after
you shall have furnished me with this
information warrants will be sworn
! out and these places will be searched
and relieved of their stocks of goods
and fixtures, and each and every man
connected Herewith will be arrested
and either locked up in your county
| jail or placed under sufficient bond
, to appear for trial.
| Now, if you desire your community
rid of these institutions of which you
complain in your editorial, furnish
this proof and as governor of South
Carolina l promise you results. l am
sure you have this proof or you would
not have written this edi orial. Now,
will you please be so kind as to fur
nish it where it can be made use Of?
/ I note further you say that condi-
tions mere are no better than in Char
lesion. When some proof has been
asked for in Charleston, sometimes
it has been refused, and in some of the
instances where it has been granted
cases have been made but the grand
Jury, a, the records will show, have
failed to act. However, if you have
any proof as to Charleston, / will be
very glad to receive it, and will again
have the matter-to use a common
expression-put up to the grand
jury.
Very respectfully,
Cole l.. Blease,