The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-10-10
The GOVERNORS MESSAGE,
REVIEWS PAST POLITICAL SITUA.
TIONS AND SPEECHES MADE
DURING SUMMER,
Would Enact Stay Law, EavOrs Re-
ductiOn of Legal Rate OF Interest to
Six Per Cent ana Would Extend
Time for Paying Taxes.
(Cor. News and Courier)

(Cor. News and Courier.)
The special message presented Tues
day to the general assembly by Gov
Blease consists of one hundred and
four book-size pages. At one time it
looked as IL the house was to hear
each and every word. MIR. Nicholson
who had called for the reading of
the message in full was satisfied after
a long period Of reading by Mr.. Sim
kins and 1t was decided to have the
message referred to special commit
tees and printed in the Journal.
1t was evidently the purpose of the
governor to have in the records of
the State his political views and po-
sition. After the formal proclama-
tion he reprinted in full first his Wal
terbOro speech delivered in April,
1914-that utilized about twenty-five
printed pages then came the full text
Of his ST. Ma news speech, delivered
In June, 1914. at the opening of the
senatorial campaign; this covered for
ty-four printed pages. Eight pages
we're given to other speeches or en-
tracts therefrom.' Then followed un-
der heading "Post-Election State
ment." dated September, 1914, seven
pages. On page S5 there occurs the
heading Cotton Conventions" The
first IS pages are devoted to the gov
ernor's political speeches. Then fol-
low the correspondence, resolutions
and views leading up to the issuing Of
the proclamation for the special ses-
sion now being held. Tie interview
given this correspondent relative to
the aims and scope Of the SPECIAL ses-
sion Is given in full, and following this
comes phases Of the cotton question, as
viewed by the governor and others.
Then follows a couple Of pages on
'The Incoming State Administration
and the Legislature" and finally what
he has to say directly to the men,
bership of the assembly. This is given
In full and reads:
As to the Length of Your Session and
Pay Of Members.
1t has been, suggested to me, in fact.
have been requested, to limit your
session to a certain number Of days.
your members to q certain amount OF
pay, and your actions to certain bills.
As see 1t, under our constitution, the
executive department Is separate and
distinct from the legislative, and even
IL 1t were not, the present executive
would certainly have no desire to in
terfere with your actions.
/ cannot, and neither would !, If 1
could. restrict the length Of your
session. 1 leave that to your own
good judgment and patriotism. Meth
er can / prescribe what you shall do
or what you shall not do, or how long
you shall stay in session, because the
constitution forbids my doing so, If /
so desired, and i assure you that in
this particular have no criticism of
the constitution.
As to your pay, when q member of
the senate l made =. hard and stub
born fight against the $500 per session
bill. My reasons were given then on
the floor OF the senate, and l urged the
very point which Is now being made
and asked that proviso be inserted
that in case of an extra session Of the
general assembly that members be
paid per diem. But the matter was
rushed through. the large majority
voted contrary to my views, and the
law was passed as 1t now is, and you
are entitled to the same pay as you
would be entitled to at a regular ses-
sion. i argued this very contingency
and begged the senate at the time to
fix 1t SO that in case of an extra ses-
sion, which might last for only
few days, the lump sum contemplated
for forty days session would not be
provided.
Suggestions.
Now, gentlemen. having placed fair
iy and fully before you these matters,
pardon me for suggesting:
First. That YOU appoint commit
tee to confer with similar committees
from the legislatures of other cotton
growing States for the purpose of
passing such laws as will relieve the
present situation and prevent Il recur-
renee of conditions as they are today
Second. That you pass "a law pro-
hibiting the sale Of any property. real
or personal. under any lien or mort
gage prior to first day Of October.
I'm hn ~; II. a