The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1917, 1914-03-24
BLEASE TOMAkE
TOUR OF STATE
INTENDS TO CANVASS COUN-
TY-TO-COUNTY IF HE
DOES IT ALONE
NO EAR FOR RUMOR
Doesn't Care for Talk About
Separate Party-Going to
Senate Anyhow.
NO EAR FOR RUMOR

/ Columbia, Jan. 23.-Gov. Blease.
who has been out of the city for the
past few days, was asked upon his re-
turn If he had anything to say in ref
erence to the rumors in regard to at
tempting to do away with the couaty-
to-county camapign. In reply Gov.
Blease said:
I'm the first place. / cannot con-
ceiVe that this. matter Is being dis
cussed seriously. for hardly any man
with any good common sense. who Is n
candidate for any office. would endaav-
or to keep from going face to faceNb be-
fore the people OF South Carolina and
discussing questions which are OF vital
Importance to them. The man who
would endeayor to keep from going
beforA the people would DE at once de-
nouneed as fearing to face the people,
and II would prove disastrous to him
and his cause. Therefore, l do not
think that this matter Is being seri-
ously considered, but is merely news
paper rumor.
II have made several county-to-
county campaigns and think some of
them, at least, it will be admitted,
have been just about as strenuous and
under just about as warm circumstau-
Ses and In just about as hot weather.
as any other man has ever undergone
or will ever undergo, and l have nov
er seen one which was any special
hardship and even il such II campaign
is some little hardship on the candi-
adtes. II Is certainly the only way to
reach the people and the people are
not going to submit to It's being abol-
ished.
However, If those In control were
to be so foolish as to abolish IL. that
would not interfere with my plans in
the least. would simply arrange an
itinerary OF my own, just as the state
executive committee does now, and
have ii published rs paid advertising
AS | presume that would be the only
way could get it in most of the
newspapers. L would also forward IL
| to my campaign manager ut each
| county seat, and have him 10 an
nounce that | would be at his county
seat on certain day to deliver an al
| dress, and those who wanted to come
to hear me could come. Just as they
DO now, under tAe. present rules, and
| who did not want to come could stay
away, just as thay do now under tie
| present rules, and in this way / would
| 80 to every county seat in South Caro-
lima this summer on MY own! initiative,
regardless OF what the state executive
committee or anybody else might do.
And would send polite invitation
ID each of the candidates who might
he In the race for United States scna-
! tor and invite them to meet me at
I the county seat OF each county on tho
day that / would he present. and offer
to divide time with them in the discus
| sion OF the issues. OF course, IL they
declined-which I have no idea they
would dol would simply go or, any
way, and deliver my speech. pro-
pose to 60 before tie people and tell
them what nave done. and why
have done 1t and no crowd of political
ringsters can keep me away from the
people"
What do you think of the rumor
that there will be an attempt to form
q separate party II your frisnds should
control the clubs or a majority of the
/ clubs throughout the statc?" Governor
Blease was nsked.
"Of course Gov. Blease replied, al
pay absolutely no attention to that ]
have heard and i get It pretty straight,
that some people have advised some
other people to 90 to their club meet
ings IN April and IL they Sound that
/ the BleRse men had majority, to
, withdraw and form separate club
and elect O separate set of DELEGATES
to the county convention and that
have been further advised. when the
county convention meets if they find
that the sBlease men have control OF
the county convention to held sepnr-
ate conventions or through the ma
chInery that they now have In their
. haIida TO se3t enough Rntl-Blease dele
! gates to control the convention, aud