The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1914-08-21

Ga f3rora6,e TO striking the governors
name OF, aIthol gh te majority OF the
members O. the committee are oppos-
! ed to Governor Blease politically. 1t
seems the chairman was trying to
! force Governor Blease to enroll in
! Club No. 3. Ile governor has been
a member o. Ward club for some
years
The reference of Governor Blease
in his return to flirting with tAe
populist'' evidently referred to Chair
man Keitt as the governor has repeat
edlv stated tla: Mr.. Keitt is a poDu-
list 1t seems, Mr.. Editor, that Gov.
Blease is affrighted to the verge OF
delirium tremeas by the vision OF a
populist. 1t would be an act OF c1ar-
ity to re ieve him from the horrors
o.: this nightmare and Col. Aull from
the necessity Of doing his bidding.
I feel more amused than concerned
! over their desperation about an ir-
relevant matter. The relevant fact ls
that am county chairman and /.
fear exists that l may enforce law and
order. admit tlat it is my purpose
however Intellectually I may be able
to execute it. AS county chairman
nv attention was called to number
of errors and irregularities among
them that Gov. Blease lad improperly
enrolled in Ward s., l drew tie gen.
eral citation and gave it with list
to the secretary to be mailed. When
the matter came before tie commit
tee the return was presented. It
contained nothing of value upon point
at issue. and would not in the slight
est degree have Influenced the chair,
and | presume the committee. But
a member of the committee called
attention of the chairman to section IL
of the rules which provide, 'rTne State
and county officers temporarily resld-
ing at or near the capital or the coun-
ty seat may retain t3eir membership
and voting rights in their former
home club if they so desire. TIE
chairman believed at the time that
this rule auth orized Gov. Blease to
enroll in Ward and so ruled. An
otler member took different view,
but chairman concluded the matter by
his ruling. After further reflection
with a knowledge of the facts l am
inclined to believe that the Chairman
erred and the member Of the commit
tee was right. l will state the facts
and others can decide. Although a
persistent effort is made to make it
appear that Gov. Blease has been
member of Ward club number o.
years, no one will dispute the fact t1at
when the Democratic party reorganiz-
ed in 1912, he was a member OF ward
3 club in ich ward he Lad resided.
He took part in the deliberations OF
the club until delegates to the county
convention were elected. He was very
much angered by the fact nat he was
rot elected delegate to the county
convention and after making charae-
teristic threats he fled precipitately
to Ward 5. He reached there before
the meeting adjourned, was kindly
received, and was elected a delegate
to the county convention. Now the
question to be judicially considered is
the application of rule 10--to the sit
uation-Tle old constitution as well
as the new set apart townships and
Wards as club districts. When Gov.
Blease Joined the reorganization OF
Ward 8 in 1872 it was entirely proper
and ne became a member OF that-de
iure-When he left Ward entirely
uron his own motion and joined Waru
5 club he became a member OF that
. club-de eacto-But as the act in vie-
lation of tie constitution, not being
a resident of Ward ;, his membership
there could not be de jure.
JOS. l.. Reitt,
County Chairman.