The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-01-17

- S'se AesN S'Nipii NOttS anu DU
them in the ballot box than the,
knew what to do with"
He asserts 1t is not the system that
needs improving; 1T Is not the law
that needs aInendng--we have law
enorgh-but it ia the enforcement OF
that law that We need. Prosecute
the man who handed out money and
whiskey, or who In the future hand
out money and whiskey. Prosecute
the men who try 10 buy voters Prose
cute the people who hire men to trav-
el throughout the State under
guise OF book agents, newspaper re-
porters and subscription list hunters
and under other guise. and instead of
Following vocauons which they claim
TO follow, go around trying to buy
voters trying to debauch the citizen
ship Of the State, and telling tho most
wilful and malicious lies upon the
then governor OF their common
wealth."
He statos i was he who exposed
their schemes from tho public stumps
that they were whipped"
The governor concludes:
They speak Of using money. God
knows the present governor never
had any TO use." After stating he
made a good living. Governor Blease
states: But not one nickel Of 1t has
he ever used to corrupt q voter"
What we need" he adds "is to
enforce the laws we have strictly to
the letter. Let every white man of
legal age in South Carolina vote In
the primaries and if one comes from
another State into this State and votes,
or goes from one county into another
and votes illegally. let tho men whom
he votes for as we'll as the men whom
he votes against see to II that he is
prosecuted and punished to the full
extent of the law. We have all the
law we need and we have all the hon.
or we need in South Carolina to en-
force tho law. And it comes with
poor grace from that crowd which
had control OF all the election ma.
chinery to charge fraud. when they
and their friends were the only ones
who could have committed any
fraud"
The governor then stated he waa
opposed TO any change In the primary
system, and acts out his address to
tho people OF September 1s. 1912"
Governor Blease reiterated practi-
cally all Of his recommendations dur
ing his first three sessions Of the gem
eral assembly that had not been dis
posed Of by legislation.
The recommendation given are
that the narne Of Clemson College
be changed to Calhoun University
that the board OF pardons be abolished
or paid sufficient salary for the
work to be DONE" that "you take
some action in regard to the cotton
mill mergers In this State and the
Public Service Corporation
and generally In regard 70 trusts and
combinations" that you cake action
to prohibit any town. city or county.
or tho State from giving any exclusive
rights. privileges. or franchise to any
or individual:" that you
require all corporations in this State
using tho water power Of the state to
pay tax or license therefor" that
you pass an act reducing the Legal
rate OF interest to six per cent"
With regard to the reduction of
the legal rate OF interest Governor
Blease stated: Figures compiled re
Gently by tho agricultural depart
ment OF tho government show tho
enormous amount OF interest which
the South Is paying, in comparison
with the rates In tho east and north
steadily draining tho pockets Of our
people and particularly tho farmers
securities In South Carolina--particu-
larly farm lands---arc as good as can
be had in tho world. and 1t Is simply
pression--nothing short Of 1t -,
which takes from tho pockets OF ou'
people an average interest Of more
than eight per cent; when other
States arc paying. some Of them be-
tween five and six"
Governor Blease wishes tho genera
to pass an act prohibiting
banks from charging customers ex-
change on drafts and checks; q bill
tho express companies
from charging for returning money
collected on e.. 9. II. packages: n two
cont fiat passenger rate on the rail
road lines of South Carolina; that
you take some action with regard 10
the concealed weapon law. is another