The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1914-04-14
The OPENING GUN OF
SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN
ADDRESSES ENTHUSIASTIC AUD
IENCE AT WATERFORD.
His Speech Regarded as One OF the
Strongest He Has Ever Dell1-
cred.
siecial to The Herald and News.

Siecial to The Herald and News.
Walterboro, April 11.-Before a rep
resentative audience, which packed
the court house, Governor Blease de-
livered here today an address which
IS regarded as the opening gun in the
senatorial campaign, and which has
beeL generally commented upon by
those who heard it as one of the ablest
speeches which the governor has de-
livered during his political career.
The WATERFORD correspondent of the
News and Courier says of the ad-
dress:
"GMany capable critics were heard to
express the opinion that the speech
today was one Of the strongest ever
delivered by Governor Blease,l and
that the issues were presented in a
clear and logical manner. He was
constantly interrupted by applause
and shouts from his audience. A more
enthusiastic audience to hear the op-
ening gun of the campaign could hard
" have been found in any other coun7
y, and the meeting as a whole was
attended by good feeling and friend
ship. No reference whatever was made
to Senator Smith and the discussion
was conducted on hign plane
Governor Blease wss introduced by
Col. D. B. Puer 10Y, of Walterboro.
The invocation was pronounced by DR..
J. w. Wolloing, formerly pastor Of
Central Methodist church, of Newber-
ry. In his invocation DR.. Wolling
gave thanks 'for the merciful and
compassionate spirit which the COVER
nor had shown to unfortunates."
On account of the great interest in
this address of the governor, it is
presented herewith in full;
The Governors Address.
It is too fresh in the minds of the
people OF this State to need repeating
here, but merely to keep the records
straight, l desire to mention, that in
the campaign of 1906, when l was a
candidate for the Office of governor, l
HAS fearfully, unjustly and maliciously
ssaulted by certain newspapers, tale
earers and others, without cause or
Justification.
In 1908, you all remember the fear
ul onslaught that was made upon me
the editor of the Columbia State
nd other newspapers in South Caro-
ina,-abuse, personal and political,
falsehoods of the most unWarranted,
malicious and foul character, which
inally terminated in the cartooning Of
myself as a buzzard flying across the
Is, ate with my face as its head, with
its wings ouyspread and upon each
of it's feathers some dirty, filthy in
scription.
Then again you remember now fear
tul this same contest was waged from
the same source by this element Of
people, and, yea,, these cowardly as
sassins of character have attempted to
deceive the people outside Of the State
by continually yelling that it was
Blease that was creating strife, that
\it was Blease that was carrying on
p campaign Of personal vituperation
and abuse, when they knew, and all Of
THE people of South Carolina knew,
and know now, that was
discussing issues and doing all
within my power to keep down
facNonaI strife, and no man can
point to a speech that I have ever
made which brought about, or would
DringN about, faction against faction,
class against class, labor against capi-
tai, or vice versa.
Thrb bugh il all sat and said moth
ing. !Manay times friends would say
to me, we do not see how you can
possibly stand 1.-THE vituperation
and h5use,-which has been heaped
upon YOU" and yet these people were
endeayoring to bring others 10 believe
tha it was II and not them, that was
engaging in a personal campaign in
stead of discussing issues. They kAew
they were lies. The people Of this
State know today that they were lies.
They were not satisfied with these
things, but even after was nominated,
yea, after I was elected and became
governor, this same crowd have con-
tinually kept up their nagging, their
abuse, their vituperation, their slardar,
and even at the expense Of lowering
the people Of this Sta e in tie esti-
nation Of the outside world, they have
continued their malicious misrepresen-
tations in reference to me, my official