Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-02-20

Spartanburg, February II: Why
Mayor John P. Grace, Of Charleston,
who vigorously opposed Governor Cole
L. Blease in the latter's campaign for
reelection two years ago, shook hands
with the governor last week, and ex-
pressed the opinion that while there
were fundamental differences between
them their ideas were tending In the
same direction, is partly explained in
letter from Mr.. Grace received by a
Spartanburg friend today. "The peo-
pie that follow Blease," says the mayor
Of Charleston, ARE ninety mine per cent
the only people that I have much in
terest in. I tried to help them by con-
vincing them that they should entrust
their future to my and other hands. l
am beginning to believe that their in
stinct in the matter was better than my
philosophy, for they mistrusted the
company that I was in, which I have
learned to mistrust now more emphat-
ically through knowing them than they
did without knowing them. The trou-
BILE with most Of the opposition to
Blease was that it rested on selfishness
rather than altruism. To use popu-
lar term, they had no idea Of social
Justice" In another part of his letter
Mayor Grace says: LAS to any infer
ence which my critics may draw from
my conduct past or present, and hope
future, to the effect that 1 have been,
am or will be actuated by opportunism
trust can truthfully say that in such
respect they are wrong. am governed
somewhat by the logic Of events. Two
years ago sufficient reasons existed for
the stand which I took in the light Of
all the circumstances Of that time.
They have changed. Events are shap-
ing themselves, which may mean to me
the abandonment Of hope in the move
ment which crystallized in favor Of
JONES' who was merely the accidental
rallying point. There was even then
very little, IL anything, between me and
the dominant characters in that move
ment. AS Carmack once expressed it,
1T was an effort to weld wooden
handle to pewter spoon or rather a
silver spoon. Silver spoons and recol-
lections were a little out Of place on
my political table, which Is more in the
nature Of a platform than festive
board. do you know" asks Mayor
Grace, that the leaders of the Jones
element in Charleston at the height Of
that campaign, in which thought 1
was sacrificing so much, actually wrote
threatening letters to Thurmond and
others that If l was not pushed out Of
the campaign in some way the result
to Jones would be disastrous? Those
letters were almost instantly, though
undesignedly, accommodated to me,
but l did not swerve, because at that
time l wanted to see Blease defeated,
even though Immediately thereafter
the guns of my own allies would be
turned on me. Far from believing at
that time, as you suggest in your let
ter, that l could gain most for myself
by supporting his opponent, nobody
knew better than how cold bloodedly
l would be cast off by the Jones crowd
if he were victorious. In fact, Jones
himself at critical times on the stump
threw off on me, indicating an utter
lack of appreciation. l knew Of course,
that this is not true Of thousands Of
people throughout the state, who did
and 1 have especially fond recollec-
tions Of the people Of Spartanburg,
who better than anyone else can testi-
fly as to how far / went and was will
ling to go. But ! have concluded that
the best way to lead the people up is by
following as far as possible, their own
inclinations, and by getting down with
them and amongst them, so that when
ever l may differ with their leaders,
they will trust me, because / am of
them. They need to be taught not from
any high and pedantic altitude, but by
living with them and thereby showing
them how to live. Public service to me
is a sacrifice and as great as this re-
cent sacrifice seems to be- / am sure
that it is a real pleasure in comparison
with the scornful ingratitude which I
would have me If Jones had been elect
ed. That also would have made no
difference to me-"