Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1914-07-29
1900 PEOPLE GREET SPEAKERS
AT Laurens-Blease Followers APP
pear in MajOrity-Smitb n FavOrite.

to-day to hear the candidates speak.
The crowd Appropriated $500 peo-
pie. The meeting was called to order
by Geo. A. Browning, acting county
chairman, in place of w. c. Irby, who
is on the canvass for Governor.
Governor Blease was the first
speaker. He was savage in his at
tack on the newspapers, particularly
the Columbia Record.
The Governor said a banker and
mill president at Whitmire told
him "to go below" and claimed
that, at Anderson, a larke stakeholder
in a cotton mill came on the stand
with a pistol in hand, and he referred
to the Norwood incident at Green
Vile.
"No Blease man." he said, "has
attempted to assassinate Senator
Smith"
at was reported that 1 would be
:ass~assinated here to-day" claimed
the Chief Executive. "If the assassin
is here there is nothing between me
and the dirty coward. Let him
shoot"
Governor BleaSe voiced his belief
in fatalism, saying that his death had
been predestined for a certain way
and nothing could change the man
ner Of his passing.
Governor Blease claimed there is a
inc in circulation that he pardoned
a negro rapist, Fred Elledge. This
negro died in the ~penitentiary, he
said, on May 5, 1912.
Predicting that he would be
elected to the Senate and making his
usual attack against Senator Smith,
Governor Blease concluded his speech
by eulogizing Thomas B. Crews and
John NJ. Cannon, both deceased.
Senator Smith, the last speaker,
was heckled by a small crowd, said
to be from Anderson county, as he
began. He demanded a quiet and
respectful hearing, addressing his re-
marks to the chairman. The how
lers then subsidized. Senator Smith
did not depart materially from his
cotton speech.
Chairman Browning demonstrated
that he is one of the best presiding
officers in the State. He had a tur-
bulent, notwithstanding crowd to con-
troll, and attention was given % all
speakers, except Mr.. Pollock.
Their was a nervous tension to-day
before the meeting started, as there
was IN expectancy of trouble, but
this did not materialize. However,
the Ooldness and savagery of Mr..
Pollock's attack on the Governor
seemed to anger the Blease men, but
they did nothing but howl.
Governor Blease received a bou-
quet and Senator Smith several cot
ton stalks.
l.. ID. jennings, the second speaker,
was received with cheers. lie calmly
discussed the record of the Chief Ex-
ecutive and he was heard attentively
by the large audience.
After paying his respects to the
Governors pardon record, Mr.. len
nings asked: "Would you get rid Of
the negro mail clerk by tying him at
the end of a hemp rope?"
yes, yes!" cried several voices.
well, | am sorry for you" replied
Mr.. Jennings. and | am glad that
the balance Of South Carolina doesn't
believe that way"
w. p. Pollock, the third speaker,
was merciless in his arraignment of
the record Of Governor Blease. Blease
hecklers howled at him throughout
his speech, and he finished under diff
fculties. Those bowling most were
said to be from Anderson, Spartan
burg and other counties.
A tense moment in his speech was
when Mr.. Pollock held up the torn
red Union Republican ticket and an
nounced that the name Of J.. P. Glib
son was on it.
ut is a lie!" cried a man in the
audience. Several policemen sur
rounded the man and Acting Chair
man Browning. told the heckler he
must be quiet.
"A man can't come to my face and
say that I am a liar unless he de-
sires to take the consequences" re-
piled Mr.. Pollock. at is only a cow
ard who stands back and insults a
gentleman"
Mr.. Pollock hen offered to with
draw from the race if Mr.. GjbSOn's