The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-09-09
Blackmailing tho Farmers.

cal jobbery In the history Of South
Carolina Is the attempt of Gov. Cole
l.. Blease to blackmail the farmers
of the state into voting for John G.
Richards.
The plan by which this is being at
tempted has been carefully Matched.
Friends Of the governor from various
parts of the State were invited by him
to IA private conference in Columbia.
by special request OF the governor.
Major John G. Richards was called
from his campaign in the Piedmont
section Of the State to attend this
conference and advise with those call
cd I'm consultation" The cotton situ-
alton was discussed. according to an
authorized statement given to the
press after the conference WAS over.
Then Major John G. Richards, the
Blease candidate for governor offered
u set Of resolutions. which were adopt
ed. The preamble was as follows:
Whereas. 1t is admitted and realiz-
ed among the money borrowing ele-
ment Of our State and the farmers
who are entirely dependent for the
support Of themselves. their wives and
children upon their cotton crop: and
whereas. 1t has been admitted by
those high in authority that no relief
can be expected from the National
government in the present crisis; and
Whereas. 1t is realized by all citi-
'zens Of our State, of whatever class or
profession, that the only source from
which real relief can come is the gem
eral assembly Of our State and that
said general assembly can only DC
placed in a position to render such re-
lief by action Of the governor Of the
State" etc. etc.
This was on Wednesday. The gov
ernor took the resolutions under ad.
visement. Yesterday he issued the fol-
lowing statement:
If the white Democrats of the
State endorse the resolutions offered
by Major Richards in a conference
held in the governors office yesterday
and which are published in the morn
ing's papers and so signify by their
casting their votes for him in the pri
mary on next Tuesday, l shall at once
81 hn
to convene in extra session for the
passage of such Laws rs are called at
tention to in that resolution. If the
white voters Of the State do not agree
with Major richards in his position
on this matter / think 1 will be abso-
lutely justified in concluding that
they do not want an extra session of
the general assembly at this time. !
shall therefore wait before passing
judgment in the matter upon the re-
turns of the primary on next Tues.
day."
What Is this but the most bare
faced political hold-up that was ever
undertaken upon free and honest
citizens?
What does Gov. Blease think the
farmers Of South Carolina are. a lot
Of cattle to be herded together and
voted just as arc the blind tigers and
other vicious elements in the towns
and cities?
The whole business from beginning
to end Is u palpable political trick, but
II Is In all respects the most out
rageous performance of it's kind which
has ever been known in this part of
the country.
Will 1t meet with any measure of
success? We don't believe it. It is
suggested that it may play upon the
Tears OF some of the farmers as is it's
evident purpose and cause them i'm
their desperation To vote for Richards
In the hope that by doing SO they will
DC able to get something done imme-
dla'ely to relieve the situation. But
the number of farmers who can thus
DC influenced ought To be very small
indeed, and we believe that it is small
In the first place, 1t is not a fact.
's the richards resolutions recitc.
'hat actiOn by the general assembly is
hcihS demanded by "all citizens of
our state, OF whatever class or pro-
tession. The cotton situation is still
very indefinite. The best business
Drains of the State and of the entire
South arc engaged i'm trying 10 work
out some plan ly which the farmers
and the South i'm general will be
saved the great loss which is threat
ened as consequence Gf the war i'm
Europe which has dcmoralizcd the
cotton market. Some legislation MAY