Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-22
bLEASE OPENLY
VAUNTS HATRED
Of NEGROES
South Carolina Governor Charac-
terizes Blacks "0n Order of
Lower Animals"

COLUMBIA, S c., Jan. why
Governor Cole L. Bleasc granted par
dons paroles and combinations Of
sentence TO hundreds of convicts last
year is set forth in a message trans
mitted 20 the Legislature to-day. It
is a printed book o. 1913 pages. Since
assuming office. three years ago, Gov
ernor Blease has extended clcmency
in 9S2 cases
The striking feature of the re-
port Is the bold manner in which he
expresses his opinion Of negroes, as
being "on the order Of lower ami
mails"
The negro race he asserts. has
absolutely no standard of morality
They are, in that respect. a class by
themselves, as marital inhdelty
seems to be their most favorite pas
time. If every negro In this State
that is guilty Of bigamy or MARTA!
inhdelity Is brought up ana con
Victed, labor Will be much scarcer
than II is and many acres that are
now cultivated will be idle"
Commends Negro Whippers.
In reporting that he had granted
with much pleasure" full pardons to
three white men convicted OF assault
and battery on two negroes. Govern
or Blease states that the blacks had
been engaging in dirty and SANDER
Gus talk ana party of white men
took these two negroes to the woods
and gave them what they deserved
genuine, flrst-ciass whipping
b. V1.,s al. -
ernor says. did exactly right
In telling of a parole granted to
sam Gaskins, negro convicted of
granddaughter, Governor Blease says
This negro, being engaged to a ne
gro girl, called 10 see her, and IN
fooling with pistol 1t went off and
killed her /, seems to have been a
very sad accident, however, after \
second thought, possibly IT was for
the good OF humanity, Tor had they
married no doubt they would have
brought forth more negroes TO the flu
lure detriment of the state"
Lkens Negro to Mule.
Commenting on his action in com
muting the sentence of Stake Morris,
a negro murderer, from death to life
imprisonment, the Governor says:
This defendant was convicted of
Killing another negro. ! am naturally
against electrocuting or hanging one
negro for killing another, because, If
"a man had two fine mules running
loose In lot and one went mad ana
kicked and killed the other, he Ger
tainly would not take his gun and
shoot the other mule, but would take
that mule and work it, therefore, |
believe that when one negro kills
another he should be put in the PEN
itentiary and made 10 work for the
State
Notwithstanding the contemptuous
attitude which he assumes toward ne
groes as class Governor Blease in
the message expresses compassion for
individual negroes who he says have
been III treated in the penitentiary
and frequently gives as a reason for
liberating black convicts that they
are white mems negroes
Cites Prison Cruelty.
In telling of a parole granted TO
Simeon Ellis, negro murderer, Gov
ernor Blease submits letters to the
effect that the negro was cruelty tor
tured by the penitentiary authorities
for speaking to the Governor one day
without the guards permission. NJ
merous other cases OF alleged cruelty
10 prisoners are cited by Governor
Blease in excuse OF his extension of
clemency.
One reason given for the paroling of
j. Allen Emmerson a murderer, is
that the convicts sisters health has
been broken by the grief caused by
his imprisonment,
Not infrequently the Governor in
his report speaks scornfully or angrily
Of the prosecutors of the conVicts
whom he has released.
In granting clemency to Bud VIII
lis, a white man convicted on the evil
dence of private detectives of violat-
ing the liquor laws, Governor Bease
fiercely denounces private detectives.