Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-08-14
THE VOTE OF Mr.. RICHARDS
Messrs. Irby and simms Want to
Know Who He Was For Two Years
Greenville News.

Greenville News.
Union, S. c., Aug. l1.-Whether
John G. Richards voted for Jones or
Blease in 1912, and his refusal to tell,
played a prominent part in a terrihc
attack made on him this morning by
w. c. Irby, who told 1,200 Union county
people that he would be "horrified' II
the Blease men voted for Richards.
Mr.. Richards for the first time assum-
ed the defensive and made it plain that
he is not going to tell how he voted
two years ago, saying that he does not
propose to be put on the defensive.
Mr.. Simms also added his daily eXco-
riation Of Mr.. Richards Bleaseism.
They will use him again if they
need him." said Irby, adding that's
why some people are trying to ram
Richards down the thrOats Of my cot
ton mill friends" He made a bitter
attack on mill mergers.
Mr.. Irby launched a severe attack on
John G. Richards saying:
"A word to you Blease men, and l
mean those who stand by him because
they believe that Governor Blease
stands for the rights and best interests
of the working white people of this
state. Mr.. Richards seems very anXi-
Gus to tell you how he will vote on the
25th," and over in Spartanburg, Satur-
day night Mr.. Simms stated that he
had asked Mr. Richards how he voted
two, four and six years ago. Mr.. Rich
ards friends called out He will tell US
tonight When Mr.. Richards was in
troduced his friends said Now tell us
how you voted" or words to that eff
feet. At this Mr.. Richards seemed ir-
ritated and said that who he voted for
was a sacred right and secret of his
and no candidate or coterie of papers
could force him to divulge it now. He
also complained that he thought we
had come there for q love feast and
that the other candidates were attack
ing him. Now if how he voted in the
past is such a sacred secret why has
he been so anxious to tell how he in
tends to vote on the 25th? Isn't it just
as sacred to him. | do not know, but |
am told that Mr.. Richards told Blease
men last year that he was going to
vote for BcaSe and Jones men that he
was going to vote for Jones. | am also
told that he told several men few
weeks before this campaign opened
that he had never voted for Blease,
and never expected to. If these state
mentS be true it is easy to see why he
refuses to state who he voted for two
years ago. considered the meeting
open to all candidates for state offices,
and the asking a question of a candi-
date only proper. My record for ten
years is open to criticism, and if any
one can show where | have ever voted
against the interest and welfare Of the
working white people of this state, l
will get out of this race. If you Blease
men vote for Simms or Mutually, | will
be satisfied if you vote for me l will
be gratified but if you vote for a man
who has suddenly deserted his own
crowd to come into our ranks without
first letting him sit upon the stool of
repentance and prove his loyalty l will
be Mortified"
John G. Richards said he was being
misrepresented and fought hard but
had always stood with the people. Il
do not propose to be detoured from the
fight | am making for the people, no
matter what charges are made" he
said explaining his refusal to declare
as between Jones and Blease in 1872
on the ground that he was running for
an administration office, but did this
year because the governor is head OF
his faction or party and the people are
entitled to know how he stands. i
have not declared how | voted in 1917,
and no cOterie of newspapers and can
didatcs are going to make me tell, he
exclaimed
Mr.. Richards said this was the first
time he had paid any attention to the
| charges against him and was on the
defensive. He denied as false the
charge that he had tlirted with both
BleaSe and Jones men in 1912, and
nailed as false, the charge that he was