The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-01-20
governor resigns:
GOV, BLEASE GIVES NO REASONS
FOR his SUDDEN ACT
c. A. smith IS governor.
News Of Sudden Ending Of Stormy
Administration Comes Like Thun-
derclap-Causes Whirlwind in Leg
In to be Chief Officer Of the State.

In to be Chief Officer Of the State
With dramatic suddenness, Cole L
Blease resigned Thursday at 12:1i
O'Clock as governor of South Caro-
lima, bringing his term in this Office
to a close five days before it would
have expired by law. Charles A
Smith, lieutenant governor, took the
oath Of Office from Eugene B. Gary
chief justice Of the supreme court
and became governor of South Caro-.
lima at 12:45 o'clock. He will be
chief executive Of the State until noon
next Tuesday, January 10, when
Richard I. Manning will be inaugu-
rated.
Notice to the general assembly that
Gov. Blease had withdrawn from Of
nce was contained in the following
communication, read In both the
House and Senate:
ITO the General Assembly OF South
Carolina:
'I hereby resign as governor of
South Carolina.
(Signed) "Cole L. Blease."
The resignation was written in red
ink on a sheet Of the governors pri-
yate stationery. A duplicate Of the
communication to the general assem-
bly, was filed in the Office of the secre-
tary OF state.
"It startled me. I was very much
surprised. ] do hate to leave the
Senate, because my work there has
been so pleasant" said Charles A.
Smith, governor Of South Carolina,
as he sat in the executive Office at
the State house Thursday, shortly
after he had been sworn in.
Gov. Smith received many tele-
grams congratulating him upon his
elevation to the high Off g. Many
called over the telephone from points
in the state. During the afternoon
there was constant stream Of call
ers.
s'I have already received three petit
tions for pardon. They are right i'm
portant cases, but I have taken no
action" said Gov Smith.
Gov. Smith said that he would re-
tire from politics at the expiration Of
his term OF Office as governor. One
Of the first acts Of Gov. Charles A.
Smith was to name c. L. Blease, for
mer governor, as notary public OF
Richland county.
The first intimation that he was
going to be made governor of South
Carolina came to Charles A Smith
Thursday at 1915 o'clock as he was
ascending the steps of the speakers
rostrum in the House to preside over
the joint session at which Mendel L..
Smith was elected judge Of the Fifth
circuit. Gov. Smith, who was still
lieutenant governor then, was stop
oed on his. way up to the steps by
". F. Blackburn, secretary to Gov.
Blease. Mr.. Blackburn told him to
come down to the governors Office as
soon as the joint session was over
and impaired the further information
that Gov. Blease ha6 resigned.
Through sources other than Gov.
Smith and Mr.. Blackburn the news
of the governors resignation got
abroad among the people in the lob
bies and was spread among members
Of the House and Senate sitting in
Joint session to elect a judge.
On his way back to the Senate
chamber at the head OF the process
sion Of senator's after the joint as
sembly adjourned at 12:35 o'clock,
Gov. Smith was congratulated on his
sudden elevation to the Office Of chief
executive. He smiled and remarked,
"I'll have long time to serve'
won't -"
Gov. Blease stated to the repre-
sentative Of The Columbia Record
that he would state no reason for
this action. He was then in the su-
preme court room, where prepara-
lions were being made to administer
the oath OF office to Charles A. Smith,
the lieutenant governor.
While a crowd Of state officials,
members Of both branches OF the
legislature and several score citizens
crowded the supreme court room to
overhowing and packed the wide halls
Of the capitol before the court room,
Charles A. Smith, pallied with excite
ment that caused the entire assem-
blage Of possibly two hundred to
1uiver noticeably, became the gov
ernor Of South Carolina. The new
governors home is at Tin willie.
He was a candidate, defea, :, last
summer for the governors office.
Though from no official source
could the statement be confirmed. 1t
was generally stated in the legislative
halls that Gov. Blease resigned be-
cause he did not like the personnel
of the legislature" This body Is
known to be almost unanimously and
bitterly opposed to him.
When Gov. Blease was told Thurs
day morning Of a meeting OF mem
bers of the legislature when the pro-
posal Of instituting impeachment pro
ceedings against him was considered,
he was risibly effected, and restrain
ed his speech with apparent dlfhculty
To the newspaper men. the resign
ing governor after quitting that Of
fee appeared a defiant man. He was
cool and self-possessed, the most com:
posed man in all that growing crowd
that thronged the South Carolina
capitol.
Immediately after news Of the gov
ernor's resigning became known IN
the joint session Of the legislature
that body broke up with precinitate
haste. The newspaper men did not
observe the decorum Of the body and
ran rapidly from the hall OF the
House Of Representatives, followed
by the members.
When order was restored the rou
tine business Of the House continued
although the hum OF excited eonver
| <ation continued. At 1:10 Mr.. Black
burn again appeared and was an
| neunced as messenger Of "His Ex
cellency the Governor" He present
d the following message:
'Te the General Assembly ct tAt