Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-15
RESIGNS
JOB AS GOVERNOR
In Curt Note to Legislature, Ten
ders Resignation as Chief of
South Carolina.
HE ASSIGNS NO REASON
With Only Five More Days to
Serve, He Suddenly Steps
Down and Out.
HE ASSIGNS NO REASON


ernor Coleman Livingston Blease to-
day filed his resignation as South Caro-
lina's chief executive with the Secre-
tary OF State, to take effect immedi-
ately.
Governor Blease's term would have
expired January 19. His resignation
reached the, State Senate shortly after
Lieutenant-Governor Charles A. Smith
ernor for the unexpired term.
No reason for the Governors action
was given In his resignation, which
contained only these words:
II hereby resign my office as Gov
ernor OF South Carolina"
Much excitement was caused in the
Legislature when the resignation was
announced. 1t Is stated that Governor
Blease to-day was told OF a meeting
OF some OF the members Of the Legis-
lature on Tuesday night, when. accord
ing TO members of the conference, a
proposal to institute impeachment pro-
ceedings against the Governor was dis
cussed. but was abandoned
SPECTACULAR INCIDENTS
NAVE hhHhED hlS
Governor Blease's political career has
been marked by numerous spectacular
incidents and controversies While
practicing law In Newberry, S. c., he
became active in politics. and in 1890
was elected to the State House OF Rep
resentatives. He also served In the
Senate and was president pro tenn. OF
that body fl 1s07-oS.
After heated campaign in 1910. in
which Blease defeated the prohibition
elements candidate In the Democratic
primaries. he was inaugurated as Gov
ernor in January. 1911. His inaugural
address was considered unique State
document. containing scathing denun-
citation OF some of the new Governors
enemies Shortly after he assumed Of
fee he began extending clemency to
convicts in the State penitentiary. de-
claring that a privately conducted in
stitution at the prison was a "tubercu-
losis breeder"
One statement attributed to the Gov
ernor at one time was that he would
free at least one prisoner for each day
he served as Governor" Several days
ago Governor Blease signed a blanket
pardon restoring citizenship to approxi-
''htS'S i'vVS "OIlltfl "nOn ne
had paroled since 1911. According to
available records here, he has granted
executive clemency to l.674 prisoners,
leaving less than 125 persons in the
State penitentiary at present
Blease was reelected in 1913. His
second term was marked by his dis
charge OF virtually all the notaries
public from office; his dismissal Of a
number OF magistrates who had in
CURED his disfavor. and his participa
tion in several public controversies
with members OF the State Supreme
Court and other State officials. He also
became involved in a dispute with the
Federal War Department. over State
militia affairs. Several days ago he
issued an order disbanding the entire
militia.
CONTINUES EXERCISE
OF PARDoNING POWER
During his administration Governor
Blease and the State Legislature sell
dom have been in accord and the rec
ords show that more bills have been
passed over his veto than over the
veto of any Governor in the history
OF the State.
Governor Blease continued TO exer-
else the pardoning power until the very
Gnu VI granting
clemency In some fifteen cases Just be-
fore he sent In his resignation to-day,
according to an attache of the Cover
nor's office.
Governor Blease during the last few
years attracted widespread attention
because OF vitriolic utterances in his
public speeches. In stating his per-
sonal opinion on public matters in an
address before the Conference of Cover
nors at Richmond about two years ago
lie startled his hearers by exclaiminE,
TO hell with the Constitution and
asserting he would not employ troops
to prevent the lynching OF n negro
guilty of crime against a white
woman.
Last August Governor Blease was de-
feated In the primary for the United
States Senate by Senator r. D. Smith,
incumbent. Richard T. Manning was
elected Governor TO succeed BIease In
November. and Will be inaugurated
next Tuesday.
In his last message to the South
Carolina Legislature last Monday Gov.
ernor Blease said:
II have attained the highest ambition
Of my Iife My life's work, so far as
my personal interest is concerned. has
been completed IF my people want my
services In future I will give them, but
L shall ask for nothing more"