The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-10-03
sLEASE ENDORSES REFORM
PARTY'S CONVENTION CALL
Meeting to be Held in Columbia Fair
Week to Discuss Legislation and
Future of Great State Party.
Charleston American.

Columbia, Sept. 30.-Former Cover
nor Blease today, in the first public
statement which he has made since
the recent primary election, endorsed
the call issued by Col. W. A. James,
of Lee county, for a convention of the
reform faction of tht Democratic
party of South Carolina, to be held in
the city of Columbia.
Col. James, after consulting with
Mr.. Blease and other leaders in Co
lumpia. today, changed tht date of the
convention to Tuesday of fair week,
October oath.
The convention will be held in the
county court house here, which is con-
veniently located for such purpose.
Want One Man.
Every Democratic club in the State
is urged to send at least "one true
and tried reformer," and all members
of the faction are cordially invited
to attend.
81 fully agree" said Mr.. Blease,
that the reform party should have
meeting during fair week, and l think
Tuesday night, the oath, is the best
possible date, which could be select
ed, and trust that as many of our
friends as can do so will attend, and
I have no doubt that every county in
the State will be fully represented
Since the call was issued by Col.
James, the convention has been the
suhiect of a great deal of comment,
and much speculation has been IN
duIged in. Several of the rabid anti
Blease newspapers have gone into hys-
terics over what they see as the pros
pect of a bolt. Neither in the call,
nor in anv statement which has been
made by any one authorized to speak,
however, has there been any intlma-
tfon of anything of the kind. The
convention when it meets will decide
unon its own course. 1t is called as
the convention of faction or the
Democratic party-and the factlon
which it's members sincerely believe
is the majority faction in South Caro-
lima at this time, and was the majority
faction in the recent primaries.
In connection with his statement
endorsing the call for the conVen-
ton, Mr.. Blease was asked this after
noon if he yet had any statement to
make in reference to the recent prl-
mary.
The Evidence.
81 am giving very careful and SER
ious consideration to the evidence fur
nished me in reference to- the fraud
in the recent primary" he replied. i
am satisfied that there was very
free use of money and whiskey and
also the intimidation and coercion OF
voters. am still further satisfied
that I received majority of the votes
cast in the second primary for gov
ernor. However, l have nothing fur
ther than this to say for publication
at this time"
It will be recalled that this evidence
was offered to the State executive COM
mittee at it's meeting, held here TO
tabulate the returns, but was ignored
bv the committee, whose chairman
ruled out every reference to it except
the reasons filed by the six members
of the committee who voted against
the resolution to declare Governor
Manning the nominee of the party.
There is rqn anomalous political sit
nation in South Carolina at this time.
Il is nos recalled that ever before IN
the history of the primary in THIS
State has a State executive committee
failed to name Il nominee unanimous
ly. At the recent meeting, however,
the vote was strictly factional, the
resolution expressing their firm con-
viction that the primary was so talnt-
ed with corruption as to endanger the
soliditv of the white mans party IN
South Carolina. There has so far'
however, been no authorized state
ment which would give any founda-
ton for the hysterical condition into
which a portion of the press of the
State hiss heen thrown. AS a matter
of fact, the Blease leaders here today,
and those who have been here at va
ricus times since the second primary.