The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1916-05-17
BLEASE CONFIDENT
HE'LL BE ELECTED
II Primary Were Held Today He Says,
He Would Win on First Ballot. SAYS
Would Abolish Many Useless Offices,


(Grecnvilc Daily Picdmont.)
IF the primary were to be held to-
day, | have no doubt whatever that
would be elected over Manning and
Cooper on the first ballot" was the
declaration Of Cole l.. Blease We'd
ncsday morning, when asked what he
thought Of his political prospects.
Mr.. Blease arrived in Grccnvillc
Tuesday afternoon to attend the an
nual meeting of the Grand Lodge of
the Odd Fellows. He will remain in
this section until the close Of the con-
yention, and is a guest at the Ottaray
Hotel. He does not expect to make
any political speeches during his
present stay in Grecnville, he said,
| because he does not believe in mix
ing fraternal orders up with politics.
fle declares, however, tnat he will
come back here later for political
talks.
Mr.. Blease was governor of South
Carolina for two terms, but was de-
feated two years ago for the United
States senate. He Is now back in the
race for third term as governor of
the state.
My campaign is in much better
shape now that 1t was at the CORE
spending time in any of my previous
campaigns" said Mr. Bcase talking
over the situation Wednesday, and !
am very much encouraged over the
situation. think can confidently
say that all those who were with me
in 1912 are with me this year, and
there are many with me this year who
were against me then"
Mr.. Blcasc declared that Blcase
men had been elected on the state OK
cutivc committee in number of
counties at the recent conventions,
though he was unable to give a com
pete list OF these, as reports had not
come in from number Of the coun-
ties.
Mr. Bleasc said he considered this
very favorable sign for his candi-
NA''N'' - 10 ScItt any way, ne
said, that the state convention will
not be Manning convention. nor a
Cooper convention, nor a Blcasc con
yentiOn."
Fight Between Him and Manning.
Governor Blcase said he thought
without doubt the main fight of the
campaign would be between him and
Governor Manning. "Mr. Manning
has the support of well-defncd fac
ton of the Democratic party in South
Carolina, and | have the support Of
the other welldefined faction" he
said. Mr.. CoOpers 5 candidacy viii mot
hurt me in the least, and | rather feel
that it will help me-"
Another thing that is in my fa-
Vor,' said Mr. Blease, is the fact that
great number OF candidates for
county officers all over the state are
coming out for me. This is a sign
that they believe | am going to win
the race. If the primary we're held
! today. am sure | would defeat both
Manning and Cooper on the first bal
lot, but Of course great deal of
money is going to be spent in support
ol Manning'S candidacy and the
newspapers are going to conduct a
campaign in his behalf during the
next three months, and OF course all
, this will strengthen him"
When asked what measures he
would advocate if elected to the Office,
! Mr.. Bleasc declared that among the
very first things he would advocate
the abolishing Of useless Offices and
the reduction of taxation. Hc men
toned among these useless offices"
the state board Of charities, and the
state tax commission, and said he
would kick the tax commission out
OF the window the very first thing
Il would have the salary OF the SUI
pcrintcndcnt reduced to what it was,
and to where ii should properly be-"
declared Mr.. Blcase.
Il would ask for law allowing
each county to vote on the liquOr
question, as to whether they wanted
1t or not he said Il would stand by
the present warehouse system, and
would advocate the law being amend
ed so as to strengthen 1t. I would ask
such amendments to the insurance law
as would do equal justice to the nsur-