The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1916-10-27
.BlEASE FACTION
DECIDES TO STAY
REAFFIRMS IT'S STAND
Reform Democrats" Hear Ad-
dress by Their Chief in
Richland Court House.

Columbia, Oct. 25.-Members of
the Blease faction will not go into
the general election. This course
OF action was determined last night
in the convention of Bleaseites held
in Richland county court house i'm
response to call Issued by w. A.
James of Bishopvlle late in Sep
tember. The resolution reaffirming
allegiance to the Democratic party.
both State and national was intro
duced by John G. Richards of Lib
erty Hill. 1t read:
RESOLVED, By the Reform Demo-
Gratis of South Carolina. in conven-
tion assembled, that we do hereby
reatlirm our allegiance to the Demo-
cratic principles, State and ma
t.onal."
! Prior to the introduction Of this
resolution a speech was delivered by
lCole l.. Blease in which he dis.
claimed any intention of going into
the general election. 81 am not a.
candidate for any office now. I do.
not expect to be a candidate for any
office in the general election; and
Will not be. l am not now carfdi-
date for any Office in the near or dis
tant future"
Again Charges Fraud.
In an earlier paragraph of hi.
speech, Mr.. Blease asserted that the
nomination of Gov. Manning had
been procured through fraud and
that the oath in the recent primary
was no more binding upon the cleo
tor to support the Democratic nom
inee than 1t was upon other electors
who supported Haskell against the
nominee, b. r. Tillman. in the early
sos. The Haskellites were not
bound, he said. to support the nom-
inee if they thought the nominees
ELECTION had been obtained by
fraud just as / am not bound. unless
| see fit to be. nor is any other man
bound to support the nominee of the
Democratic party, as declared by the
State Democratic executive commit
tee in the primary held September
II, 1916, because he is not the nom
! inee, but his nomination was OBJ
tanned by the theft of votes. by the
purchase OF votes with whiskey and
money. by Intimidation and coercion,
fraud, theft and perjury" Supple.
menting his charges Of fraud and in
timidation numerous letters. tele-
grams and aftidavits were read.
DemocratcA executivS committee,
when Gov. Manning Rs declared the
nominee. bun whic3 alleged evil
dence was not accompanied by a
date. W
Following MTelease's speech, a
resolution wasTintroduced by Chas.
Carroll Simms of Barnwell, com.
mending the action OF the six COM
Imitteemen who refused to join in de-
claring Mr.. Manning the nominee.
but added:
I'VE would be the last to encour-
age any division OF the white voters
OF this State. which might tend to
lead to an appeal to an alien race.
Factions Platform.
A third resolution was offered by
ThOs. F. Brantley of Orangeburg,
which outlined in a measure the
platform of the faction which will
seek to rehabilitate the defeated is
sues. This was largely reiteration
OF the platform on which Mr.. Blease
went before the voters of South
Carolina last summer Chief among
the planks We're Endorsement of the
warehouse system. 6 per cent legal
rate of interest, biennial sessions of
the legislature and the adoption OF
the Australian ballot.
Machinery for the readiustment OF
the faction was provided in a resoIu-
tion introduced by w. A. Stuckey of
Bishopville, in which a central com
lmittee is provided. This is composed
of two members from the State at
large and one from each congression-
al district. Those appointed by w.
J. Talbert of Parksville, who pre-
sided over the meeting and who yes
terday announced his candidacy for
the United States senate, were: