The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-05-19
BLEASE|TES HOLD CAUCUS.
DISGRUNTLED LEADERS DE-
NOUNCE MANNING AND
WOODROW WILSON.
Allege That Governor Shows Partial
ity i'm Making Military Appoint
mcnts and That President is Re-
sponsiblc for America Being in
War.

members of the so-called Reform
Party of South Carolina" in the rec
concentrations for officers of the
States two regiments, was made the
basis for much caustic criticism OF
the chief executive, t passage of q
set of condemnatory resolutions, and
the appointment of a committee of
five members to go to Washington and
lay the grievances of the faction be-
fore the secretary of war, at a meet
ing of 200 or more representatives Of
the party here this afternoon.
The meeting was called by Cole L.
Blease. ESD, of this city. The COM
mittee which will go to Washington
consists of Cole l.. Blease, chairman;
w. A. Stuckey of Lee county; T.. r.
buckingham. of Aiken: DR.. Olin Saw
yer, mayor Of Georgetown, and James
p. Carey, Jr., Of Pickens Under in
structions Of the meeting the COM
mittee will tell the secretary of war
that their faction has been grossly
neglected in the differing OF regi-
ments and that the governors action
i'm refusing to create a third regiment
for the State is strongly resented.
The meeting, which was called 70
consider the crisis caused by the
world war;" incidentally branched into
a discussion of plans for the campaign
of next summer. Mr.. Blease, in the
last Of three speeches, declared that
the winning of the political war Of
defeating of Germany. Members pres
ent were warned by him not to go to
sleep, but 20 see that their faction
is represented at meetings next April
when the clubs are organized.
The real kick" against Governor
Manning is based on an alleged trip
to Washington, at which the governor
is said to have urged the adoption
Of cOnscription machinery for this
State which differs from that provid-
cd for other States, the difference be-
ing, it is claimed, that whereas in
other States the board consists of the
sherlff, the clerk of court and the
county physician, in South Carolina
the boards members are the Judge of
probate, the clerk of court and n
chairman named by the governor.
The ghost of the past summers
election was disinterred in this con-
vention, which was called to consider
its part in the war, and the familiar
charges that the votes of the people
were not fairly counted were freely
repeated.
The convention was particularly bit
ter in it's assertions that Bleaseites
were not permitted to attend the Of
ficers' training camp at Fort Ogle-
thorpe. though it was not demonstrat-
Cd just how the fnger Of the govern
or was used in this Vancouver. Jas
+. Carey. Jr., of Pickens, stated that
he had been rejected after being told
by the officer who made the examina-
ton that he was the kind of man the
government wanted.
John +. Grace, of Charleston, de-
nounced the action of congress in de-
claring war and indulged in a round
of criticism of President Wilson for
breaking his implied prediction
contract to keep the country out of
war
Mr.. Blease strongly indorsed Mr..
Grace's stand. He thought the United
States had no business i'm this war"
The resolutions adopted follow:
whereas, insinuations and accusa-
tions have been made by men high in
authority in South Carolina TO the
tioning the loyalty of the Reform
faction OF the Democratic party of
this State. and intimating that the
members of that faction are not pa
triOtic and loyal to the government of
the United states a # South Caro-
lima. and are and have been putting
obstacles in the way of raising South
Carolina's quota Of soldiers to consti-
tutc the army now being organized:
and,
"WhCrcaS. as q result of such ra-
r"r'S an" ihSihuauOns, members Of
the Reform faction have been grossly
Disseminated against; and.
Whereas. we hereby declare that
such insinuations and accusotions ,re
UNJUST and Incorrect: now, therefore. /
he 1T,
Resolved. That We disapprovc of /,
the manner in which tho boordS nf !