The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-03-06
CRPING RIGHTS OF
\ STATES, SAYS BLEASE
\ or to Savannah.-Enioys Hearing
PeOple Give Views Concern
ing Him.
&annah Morning News.

W Cole L. BleaSe, former governor OF
ISouth Carolina, arrived in Savannah
Yesterday from Columbia en- route to
Ridgeland, S. c., where he is to act
as counsel in a murder case that is TO
come I'D there this week. Mr.. Blease
is registered at the De Soto.
In regard to his long and spectacu-
lar political career Mr.. Blease talked
Interestingly, saying that for every
two years since 1888, before he was
quite 21 years of age, until the pres
ent time, he had at every election
been a candidate for some county or
State office. During this time he has
served four terms in the house, one
term in the senate, as mayor of New
berry, as lieutenant governor and as
governor of South Carolina, and was
a candidate for United States senator.
<'In fact he continued, there are
some people in South Carolina who
have never voted when my name fail
ed to appear either on the State or
county ticket
Gov. Blease said he liked Savannah
very much, and though he had never
been here but once before, and only
for a short while one night at that
time, he had many friends in the city
and had always wished to pay Sav-
annah an extended visit. He named
over several Savannahians whom he
numbers among his close personal
friends.
He told of an interesting incident
that occurred late yesterday after
noon, when he happened to be walk
ing on the street and was approach
ed by a very black negro. The negro,
removing his hat, approached him
and asked: "Ain't this Gov. Cole
Blease from South Carolina?" To
which Mr.. Blease answered that he
had served his State in that capacity.
The negro then asked Mr.. Blease If
the Ex-Governor did not remember
him, giving his name, and saying that
twenty-seven years ago he had serv-
ed in the State legislature with Mr..
Blease as a representative from Beau
fort county, South Carolina. He told
Mr.. Blease how glad he was to see
him again, adding the phrase, How
times do change He Informed Mr..
Blease that owing to the change In
conditions he had never made anoth-
er race for the legislature, but in
stead had come to Savannah and en-
tered the carpenters trade.
Mr.. Blease declares that his rights
were usurped during the last race
that he made for governor and that he
has absolute proof that he was the
choice of the people of his State &C
cording to the vote that was polled.
In reference to the last election,
MIR. Blease said: 81 was nominated
for governor last summer, but was
deprived of the Office by fraud and
corruption, as is now generally ad-
nnitted by the people of my State. And
when my friends went before the
State executive committee and offered
their proof that l was the peoples
choice as the chief executive OF the
State. the majority of the members Of
the committee being bitter partisans
against me, they refused to receive
the proffered information and would
not even allow us to present ii"
When interrogated as to his opinion
Of the Reed amendment which was
recently passed by congress, Mr.
Blease stated that he was strongly
opposed to the adoption and passage
of this bill, stating that it tends To
accentuate the progress that is now
being made towards the taking away
of individual liberties.
Reed Amendment q Mistake.
''I think the passage Of the Reed
amendment is a mistake" Mr.. Blease
said. 'tIt will cause more petty vio-
lations of the law and will tend to
create among the people of this coun-
try feeling that their individual lib
critics are being taken from them.
Eventually it will cause all the people
to have less respect for all the laws,
because we cannot teach people a
proper resptct and obedience for the
laws when they are violating or as
sisting in the violation of any law
The violation of one law will ID to
the violation Of another law, hicn
naturally would lead to a dis spect
for all laws.
personally, however, he continu-
ed, 81 am a strong OOJector to the
Reed amendment, because I am a
strong believer in States rights,
whatever may be said by others, or
however much I may be criticised.
think the congress Of the United
States is rapidly growing mad with
power and the people now should rise
and stop it. II they don't stop it, in
few years State legislatures will be
nonentities and useless except for To-
cal county legislation, for the United
States government will take unto it
self the control of State governments
by the enactment of such laws as will
nullify the actions of the State leg
islatures.
"I sent a message to the general as
semgly of my State, while I was gov
ernor, in reference to this very mat
IL H.