The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-05-18

REFORNERS APPEAL TO
WASHINGTON FOR JUSTICE
Tired Of @InsinuatioRs and Accusa-
items by Men High in Authority
in South Carolina" Represen.
tatives of Every County
Hold Meeting.
Charleston American.
Columbia, May 14.-Determined not
to rest quietly under implications, in
situations and accusations against
the loyalty and patriotism of its mem
bers, made by men high in authority
in this State to the war department:
Al Washington resulting in gross dis
examinations against them in the
present wa emergency, in which
they stand ready to do their full duty
as they have always done in the past,
the reform faction of the Democratic
party Of South Carolina, represented
by more than 500 leaders coming from
practically every county in the State,
tonight adopted resolutions writing
the record straight, and appointed the
following committee to present the
resolutions to the authorities of the
United States in Washington, and to
place before those authorities the
true situation in this State: Cole L.
Blease, W. A. Stuckey, James P.
Cary, Jr., DR.. Olin Sawyer, Eugene
R. Buckingham. The committee will
20 to Washington Immediately. The
resolutions are as follows:
Whereas, insinuations and accusa-
tions have been made by men ligh
in authority in South Carolina to the
war department at Washington, ques-
tioning the loyalty Of the reform fac
ton of the Democratic party of this
State, and intimating that the mem
bers of that faction a:e not patriotic
and loyal to the government OF the
United States and of South Carolina,
and are and have been putting OBJ
stacles in the way of raising South
Carolina's quota OF soldiers to con-
stitute the army now being organiz-
ed; and, whereas, as result OF such
reports and insinuatsons, members OF
the reform faction have been greatly
Disseminated against; and,
: Whereas, We hereby declare that
such insinuations and accusations
are unjust and incorrect; now,
therefore, be 1t
Resolved, That we disapproye Of
the manner in which the boards of
conscription have b n selected for
this State.
Resolved, That we disapproTe OF
the effort which is now being made
to depriYe the citizens of the State
of asthird regiment Of infantry, which
would give to the State brigade
commanded by its own officers, and
thereby reduce the number who are
to be drafted under the army bill.
Resolved, That committee Of FIVE
be appointed to go to Washington ard
to- place before the authorities of the
United States the true status in
South Carolina"
The meeting was called by Former
Gov. Blease, and was presided over
by Mr.. W. A. Stuckey Of Bishop
vile. Messrs. W. r. Parks Of Parks
Vile and Lowndes J. Browning of
Union were vice chairmen, and Mr..
John K. Aull, secretary
1t was composed Of men prominent
in every walk of life, and it included
many who had seen service in the
armies of the Southern Confederacy.
There were. no fireworks. but calmly
and dispassionately aspersions, cast
upon the loyalty of a majority of the
white men of South Carolina, be-
cause they dare maintain their free
dom Of political thought, were re-
sented.
In stating his reasons for calling
the meeting, Former Gov. Blease
said:
Ex.Gov. Blease's Address.
s'Fellow Members of the Reform
Party of South Carolina:
"I have taken the responsibility Of
calling you together at this time. as
the representatives Of more than
half the white voters of South Car
olina, for action in what I consider
a very serious crisis in our affairs.
"There has been an effort on the
part Of some of those in authority to
create the impression that the mem
bers of our faction are not true and
loyal to the Democratic party or to
the history and traditions of this ma
tion-that our attitude has been one
of negative nature tending to chill
the martial spirit in this war emer-
gency, and reformers irrespective Of
ability. character or other qualifca-
tons, have been most outrageously
disseminated against in the most
contemplate manner for cheap po-