Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-05-02
Is READY TO RAISE COMPANY.
Provided the Men Are Allowed to
Choose Own Officers.

Columbia, April 26.-'ln PROOF OF
my good faith, If those who hold the
properly constituted authority will
guarantee to me that they will allow
my men to elect their own officers, l
will undertake to, and believe that
can, furnish within 80 days, as
brave a brigade of men as ever
marched upon a field Of BATTLE" said
former Governor Blease to-day, in an
interview in which he opposes the
plan of conscription for raising q war
army, and strongly advocates the VOL
unteer plan. "I do not ask to ap-
point the officers" he said, "nor do
ask for any office for myself. All that
| ask Is that the men who volunteer
to go into this brigade with me be
allowed to select their own officers.
Conscription Undcmocratic.
II think conscription Is cruel, un-
fair, undemocratic and against the
entire spirit Of our Institutions" he
said. Every war that this country
has ever fought has been won by the
volunteer soldier. When Patrick
Henry delivered his great speech, the
volunteers responded to the senti-
ment, "Give me liberty or give me
DEATH" and established our inde-
pendence. In 1912, when again it
became necessary for our nation to
engage in battle, the volunteer SOL
der came to the front, and again
American arms were victorious. In
the Mexican war, Cherubusco and the
Alamo were made famous by the vol
unteer. and 1t is needless for me to
say one word in reference to the War
Between the States. All the North
| ern historians are loud in their
praises Of the volunteer springing
from the fields and from the towns,
like ants from red hill, in response
to Lincoln's call, and all the world
knows and forever will know the
gallantry displayed by the soldiers
| OF the Southern Confederacy who
were volunteers. In the Spanish
| American war the volunteers from
the South, uniting with the volun-
teers from the North, gave Cuba her
independence and carried the Stars
| and Stripes to victory in battles
| which are still so fresh in our minds
that we can almost hear the ech Of
the guns.
Nichols and Dominick Right,
II am opposed to conscription.
| agree thoroughly with congressman
Nichols and Dominick, and have so
written them. This is a mans war.
People who call themselves men
(some OF them l know are not, be-
cause they are urging others to go
where they won't lead) brought on
this war, and men should fight The
mothers of this country should not be
called upon to sacrifice their baby
boys--some Of them possibly mothers
who are widowed and have only one
son-to fight 4 war that has been
brought on by those who style them
selves men.
position, If those who hold the prop
erly constituted authority will guar
antee to me that they will allow my
men to elect their own officers-that
is, each company to elect its captain
and lieutenants; each regiment its
majors, lieutenant colonel and colo
mel and the brigade its higher off,
cers-I will undertake to, and be-
lieve that I can, furnish within 80
days as brave brigade of men as
ever marched upon a field of battle,
none excepted. I do not ask tc ap-
point the officers Of the brigade, nor
do ask for any office for myself, but
simply ask that the men who voIun-
teer to go into a brigade with me be
allowed to elect their own officers. If
this authority should be, given me,
with the guarantee that my men will
be kept together as brigade, |
haven't the slightest doubt that can
furnish the required number Of men.
But I do not propose to ask any
mother or any father to allow their
boys to go into fight that | am not
willing TO lead, nor do i propose to
ask the boys or men to go into such
brigade If they are to be separated
from their comrades and scattered
individually to the four corners Of
the earth
Ever Prepared.