The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-05-22
REFORM COMNiTTEE PUTS
VAR DEPARTMENT WISE
Show Up the Great Injustice Done to
the Country in This Crisis by South
Carolina's Political Military
Governor.
Charleston American.

Charleston American.
washington, Afay 1I.-ASking that
the war department keep partisan pol
itics out Of the administration of the
military conscription law in South
Carolina and declaring that the re-
form party in the Palmetto State, true
10 the tradition and history of the
State was ready to do their part, a
committee representing the reform
ers, today appeared before Hon. W.
M Ingraham, assistant secretary Of
war and acting secretary in MIR.
Bakers absence. and Brig. Gen. Enoch
II. Crowder, judge advocate and pro-
vost marshal in charge of the con-
scription
In the party we're Former Gov.
Elease. Eugene R. Buckingham. w.
A. Stuckey and James P. Carey, Jr.,
OF the committee OF the reform fac
ton They were accompanied to the
war department by Senator E. d.
Smith, Congressmen Nichols, Domi-
nick and Stevenson. During the hear
ing Congressman Ragsdale came in
and remained until the meeting closed
They presented resolutions adopted at
the mass meeting held at Columbia
last Monday.
War Department Will Be Just.
Gov. Blease stated tonight that the
meeting was very satisfactory; that
the committee had come here to lay
before the war department the condi-
tons that exist in South Carolina and
that he was satisfied the war depart
ment would Sc" the justice in his
cause and that he hoped the visit of
himself and the other gentlemen OF
his committee would be the means of
eliminating partisan politics from the
operation of the conscription law.
Gov. Blease also stated that he was
opposed to this war and had he been
a member of congress he would have
voted against it and the conscription.
Eowever, war having been declared
by the legally constituted authorities
and regardless OF his previous posi-
that "we all should stand shoulder
to shoulder and present ourselves a
Rnit against the common enemy and
that this principle should actuate all
true Americans
No Fayors Asked.
Gov. Blease in his speech said: "We
are here as committee asking no
favors and expecting none, Neither
xtre we here to say anything in con-
demnation of any person or persons,
but merely for the purpose of present
ing to you some facts which We think
should be known to this department.
And will read to you the following
preamble and resolution which was
adopted by $50 of the good, honest
citizens of my sta.e, representing
every county of the State and in con-
ventton assembled at Columbia" Gov.
Blease then read the certificate from
the secretary and chairman of the
meeting, the resolutions passed at the
meeting, and the report of the meet
ing as carried in The Charleston
american on Tuesday morning last
Gov. Blease continued: 81 wish to be
fair to the department. l never con-
ceal anything and always state my
position open and above board. 1t has
been represented that my faction OF
the Democratic party in South Caro-
Ina. was strongly anti-Wilson. I did
not support Mr. Wilson for the DEM
ocratic nomination, and on the con-
trary I was opposed to him but after
he received the nomination our faction
sc South Carolina supported him 10y
ally and as proof of this fact I pre-
sent to you that at the general cleo
ton in South Carolina in 1912, l re-
:ceived something over $4,000 votes,
Mr. Wilson received 4S,S00 votes. Now
1 submit Mr.. Secretary. that the mem
hers of my own faction did not go
to the polls and vote for Wilson and
at the same time scratch my name
of their tickets. And as he received
1890 votes more than / did, it shows
con clusively that We stood by him
as the Democratic nominee"
Ref0rmers PA riotic.
Gov. Blease also stated that to show
shat his faction was doing its duty
Sc the record vas examined it would
be found that in both the First and
Second South Carolina regiments that
were at Ell Paso, Texas, last August.
BE received a majority OF their votes
for governor as against Gov. Man
B Bsg. their commander in charge.
Ter the remarks Of Gov. CieaSC,