The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-03-02

conclusively, in my judgment, that a
majority of the members of the house,
at least had no respect for him, he
having attained the position which
he holds in the manner that he did.
q was pleased to see the general
assembly take action in regard to the
Parker mills merger transaction. |
called attention to this matter IN
1912, in a special message to the gen
eral assembly, and ii some action had
been taken then, and proper proceed
ings instituted, the stockholders
would have been saved millions OF
dollars, and the taxpayers OF the
State would have been benefited by
thousands of dollars which Woula
have gone into the State treasury.
again, as to the Columbia canal
proposition, sent several messages
to the legislature calling attention
to this matter, and if action had then
been taken, complications which
have arisen by the transfers Of prop
erty in recent months would not
have had TO be corteIded with in the
final adjustment.
81 congratulate the Legislature up
on the passage of the bill in reference
to aliens owning lands. l called spec
ial attention to this in message TO
the general assembly, but could not
get the legislature. at the time to do
anything l am glad to note that at
this session they took action.
These matters are not cases Of
4 told you So but my messages ana
records speak for themselves, and will
show clearly TO the people that | was
trying to do the right, when the leg
islature was stubbornly fighting ev-
cry proposition that 1 offered.
''The discussion at the past session
in regard to free scholarships was d
healthy sign. | started the agitation
by special messages during my ad-
ministration, and l am delighted that
it is bearing fruit. \
'In fact, / think if my administra-
ton is reviewed, and if my record i'll
the legislature is recalled, it will be
found that the marriage license law,
the registration of births, etc.; the 10
hour labor law; night schools; sep
arate coaches; biennial sessions or
the general assembly; the abolition
of the hosiery mill; the establish
ment of the tuberculosis sanatorium,
the establishment of the warehouse
system, have all been pets of mine,
and most of them have resulted eth
er from bills introduced by me while
a member of the senate and the house,
or from messages sent by me to the
general assembly during the four
years l was governor"
What about the appropriation bill p
Mr. Blease was asked.
Il think" the former governor re-
piled. ''that when the people walk
up to the captains Office next fan
10 pay this -million-dollar ap-
preparation bill that has been put on
them, they will discover that what
Blease told them on the stump III
1916. was the absolute truth, not
withstanding the fact that some news
papers and some people would, in a
sneering manner, say, oh, that IS
just Blease talking, trying to foo.
somebody to catch votes I am salts
fed that this administration has
touched the hearts of a great many
people, because | have heard it said
from my childhood that if you want
to touch a mans heart, touch his
pocket-book, and l do not think that
any one will question the fact that
the present legislature and the pres
ent governor have done that to the
full extent of their ability. If l had
been governor there are a great many
items in the appropriation bill that
I would have vetoed, the striking out
of which would not have been detri-