Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-07-23
Mr.. BLEAsE MAKES STATEMENT

IMR. BLEASE MAKES STATEMENT
Will Not Follow Campaign and Tells
His Reasons.
In the Charleston American OF last
| Wednesday, the following appeared,
sent by John X. Aull from Florence:
With regard to the Florence meet
ing. Mr.. Blease tonight issued the
following statement:
| ITO the Democratic Voters Of South
Carolina:
During the candidacy of the late
Senator Tillman | did not attend the
meetings set aside by the state DEM
ocratic executive committee because
he was my principal opponent and !
did not care to criticise him and did
not intend to criticisc him behind
his back. When hc passed to the
great beyond, an event which ! my
self very much regretted and as L"
which | expressed my sympathy To
his good wife and their children. |
thought that possibly notwithstand-
ing the many rumors had heard
that It would be a good idea to at
tend such meetings as | saw fit, but
the rules OF the Democratic party do
not require such an attendance.
81 had promised the people of
Clarendon county that | would be
at Manning on the day OF the regular
meeting and in compliance with IN!
word, which | always have kept and
intend TO keep, ! attended the Man.
ming meeting. 1t was my purpose.
rs stated at that meeting. to at
tend such meetings as ! saw fit. but
after consultation with some OF my
| friends, | decided to come to the
Florence meeting in order that ]
might reply to any remarks which
might he made about me. The
newspapers deliberately published
the report that the meeting was to
he held at Dillon today and not at
Florence. The result was when We
reached Florence that at II O'Clock
this morning the time called for the
meeting, six men were In the court
house. the county chairman, two
ca anditates for the senate. two news
paper men and one onlooker. l sent
word to the county chairman that In
1ftt44e#.-- efj-the-EsfttstiH stiHdeast ndt.Ef-+
thought 1t a good idea to call Off the
meeting and would not be present. /
was informed In response that hc
agreed with me. that he did not think
there would be any audience and ]
then returned to my hotel. Later |
was informed by friends that some
of my friends and supporters had
discovered that | was in the city and
believing that | was going TO speak.
had gone TO the courthouse. ! then
decided to go up to the courthouse.
which | did, and made n few re-
marks, stating my attitude as to
| this meeting. have been fore
| warned of certain schemes which
had been outlined in the city of Co.
llumbia in caucuses held by little
cliaue of my enemies as to what the
purpose of the opposition was. In
cludcd In that was an attempt to
force me into n difficulty with some
party and have a thug or hcnchman
on hand in the melee to stab me In
the back or shoot me clandestincly.
/ could hardly believe this. although
| II came from reliable sources. but
since the meeting at Florcnc. this
day. | am absolutely and thoroughly
convinced that should further fol-
low the senatorial campaign II Is 60
| ing to lead innocent people into ser
ious situations and will possibly re-
suit In dire consequences. | think !
have thoroughly demonstrated in the
past that / can take care Of myself
on the stump or elsewhere and that
am not afraid to do so, but no
man can protect himself from a set
of dirty. cowardly character thieves
and slanderers, nor from a party OF
thugs and assassins who are willing
to commit murder IL II be necessary In
order to defeat me and the great
masses of the people whom | repre-
sent.
ut Is for these reasons that / de-
cline to be a further party to an itin-
erary in a campaign for the senate
OF personal vituperation and abuse
IL the people disagree with me In
this, and I know that they do not
they are at a perfect liberty to elect
men who would be willing to resort
to such methods in order to win thai
position. In the future. l shall con-
duct my own campaign in my OWL
way. My friends will approve u
and those who are not my friends
for their opinions. their words ol
their actions. l have not the least re-
spect, nor do l give them the slight.
est consideration. II my friend:
wish to attend meetings where ar
guments are disregarded and onl,
personal abuse of me Is used as &
reason for another's election. I have
lno criticism, but ask that they wait
and hear me before believing those
who hope to be elected by persona
vilification of me and thereby de-
stroy the rights Of tire masses Of Tho
good people of our state"
>
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