The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1918-08-01
HON. w. p. ODOM MAKES
REPLY TO EX.-COV. BLEASE

NSk III ~ GA'-SON. bLEASE
When Mr.. Blease's speech was sud-
denly cut short by the rain, and the
crowd began to scatter the people
were invited upstairs where the Hon.
w. P. Odom was introduced and de-
livered one of his characteristic rough
and ready speeches in which Mr..
Blease was handled with out gloves.
When the house was well-filled Mr..
Charles L. Hunley, chairman Of the
County Council of Defense, introduc-
ed the speaker. Mr.. Hunley was
heartily applauded when he delivered
brief but energetic appeal to pa
triotism in introducing Mr.. Odom.
Mr.. Odom began his speech with
the question: "Do you know where
Cole l.. Blease ought to be today? In
Bamburg, facing Pollock Blease is
afraid of Pollock or he would be
there" 1t. is true, said Mr.. Odom
that Wade Hampton, Alexander Ste
phenson and r. E. Lee were opposed
to war but not one word were they
heard to utter against it after war
was declared. / will convict Blease
out of his own mouth that he made
disloyal utterances several months af-
ter this country was at war. lie then
referred to the famous speeches of
Blease in which Mr.. Blease denounced
the President and congress and said
he didn't care what sort of country
we had if he were to lose his life. Mr..
Odom then paid his respects to The
Charleston American, the only daily
paper supporting Mr. Blease, as "that
dirty sheet that has beert twice dis
barred from the mails for disloyaIty
and whose associate editor is now un-
der indictment by the United States
government"
do you know man Of doubtful
patriotism" asked the speaker, "who
is not going to vote for Bleasc? No,
you do not" There are three classes Of
people who are going to vote for
Blease, they are those who are under
personal obligation to him or think
they are; the very stupid ones
who do not know right from
wrong, and the disloyal bunch, and
if the German soldiers who ravished
the Belgian and French girls could
vote, and the Germans who cut off
the breasts Of those hcip.ess women
and bayonetted little children could
vote they also would vote for him. 1t
would please them to know that
Blease was elected to the United
States Senate.
Again the speaker referred to the
manner in which Mr.. Bleasc had abus-
ed the President and said but now he
is friend to the President and would
go to him and say, 81 am the Sena-
tor from South Carolina and l am
with you" Blease is not fool but
he made mistake. When the war
first broke out he thought it would
be popular in~Sodth-Caroli to DE-
Dsunce the President, but he found
the people loyal and now | bet he
would give 100000 if he could take
back that Filbert speech.
News of the death of Lieut.. San
ders had been received and Mr.. Odom
announced that fact, paying high
tribute to the character of the brave
man who had fallen.
How are you going to face those
boys over there when they come home
if you send man like Blease to the
Senate? asked the speaker. Your
State will not be represented, it would
be misrepresented.
/ don't believe much in deathbed
repentances at best but this man will
have to remain at the mourner's
bench long time before will be-
lieve in his repentance.
In closing he exhorted his hearers
If there were any present who had
been disloyal to any extent to get.
right and vote right.
Mr.. Odom was interrupted all
through his address by applause and
goodnatured sallies from his audi
ence.