The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-07-06

l.. Blease in answer to the McLaurin
address to the people of South Caro-
lima. The statement by Mr.. Blease
follows:
To the Editor of The State:
hardly feel it necessary for me to
make any comment on the letter of
John L. McLaurin, which you publish
ed this morning. 1 am satisfied that
Mr.. McLaurin's past conduct in South
Carolina politics, especially as a mem.
ber Of the senate OF the United States
is such that no honest-thinking man
would give credence to any statement
which he might make in reference to
my attempting to bolt the Democratic
party, in view of my service to the
party in the past, and in view of the
further fact that every friend that 1
have within the State of South Carlo
lima knows that / discouraged any
effort at a bolt in 1916, and no man
can show line that have ever writ
ten, or honestly repeat word that
have ever spoken, encouraging any
bolt on that occasion. This was so
plain that even you yourself wrote an
editorial, in which you stated in your
issue of October 13. 1916.
Weeks ago The State expressed un-
Qualifiedly the opinion that ex-Gover-
nor Blease would not lead a bolt from
the Democratic party in the State in
the approaching general election The
State adheres to that opinion.
The great mass of Bleaseites are
honest men who would scorn the sug-
gestion Of repudiating their oaths to
support the nominees of the party,
State and national There will be
no bolt in 1916 with the sanction of
the Bleasite organization. A
few disgruntled persons may vote
against Mr.. Manning and against
President Wilson but there Ia no like.
lihood that Mr. Blease will lead a
party mutiny"
And the Greenville Piedmont. the
editor of which is very close friend
Of Mr.. McLaurin, said editorially in
his issue of November 8, 1916:
Just as The Piedmont predicted
the regular Democratic ticket in South
Carolina was elected yesterday with
practically no opposition, though some
hot-headed friends of Ex-Governor
blease did not listen to him and dis
tributed tickets on which his name ap
peared as candidate for governor in =
stead OF that of the regular nominee.
Richard 1. Manning. There was lots
or talk of bolt, but it ended in talk.
The Piedmont felt sure that it would
so end, because no bolt in this State
has ever come from the class Of peo-
pie who furnish the bulk of the
strength OF the Bleaseite faction, and
because the suggestion of 6. bolt re-
ceived no encouragement from either
Blease or any of his lieutenants."
AS to the transactions between Mr..
Aull and Mr.. McLaurin on their Wash
ington trip, Mr.. Aull reported this
matter to me Immediately upon his
return. for the reason, as he stated,
that he felt that it was due me that
[ should know. and he TOLD me then
that he was going to resign from the
ing further to do with it, which he
did I saw Mr.. Aull very seldom while
he has never yet said one word to me
in reference to the personal Or public
transactions of Mr.. McLaurin as ware
house commissioner, except when he
told me about the Washington trip
and said he was going to get out i'm
mediately. And there isn't a man in
south Carolina who knows John Aull
but knows that he is too honorable a.
gentleman to betray any trust reposed
In him. He served the old Eighth cir
cult as court stenogra pher for eight
S>'i -, anu mas Deen lltlue court stem
ographer of this circuit a position of
honor and trust. and I know that he
would be willing to leave his reputa-
ton for square dealing in the hands
OF the members of the bar among
whom he has worked. and with the
supreme court and circuit judCes who
have presided over the many courts
which he has reported.
The statement that l encouraged
Beard in putting out a ticket is as
black lie as has ever been put in.
print. ON the contrary, warned
Beard against any such step and told
nm not to do it. and when he came to
me cOmpla ining that he had spent