Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-07-23
BLEASE At BRANWOOD
Reform Candidates Talk to Big
Crowd Of GreenVllIe People.
Mr.. Richards Critieises Present Ad-
ministration, and the Former Gov
ernor Pays His Respects to John
Gary Evans-The Audience Was in
Full Sympathy.

Gary Evans-The Audience Was IL
Full Sympathy.
Correspondence The ,orkville Enquirer.
Grcenvillc. July lS.-Dcclaring tha
he was as loyal to the cause OF de-
mocracy and freedom as any mar
and had becn ever since the United
States went into war and that he was
anxious today TO organize n regiment
or brigade of men over the draft age
withdraw from the race for the Unit
cd States senate and lead them into
France. Germany or to hell II need h"
Ex-Governor Cole !. lscasc addressed
n crowd of fully $500 people at Bran
wood, n suburb OF Grecnvillc. las
evening. sheriff Hendrix Rector OF
Gr,nvillc. presided. Speeches were
delivered by George W. Wightman o
Saluda, Reform candidate for lieu
tenant governor: John G. richards o
E.rshaw, Reform candidate for gov
ernor. and cx-Govcrnor Blcasc. The
crowd which was all I'lcasc and in
cludcd quite n number of ladies list
cncd attcntivcly throughout the meet
ing which lasted about two hours
Preliminary to the speaking. Sherif'
Rector declared that any person who
attempted any disorder or Interrupt
tion whatever would he Jailed within
fifteen minutes" There were half
dozen deputies on the grounds.
The sheriff declared that there were
fully $500 people present and v"ntur-
cd tho assertion that the crowd was
larger than tho total attendance or
the regular senatorial campaign meet
inrs held thus far. He took hand
primary of those who expected t'
vote for the ex-governor rs senator
and Mr.. Richards for governor. Hun
drcds of hands were raised. Then h'
asked for a count OF those who intcn-
ded to vote against the two. No hands
were raised. The crowd was al
Blcase. and there were twice as many
pcoplc present as attended the rcg,i-
lar meeting Of the candidates for stats
offices here this morning.
Mr.. George W. Wightman OF Salii'
da. candidate SOr lieutenant governor
presented his claims for suffrage. say.
ing he was a man of the people who
wanted to be elected by the people
He had served his county as senator
and when elected he "was senator
even as nc will he lieutenant governor
when elected by the people. IL" ask
cd the suffrage of the laboring people
ON the ground that he was lahOrini
man who had worked his way through
his own efforts. Hc pleaded for ar
honest election and an honest count
in August, declaring that he woult
rasss,sc-- ras,:- &c, s.c.sq: IA = ssfeet
please in nm hondz. election than tc
hold Office by fraud.
Mr.. Wightman was well received.
John G. Richards.
"I have been Rcformcr from tho
time I was bcarilGss boy and
stand today where stood in $780, de-
cla,rd John q. Richards. candidate fol
governor, who was next introduced tt
the audience. Mr. Richards discussed
the matter of taxation nj considerable
length, declaring that taxes were too
high and that II elected governor h'
would do everything in his power tt
,Iont rnInptinn
He declared that the creation o
useless offices in South Carolina were
largely responsible for high taxes. HI
attacked the state board OF charitie:
and corrections. created under the ad'
ministrntion OF Governor Manning
and declared that 1t was useless ant
should bc abolished. The board o
directors of the state pcnitcntiar!
were paid salaries to which they ar
not entitled, nc declared.
The $4,000 fund given Govcrno
Manning for law enforcement was alb
solutcly unnecessary. ne declared. an'
was In n measure responsible for higl
taxes in the state. Putting OF thi
fund into the hands of the govcrno
for such purpose. he declared. wa
reflection on every sheriff and cv
cry other regularly constituted office
in South Carolina.
1.-THE war is not an issue In thi
campaign" declared Mr.. Richards
There are none In South Carolin
who are disloyal. I have n boy b
France even as you have. We are nj
determined to push the war to sue
cessful conclusion and every Sout
Carolinian, no matter what his politi
cal affiliations. is perfectly willing I
give his all to that end"
NO part Of the high taxes nov
prevalent In South Carolina are bein
used in the conduct of the war;" dc
clarcd Mr. Richards. THE Unite
States government Is maintaining OIL
boys who arc over there. The govern
ment does not ask the people Of tn
state to assist in that through stat
taxation"
| The speaker declared his advocac
of free scholarships in the schools an
colleges of South Carolina and took
fling at Mr.. Robert a. Cooper. VIII
favored the abolishmcnt OF all sue
scholarships. He ridiculed Mr.. Coop
ers plan whereby the state woul
lend worthy boys and girls the mon
ey necessary for all expenses Of hig
school and college education.
In conclusion the speaker declare
that 4. ele!.tcd to 'hc executive chai
nc would he the governor Of no cliqu
or faction: but would be the COVER
nor OF all the people. ever laborin
for the best interests OF his state an
nation.
He was applauded.
| Cole L. BIease.
Referring to him as a man who wa
to be the next United States sena
tor despIte the autocrats and auto