The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-08-21
BLElsE's NEGRO SPEECH.
SPOKE TO NEGROES AFTER LAST
PRIMARY-TWO VERSIONS
GIVEN.
One Account Of Allen University Ad-
dress in The State, Another In The
Samaritan Herald.

Walhalla, Aug. 10."DllleIeul AIo"S
paper reports of the speech delivered
by Cole L. Blease at Allen University
before 400 negroes between the prl-
mary and the general election Two
years ago, when a prospective oole Oh
the Democratic party was being en-
tertained by leaders of the Blease Iac-
ton and when Blease discussed with
the negroes how he had been roooeo
out of the nomination were held up
to the Oconee county audience mere
today as a warning to the people OF
South Carolina. The report OF the
speech as it appeared in The State
which report was denied by Blease
three weeks after it had been dellv-
cred. was read by n. B. Dial along
with the one the negroes maze III
their own newspaper, The Samaritan
Herald.
The Iaurens county candidate urg-
ed upon the people the necessity OIL
registering. Although Blease had
made an earnest plea through the
Charleston American just prior 10 the
state convention for the State-Wlde
canvass, he had refused this summer
to attend the regular campaign meet
ings making a speech at only one OIL
these. and at one when he was IN
troduced refused to speak Under
the hammer of a partisan Democratic
executive committee and held ms
own meeting. Mr.. Dial showed to the
audience the Blease Independent tlck-
ct of two years ago put out by w. =.
Reard. notorious Blease leader IN the
state. now in the federal penitentlary
in Atlanta for disloyalty. The name
of Cole L. Blease was at the heao
of the ticket.
Mr.. Dial also reminded the voters
that instructions as to voting the IN
dependent ticket years ago were
nublished in different Blease news
papers Of the State, and Blease NM
self advised his followers that they
were not bound by the primary oatn
to support the nominee. Il am not
bound, unless I see fit to be, nor IS
any other man bound to support the
nominee Of the Democratic party as
declared by the State Democratic eA-
ecutive committee in the primary held
September 12, 1916" Blease said to
his following through the newspapers
which were supporting him.
The meeting today was attended oy
45O or 500 voters, who applauded with
much enthusiasm the arraignment OF
Cole Z. Blease, because Of his war
stand. w. P. Pollock said that Biease
now with a conscience Is accusing as
that of Macbeth because of the 70
maria and Filbert speeches was cry
ing "Out, out damned spot" In no
place the senatorial party has oeen
has the linking of Cole L. Biease 10
the kaiser and the sending OF the
two out into the realms of oblivion
brought from the crowds such an e&-
plosive burst Of applause.
Senator Benet will leave the party
for washington at the END OF the
week, to take his seat in the senate
for the new man power bill debates.
Men. guns, munitions and ships are
to. be furnished without stint or limit
Mr.. Benet says, that the boys may
finish the job and come home. He
would rather see 100000 men in the
uniform one year than 100000 III
uniform five years, and he expects to
so vote when ne gets to Washington
Senator Benet is making a striking,
aggressive campaign. His speches
are eloquent and forceful and he IS
puttinr in every moment at his dis
posal in extra canvasSing.
James Francis Rice says he will be
keenly disappointed if he does not
get the majority Of votes in Oconee
county. since he was a missionary or
teacher in the county for two years
when he first came to the State.
Reports of the speech delivered by
Cole L. Rlease at Allen University to
tho negroes between the primary and
the general election in the fall OF 1916
were published in two papers. The
State and The Samaritan Herald. The
report in The State was denied by
Blease 10 days after publication. The
report in the negro newspaper was
never denied.
The following report Of the speech
appeared in The State, October 4,
1916:
Cole L. Blease was the chief speak
er yesterday at the opening exercises
of Allen University, large negro
school in Columbia, despite the pro-
test of Tuesday morning by alumni
and former students. who petitioned
President Nance and the faculty that
the invitation be withdrawn, "as it
will greatly embarrass our wives and
daughters to have Ex-Governor Blease
speak to them. since he has spoken
so harshly in the courts and on the
stump against the virtues of the ne
gro women and the respect and de-
cency of negroes in general
Mr.. Blease made no direct refer
ence in his speech to this petition, but
the Rev W. D. Chappelle. D. D.,
bishop of the African Methodist Epis-
copal church in this State. who intro
tiuced the ex-governor as "the
strongest white man in the State of
South Carolina and one whose par
tloning record had removed all sting
in things 'said on the stump was
somewhat scathing in his denuncia-
ton of those who presumed ito die
tie the policies of a great church
Who are they. anyway Chappelle