The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1918-07-23
ROW BREAKS. OUT
AT STATE MEETING
Bethea and Ricards Renew Quarrel.
. Question of Loyalty.

Greenville, July 20.-Lieut. Gov.
Andrew J. Bethea and John G. Rich
ards, candidates for governor, al
most came to blows at the State
campaign meeting here today in the
municipal park before an audience
of approximately $500.
The incident was the outcome of
the renewal of a question by MIR.
Bethea which was asked at Walhalla
and which occasioned Major Rich
ards coming out for Cole L. Blease
at that place. Mr.. Bethea asked Ma
jor Richards, "Do you indorse the
sentiments and the words uttered by
Cole L. Blease at Pomaria, July 81,
1912"
Following the preface of his
speech, which was an excoriation OF
the Greenville Piedmont, the lieut.
enant governor referred to the Po-
maria speech of Blease, quoting
from the Charleston American in
which Blease is reputed to have said
that the blood shed by the soldiers
of the United States in Europe will
be on the head of President Wilson
and the members of the American
congress Gas an unwarranted sacri-
flee of fresh young American man.
hood" he said. "I am not making
it an, issue, because the Charleston
American made it an issue when it
said that Blease came out for Rich
ards in his WAGNER speech and
that Richards got up and came out
for Blease. They raised the issue
and I propose to meet it from day
to day. I turned to Major Richards
who is a candidate in this race, at
Waihalla and asked him if he in
dorsed the '%utterance Of Blease. He
did not answer specifically and he
can answer it now if he wants to.
His reply to me was why are you
not in the war? Why don't you
don the khaki? You are in the draft
age.' Major Richards knows I am
not in the draft age and I am a
State officer, yet I have entered my
services to the war department at
Washington and am ready and will
ing to go and to spend every cent I
have in order to make the world
safe for democracy"
Test for Oficeholders.
Continuing the lieutenant COVER
nor said that the test Of a mans
qualification for office was his loyal
ty to his country and his adherence
to the national administration. He
stated that no candidate should be
given preferment whose loyalty was
in doubt.
"Would you like me to answer
your question:" asked Major Rich
ards at this point. As he arose to
his feet, he stated that he been in
formed that a man now on the
stand had quoted Mr.. Bethea as
saying he was sorry that he brought
the matter up at Walhalla. Mr.. Be-
thea replied that he had not said to
anyone that he was sorry.
81 want to say to Mr.. Bethea,"
said Major Richards, "that he said
to me at Walhalla he did not intend
to reflect on my loyalty"
Major Richards then walked up
beside the lieutenant governor, pois-
ed himself on the balls of his feet,
doubled his fists and asked: "Did
you not make that statement"
81 stated at Walhalla in my re.
ply" said Mr.. Bethea, "that that
was not the question and I did not
ask the question as to whether he
was loyal"
"Do you mean to infer here to.
day that I am ~.disloyal?" shouted
Major Richards, as he drew back
his clinched fist as if to hit the
lieutenant governor.
II p Cothran county chairman.