Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-09-06
STATEMENT FROM BLEASE
Reform Leader Gives Views Of the
Situation.
has NOTHING WHATEVER TO REGRET
Made tho Race as the Candidate Of
the Reform Party, Put Up a Clean
Fight in Which No Personalities
Were INDUCED In and Has Nothing
Of Which He 10 Ashamed.

party Is far from dead.
1T and its principles. at the end OF
two years. will be stronger in the
hearts OF the people than ever before
and the people themselves will realize
more than ever the need OF the appli-
cation Of those principles In South
| Carolina. They will realize the fact
just as they realized il in 1890. il moi
more so.
Therefore. instead Of being dis
heartened, we should he encouraged
These statements by former Govern
or Cole L. Blease. leader OF the Re-
form faction of the Democratic party
OF South Carolina, feature an address
to the voters Of South Carolina issued
by him today. which is as follows:
To the Democratic Voters OF South
Carolina:
The campaign OF 1915 in South Car
olina for the United States senate has
been ended. Out Of total enrolment
of l4S.000 voters, which would have
been considerably increased had there
been a full enrolment. about 10000
votes are unaccounted for. They eth
or refrained from voting, for reasons
sufficient unto themselves. or else
their votes have been In some manner
disposed Of differently from what they
intended. In either event. |. person.
ally, have no complaint to make. My
whole fight has been what have hon.
estly conceived to be a fight for the
people-for the interests OF the masses
OF the people.
The Reform faction of the Demo-
cratic party OF South Carolina, In a
convention duly assembled. suggested
me-in fact, unanimously passed rcso-
lutions endorsing me as their candi-
date for the United States senate. ]
went into the fight and made. as best
could. and to the extent Of my abil-
ity. q clean. high-toned campaign. say
ing nothing personally against any one
and when | spoke of my chief oppo-
men,, only quoted the record which
he himself had made. / did not use
any money whatever in the campaign,
except for my personal expenses. and
the votes which I received were cast
by loyal Americans who were not In
timidated. hut were free and untram-
'meled In their choice. Neither were
they purchased or purchasable.
And when we take into consideration
that the president Of the United States
personally took part against me In the
campaign, naturally throwing against
me the entire constituency Of the Fed
eral patronage Of the state; and that
the governor Of the state. with all his
political power and appointments. was
fighting me to the death; and that
nearly all the congressman. with their
patronage, were using their political
power against me-and. I might say,
another influence. In some instances.
which the future will unveil; that the
entire press OF the state. with the ex-
ception Of the only really great daily
newspaper that South Carolina has
ever produced-the Charleston Ameri-
canvas daily pouring out diatribes
against me; that campaign hirelings
were fighting me In every county In
South Carolina, / feel that we have
won a magnificent victory, and / do
not believe (although / do not wish to
be considered egotistic) that there Is
another man in South Carolina who
has more loyal friends than my friends
proved to be In this state. and. for
that reason, could have won the same
fight and received the magnificent en-
dorscment which received. Because,
under the circumstances. II was an en-
dorsement.
The principles for which | fought
will live when not only ], but this gen.
Grafton, shall have passed away.
The Reform party Is far from dead
II and its principles, at the end ol
two years, will be stronger in the
hearts of the people than ever before
and the people themselves will realize
more than ever the need of the appli'
cation of those principles in South
Carolina. They will realize that fac
lust as they realized 1t in 1890. II moi
more 80.
Therefore, instead Of being dis
heartened, we should be encouraged
for truth crushed to earth shall rise
again." and the eternal years Of Goo
are hers"
| AS to the charge Of "disloyalty,"
dismiss that with the contempt whicf
it deserves. The age limit has beer
changed so that II now includes those
from IS to As. want the people o.
the various counties to pay particular
attention to the men between those
ages and see who OF those who have
been doing the talking will take uI
arms for the freedom and liberty o.
humanity, and see how many Of then
get up himsy and even false excuses
to keep from getting into the trenches
of France, or to keep their boys from
going, and let's see. when 1t is over
who were the real lovers OF their coun'
ltry-those who charged others will
"disloyalty" and themselves stayed ou
of the fight, or those who were charg
ed with "disloyalty," who went In ant
fought.
To my friends l want to express m!
most sincere thanks and to say L
them that do not believe any mai
who has ever been upon this earth ha'
had truer or more devoted friends thai
have had and now have. and / be
lieve that every man who in this cleo
ton cast his ballot for me Is my per
gonal friend. ! am proud OF the con
viction which ! have that no othe
man in South Carolina, as ! believ
this election has proved. has % man!
true and devoted and loyal supporters
and / know that every one Of them 1
Itrue to his nation. his state. his part.
and his God.
The future will take care OF itsel
| ! am q young man, and have just be
gun the fight for the people. AS