The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1921-12-07
Ex-Governor Says He Stands for Low
er Taxation and Enforcement Of All
Laws. If Elected VIII Forget Dlf.
xS Drn,

The most prominently spoken of oppo-
ilent IS a. F. Lever, Of Washington,
chairman of the Federal Farm Loan
board, formerly congressman from the
Seventh congressional district, this
state, but while Mr.. Lever has had
the matter under consideration for
some time, he has not publicly divulg-
ed his political plans for the future.
Mr. Blease, in his letter to Mr..
Boggs, signed "Cole," says:
Your letter Of the 10th instant re-
ceiyed, and appreciate very much. in
deed, the kind expressions contained
, thefeln from you and from those for
whom you speak.
Il have received similar letters and
personal requests, such as yours con-
lains, from many people, and l feel
most highly complimented that those
who have been my friends in the po-
ntical campaigns in the past were SO
well pleased with my record that they
are again requesting me to represent
them, and l feel fattered that so many
of those who hitherto have never sup
ported me are expressing themselves
personally and through letters, and
like those who spoke to you, through
others, requesting that l become their
spokesman and representative. l am
now giving you, in writing, my first
definite reply.
Il shall be a candidate (if It, be the
Will of God to spare me both health
and life) for the gOvernorship in the
campaign of 1922. Not that have any
further personal ambition along that
line, but because there seems to be an
earnest and sincere desire on the part
Of great many Of tie people Of this
| state that l do So would feel that
Twas not true if my people believe that
| I can serve them in any capacity, how
ever humble it may be, and declined
to do so.
II shall repeat in my campaign the
old slogan Of the 1910 campaign, which
was: The reduction of taxation, the
abolition Of all useless offices, clerk
ships, etc.; the enforcement OF all
laws to the letter, for II they be good
their enforcement will tend to the up-
| building and uplifting Of our state and
I our people; IL they be bad our people
! Will soon demand and cause their re-
iUeal. IF a law is good it should be
enforced; IL bad, the quickest way to
secure it's reepal Is by enforcement.
! Give me a good government and
rich people, in preference to q rich
government and poor people; for
when you make rich government and
, thereby impoverish the people, you re-
verse democracy and create dissatis-
faction and discomfort among the peo-
pie, who are the masters and not the
servants.
II shall advocate liberal appropri-
ations for all of our state institutions
but 1 do not believe in the extrava-
gance that our recent general assem-
| I, i,, tel
| line, and | can not and will not give my
sanction to 1t. j am in favor OF build
] ing up free school system, so that
all Of the white children Of the state
may be given the opportunity Of q
good common school education, and
comfortable and convenient school
houses. believe in paying our school
teachers sufficient salaries to secure
the best, and I mean by best salaries
| commensurate with the class and
character Of work that teachers are
supposed to perform. to wit. the mold
ing and directing of competent and
efficient citizenship
Il believe in and will advocate
the passage of such laws as will fur
ther aid and protect labor in all Of it's
| legitimate claims and endcayOrs, and
in such laws as will protect capital LII
all Of its lawful investments, SO that
all Of our people may be protected, to
tho end that we may give equal rights
to all and special privileges to none.
II am in favor Of liberal support,
yea, II 1t be necessary for their COM
fort, extravagant support to the few
! old Confederate veterans who are left
that followed Wade Hampton through
the fields Of Virginia, and through the
turmoil and strife Of South Carolina
In 1875.
II am In favor of the strictest en-
forcement Of the laws which prohibit
[ "Iiin" and use Of cocaine and
similar drugs, and Of our national pro-
hibition laws. IF our people do not
want this done, then rise up like men
ana demand their repeal, for II they
are on the statute books and have
taken an oath before God ond man to
o4lo4cc them 1 shall do IT,.
'""ho"H nay be, In fact there are,
other. additions to these expressions
which shall be discussed when the
campaign shall have been begun.
"In making this fight shall know
no faction and no class because the
requests to me to make 1t have come
from all classes and all factions; and
II elected governor, shall forget all
differences which heretofore have di-
vided our people and shall be the gov
ernor Of all the people. All who know
me know that there is no deceit or
Hypocrisy In me, and that when / say
Will, / will; and that when / say
VIII not I will not: and they realize