The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-09-11
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER II, 1922
BLFASE OR Mcleod?

bLF aSE OR MCLEOO!
The Rev. Baxter McLendon is out
for Cole l.. Blease for governor, in &
page defence Of the pardoning RECORD
cf Ex-Governor Blease. The long arti
Gle is fearful, heart-moving, sob stuff
of which tho reverend gentleman
>hould be ashamed. He says ne was
at one time the bitter enemy of Cole
L. Blease. Now he regards him AZ
latest governor South Carolina
r had. He bases this judgment
upon the pardoning record of ex-Gov-
ernor Blease. In answer to the long
plea of the fearful minister, who, ac-
cording to his own statement, WAS
repudiated by every Methodist min
lister of South Carolina it is only nee
essary to say that according to the
rds Mr. Blease pardoned 81 mei
d of rape and ALL men con-
c-nd of taking human life. Why
cannot the Reverend McLendon save
few of his tears for the victims Of
the rapists and the victims of the man
slayers? Widows and orphans and OUT.
ragged women should certainly come
in for few tears. But the Reverend
McLendon has not one word of pity
for the dead and the ravished IT.
is mockery, pure and simple. This
sob stuff is the very thing that, more
r,ining the law in this state. We
.'c" i great howl, threaten to lynch
ne ccused, and then, after the courts
"ave passed upon the case and the
criminal is convicted, we begin the
'Nnoa! to sympathy. We easily for
get the crime in our sympathy for
-" condemned criminals. We lose
ight of the fact that civilization can
not exist without law and that with.
cry. We lose sight of the fact that
peaceful, law-abiding citizens have
no defense save the law, and when
no law is made void, the honest citi-
zen is left at the mercy of the thing
ID the murderer. Any man, with n
heart of pity sorrows over the sad
plight Of the condemned criminal. But
that is no reason for destroying the
law by wholesale pardons. Had Mr..
Blease pardoned ten covicted rapist5
ard ten convicted man-killers, nobody
would have found fault. Occasional
ly, rarely, we believe, there is some
serious doubt as to the Justice Of
sentence. But, remembering tn.
every prisoner has been convicted b>
jury, and has come into the courthouse
with the presumption of innocence. il
is impossible that there should be the
necessity for Wholesale pardoninp
Who is the governor of state? Is
he superior to Judge, jury, law? Does
"HH constitution of the State give him
'"" right to set up his own will as
""N"" all? The people of this State
"""d to come to their senses? So
long as there are hideous crimes there
VIII exist the necessity for harsh
laws. The law is 4 stern master. T.
is necessary that this be so, other
wise it is only sham Cole L. Bleasc
''t '0"" much to bring the laws CT
= state into disrepute. The seeds
wing are now bearing fruit
- w"vo If crimn that is sweeping
0 tate. The very thing he holds ur
a reason for electing him is the
very thing that is one of the strong.
est reasons why he should not be
elected. If you want this state turn
cd over to. blind tigers, bootlegs. mur.
derers, rapists and spirit of Law
lessness generally, cast your ballot in
tomorrow's primary for Cole l..
Blease. If you desire the laws up-
held. your women and children prc.
tected, vote for Thos. G.. Mcleod. The
choice is up to the sovereign vote.
But do not be deceived. You cannot
have the reign of law under the rule
of Cole L. Blease.