Evening star., 1942-01-20
Coleman |. BIease,
Ex-senator, Dies
In South Carolina
Perennial Candidate
Was Stormy Figure in
Stote, National Politics

Was Stormy Figure IN
Stote, National Politics
Coleman L. Blease, former United
States Senator from South Carolina,
where he was political storm CEN
ter for years, died last night in
Columbia IS. c. hospital. the As
sociated Press reported. He was 73
years old.
A perennial candidate for Office
since the 1905, Mr.. Blease was Gov
ernor of South Carolina from 1911
to 1915, and was United States Sena-
tor from 1925 to 1881. He shot into
the national limelight in his first
administration as Governor because
of his issue of nearly 5000 pardons
He bitterly attacked Americas
entry into the World War, and Pres
ident Wilson's policies. In 1917
President Wilson made a direct ap-
peal to South Carolina voters. ask
ing the formers Governors defeat
in his race for the Senate.
Skillful Criminal Lawyer.
In private life q skillful criminal
lawyer, Mr.. Blease was a candidate
for Governor or Senator in almost
every primary in the last two dec
AIDES. His last race was for Governor
in 1898.
In later years he usually polled
enough votes to enter a second prl-
mary, but never was nominated.
Last year he was elected by the
General Assembly to the State Un-
employment Compensation Commits
sion, and began his four-year term
last July !.
Mr.. Blease was born in Newberry
S. c., October 8, 1868 He attended
Newberry College, the University OF
South Carolina and Georgetown
University. The year after his
graduation from Georgetown in
1889. he was elected to the State
House Of Representatives, where he
served almost a decade.
was constant SdHuIudtcs
Whether Cooley" Blease was
elected to more public Offices than
any other man OF his time, as he
said, or was defeated for public
Office more than any other man, as
many of his political foes said, he
was a candidate in almost every
election after he attained his ma
jority. Following his terms in the
State House of Representatives, he
was later State Senator and served
as presidential elector in 1896 and
1900. In 1910 he became Mayor of
Newberry, from which Office he re-
signed to become Governor.
Mr.. Blease was Governor for two
2-year terms till 1915, and one of
the last acts of his administration
was a blanket pardon for many
hundreds of persons free on parole.
Referring to the pardons, he told
Senate colleagues that they were
poor and helpless, with no one to
speak for them. no money to hire
lawyers. no money to circulate petit
tions, no money to have friends
come into the Governor office and
make appeals for them. Some Of
them served for years and years for
the very smallest ofienses."
Disbanded National Guard.
In January. 1918, he startled the
State by resigning week before the
expiration of his second term and
the notice, written in red ink, was
cheered by the Legislature. An
earlier skirmish with the War De-
partment. over the disposition Of the
State militia led to an executive
order Immediately before his resig-
nation. disbanding the entire State
National Guard The order was
rescinded by Gov. Richard 1. Man.
ming, his successor.
Out Of public Office for nine years,
Mr.. Blease went into the 1924 SEN
atorial primary, four -cornered
fight in which he won over Repre-
sentative James F. Byrnes. later
United States Senator and now an
associate justice of the Supreme
Court Mr.. Blease. who was bitterly
opposed to the policies of President
Wilson. including the League of Ma
tions. carried his disregard of party
regularity into the Senate. In 1926
he prevented Senate vote on a res
olution of adherence to the World
Court by conducting a filibuster.
Admired Dawes and Borah.
Discussing party organization a
year later with South Carolina
newspapermen. he said he did not
belong to the Democratic party, IF
by the party is meant the caucus
that tries to dictate how / should
vote" He professed great admira-
ton for Vice President Dawes and
Senator Borah of Idaho, both Re-
publicans.
Mr.. Blease was married twice. In
1890 he married Miss Lille B. Sum-
mers. who died in 1884 and in 1899
he was married to Mrs. Carolina
Floyd Among his survivors is a
half brother, former Chief Justice
Eugene S. Blease of the South Caro-
lima Supreme Court.
Funeral services will be held in
Columbia at pm. tomorrow, with
burial in Newberry.
The lonp-tailed chickadee mi