Newspaper Page Text
>V, BLE4SE REPLIES
TO FELDER CHARGES
Attacko Burns Detectives und Dispen
sary Probers?Pays Respect to May
or Grace?Uses Strong Langunge In
Denouncing Accusers.
(S. E. Boney In News & Courier.)
Chester, July to.?Charging that tho
Bouth Carolina legislative Investigat
ing committee nrocecded in violation
of the law which created it; that It
took testimony from a fugitive from
Justice, in a locality where the wit
nesses were Immune from indictment
for perjury, Governor Cole L. Blease,
?at the State campaign meeting here
today, denied specifically and In de
tail the charges brought against him
in the evidence submitted last Friday
and Saturday, at Augusta, by Thomas
B. Folder, and the Burns detectives.
in addition to his attacks upon Fel
der, whereby he sought to prove his
unworthiness of belief, the governor
also paid his pespects to Detective
Wm. J. Bums, to discredit whom he
quoted, from a/magazine article writ
ten by Samuel Gompers, labor leader,
. statements which tended to show that
when the Bnrns agency failed to dis
cover wrong, it manufactured a case.
Not Enough "Hot Stuff.?
Governor Blease's statement was
read in a very calm voice, and altboug
he warned the people that he would
likely use some very Btrong language,
which the occasion, ho said, demand
ed, it was patent that his sympathizers
were somewhat disappointed in not be
ing treated to more "hot stuff" than
was contained In the statement. There
were, many calls of "give It him," etc.
Tt. waB Tdrther noticeable that ap
pla :*e was evoked not so much by the
governor's defence of himself as by
the few strong words he employed In
denouncing his acciisers.
Another clement was the disappoint
ment of many of his friends In not
hearing the governor lambast his op
ponent, Judge Jones. This doos not
mean that strictest attention was not
accorded, for the audience of possibly
1,100, were intensely interested in the
statement. But the absence of fire to
stir the*feelings of his hearers was
more than notlcable in the effect upon
thex crowd. A synopsis of Governor
Blease's statement. In reply to the
-charges brought by -fhos. B. Felder
is as follows:
"Damnable Conspiracy.*'
"As your Chief Executive, It is
my duty to defend my State and
my people, therefore, I shall at
Ulis > time und in title manner lay
bare before you the damnable con
spiracy to cause the people of South
Carolina to lose confidence in my hon
or and tb tarnish the proud name of
the greatest commonwealth in the
land," sa^id Governor Cole L. Blease
In his statement, issued this after
noon, replying to the charges brought
against him by Thomas B. Felder and
Detective W. J. Burns, before the dis
pensary investigating commltee in
AugUBta.
The governor takes up the charges
one by one, disposing of thorn with
affidavits in several cuscs. His reply
covers forty-seven typewritten pages,
j and Ute governor "demands" that the
newspapers -publish it in full .else he
says he will charge that they were
leagued w_lth Felder and the investi
gating committee.
He sayB that if they do publish his
reply in full, "I shall have accomplish
| ed one purpose, at least, and that is
to teach these editors one small lesson
in the ethiCB of Journalism."
Says Probers Exceeded Authority.
The governor first discussed the Act
creating the investigating committeo
and charges that they have exceeded
their authority and power In probing
into the Charleston "graft" charges
and in taking the testimony of Felder
and Burns at Augusta. He dubs the
committee's act as "unlawful."
Taking up next what bo termu "Fel
der's motives," the reply charges that
Felder is a fugitive from justice and
knew of the governor's Information
that Felder had been guilty of at
tempting to form a conspiracy to cheat
nnd defraud the State. Hfe refers to
Felder's charges made against, him,
when he promised to write- a book, as
"threats that were jokes."
He charges that Felder having noth
ing and being unable to find nothing
against him, bit upon the plan of
"making a case" and employed Wil
liam J. Burns and his associates, re
ferring to them collectively as "plen
ty of money and scoundrels."
"Body Guard" and "Pallbearers**
The governor says that if Felder
was nfraid to come into South Carolina
he would have appointed as bis body
guard "those brave men, H. B. Car
lisle, G. W. Sullivan. J. H. Clifton, F.
Mi Carey and .7. J. Kvans, and of this
gallant company 1 would have made
W. F. Stevenson (commonly known as
. Seaboard Bill) as captain. I urn sure
that these six men Could have protect
ed their friend, Col. Felder, and had
they failed in their efforts and had he
been assassinated, it would have hap
pcncd that the proper number of his
best friends we've present to have be
come pall bearers." ? ?
He charged that th&J Feljde^ < ;;owd
was afraid and the iiiyeajtigatiug com
mittee' went to A*ugw?ta to ''got some
thing on him," atid "put him in a
hole." He charges aleo'.'tbat another
reason why Felder would hot come to
South Carolina was that he could be
prosecuted here for .perjury and that
he^knew in Augusta, where the com
mittee was without authority, he could
not be so prosecuted.
Culls Felder "Bribe Taker."
He assailed Felder as "a bribe taker
and perjurer." He charges that Fel
der had to have the assistance of scv
en other .lawyers and of W. F. Steven
son before even a friendly committee
to "help him bring out his malicious
and dirty fabrications."
He disposes of the charge that he
received part of F. H. Dominlck's fee
for calling off the election for Hey
ward County by stating that the elec
tion was called by Governor Ansel,
and that he decided against the side
represented by Fred Dominick. He
gives at witness io substantiate his
statements D. S. Henderson, of Alken;
U. H. Welch, .of Columbia; George T.
Jackson, of Augusta, and Fred H.
Dominick, of Newberry.
Without affidavit he denied having
been In any legislative syndicate in
1900 and gives as references the mem
bers of the general assembly at that
time. He also denied ever having met
Felder or having any dealings with
him in 1900, and said that he was not
even a member of the State Senate
then.
Affidavit from "Hub". Evans.
He says that the charge that Mon
roe Hickert. in Atlanta, paid him and
H. H. Evans $4,000 Is false, and that
he was never In Atlanta with H. H.
Evans as charged by Felder. An affi
davit from "Hub" Evans* bearing out
this contention is submitted.
In vigorous fashion he denies the
charge that while a member of the
State Senate he represented Lanahan
& Co., and submits the testimony of
E. A. Smythe before a former investi
gating committee, saying he was pres
ent during the conversation between
Lewis W. Parker and Lanahan and
that the latter did not say that DIease
represented him. An affidavit from the
late W. G. Childs, bearing out this
statement, is submitted, and one from
S. J. Lanahan denying that he had
told Parker that Blease was his rep
resentative.
Affidavits are submitted from .Jodie
M. RawUison. John Black, Jos. B. Wy
1 if. H. Hi Uvans. John Dell Towill,/L.
W ltoykln, all former members of the
late dtapeusary board of control,
swearing that during their term of of
fice Blease never directly or Indirectly,
solicited orders for .whiskey for Lana
lwin or any other parties engaged in
selling Vhlskey or other articles to the
State dispensary.
Menial from J. S. Famum.
An affidavit from J. S. Famum is
submitted denying that he has any
knowledge of the charge that Blease
was paid $250 for opposing the ap
propriation of $15,000 for the prosecu
tion of the grafters while In the Sen
ate, and says that the statement that
he made any such statement is false.
He also denies that be conti'i med
$500 to tho Blease campaign fund two
years ago. The reply refers to denial
of R. Charlton Wright that he once
paid Blease $500 for defeating some
legislation.
An affidavit is submitted from N.
M. Block, of Mscon, Oa., denying that
he had .mh.de any statement about
Blease proposing to raise a $25,000
"slush fund" to control the business of
the late Sate dispensary, as contained
In a letter Written to Felder by Plck
ott.
He denies that the Charleston blind
tigers contributed to bis campaign
fund two years ago and submits affida
vits, from B. S. Blease and F. H. Dom?
ir.iek, his campaign managers, sub
stantiating his statement.
Mr. Dominlck also denies th,e charge
that between the first and second
campaign he went to Charleston and
got a suit case full of money and when
that was out be went back and got an
other.
Denied Grace's Charge
1 Governor Blease also denies the
same statement with reference to him
self. As to the charge of Mayor Grace,
that he had traced graft from Char
leston practically up to the governor's
office, the governor replies, denying It,
and says that Grace made these
charges after he failed to get control
of the constabulary.
He also referred to the fact that
during the recent campaign meeting
Ing in Charleston, the _Mayor, being
present, be said "any man who made
that accusation against nie is a mali
cious character thief and lfar."
As to Rubens Pardon.
A denial of the charge that he re
ceived any money from signing the
charter of the Interurban Railway and
(Continued on Page Four.)
?OLL OF OLD VETERANS.
Under lteccnt Act of legislature, the
Roll of All Soldiers and Sailors of
Civil War will lie Compiled.
Headquarters Laurcnr Heg. I*. C. V.
Laurens, S. C. July 16, 1912.
To Laurons Survivors;
The Veteran Association has taken
up the work which must result in
tho gratification of the long cherished
desire of every survivor, of having in
enduring form, in the office of the
Clerk of Court, a roll of every soldier
or sailor who did service for the
State or the Confederate States in the
war of 1861-65.
For the prosecution and completion
of this work It is essential that we
have*and we earnestly Invoke the aid.
not. only of surviving soldiers, but of
others who may have in their posses
sion company rolls, parts of rolls or
other data that may contribute to this
work, and any person having such
rolls or materlat, are requested to send
it to me. by mail or otherwise, with
the assurance that scrupulous care
will be taken of It and that it will be
promptly returned.
Comrades W. A McCIintock of Ora,,
and W. P. Coker of Fountain Inn,
have been selected for this work. These
gentlemen will have to go over the
State and Confederate rolls in Colum
bia and will require all rolls, or data
that may be had from all other sourc
es.
Much difficulty will be, had iu get
ting rolls of those Laurens men who
served In companies or commands that
were raised in counties other than
Laurens, like those who served In
Dean's and Nosbltt's cavalry com
panies, in the Mcfteth Artillery, or the
Holcombe Legion and others.
To the survivors (or families of sur
vivors) who served In companies or
commands that were enlisted in cuon
tle8 other than Laurens, we make an
especial appeal.
For instance let each survivor of
Dean's or Nesbitt's companies, of the
McBeth Artillery, Holcombe Legion or
other command, raised in a county
other than Laurens, send to us, in
writing, a list of names of all those
Laurens men who served In such com
pany or command.
This work has been long delayed
and all who can aid us in any way are
respectfully urged to promptness.
O. G. Thompson.
Colonel Commanding.
Rucklen's Arnica Salve
The Best Salve In The World.
Notice to Confederate Veterans.
.The old soldiers in each township
in the county are^'equested to meet at
the usual places of holding these elec
tions, on the tlrst Saturday in August
at 9 o'clock a. m. and after organiz
ing, elect by ballot, as the law requires
one of their number as township rep
resentative, which representatives so
elected, will meet at Laurens court
house on the first Monday In Septem
ber, being the second day of the month
for the purpoBO of electing a county
pooslon board for the year 1912 and
1913.
W. P. COKER.
Chairman,
County Pension Board.
July 15, 1912.
Dysentery is always serious and of
ten a dangerous disease, but it can
be cured. Chamberlain's Colic, Chol
era and Diarrhoea Remedy has cured
It even whon mallgant and epidemic.
For sale by all dealers.
A
wo
'Points to
The Cost!
The Service!
Auto Repairs that will cost
you the least owing to our
complete shop equipment for
quick work?least charges
for labor!
Repairing that * 'stays re
paired"?that means getting
I car-service out of your ma
chine. Try this combination
get our estimate!
Phone us!
W. P. HUDGENS
Laurens, S. C.
J. C. Burns & Company's
Clean Sweep Sale
Opens
August 1st, 1912.
RED IRON RACKET'S
J. C. Burns & Company's
Clean Sweep Sale
Opens
August 1st, 1912.
CLEAN SWEEP SALE
When Burns Says Let Her Roll She Goes!
Burns has made up his mind now to Sell $10,000, Ten Thousand Dollars Worth of Merchandise out
of the Immense Stock Regardless of New York and Baltimore Cost. Give us your attention Fellows:
We shall use neither tears nor oratory in telling you our story to?day, for we're putting you wise to the
nobSest effort and grandest achievement we've ever risked being jailed for. Just one word "COME" to
the RED IRON RACKET on
Thursday, August 1st., 1912
and we will show you. So you will see and know for yourself. Everything will be marked down,
down, in plain figures, to make a Clean Sweep. Our prices have always been 10 to 25 percent lower than
the other rellows. And now on Aug. 1st., our prices will be cut down ?o low we will run a risk of being
jailed for it, but what do you care. You run no risk, you buy the Goods, we take all the risk. Remem
ber the date, August 1st., Burns' Clean Sweep Sale Opens. $l()?000 Dollars Worth of Goods to be sold at
Clean Sweep Prices. Goods Must Go.
J. C. BURNS & COMPANY
six
CUT PRICE
STORES
RED IRON RACKET
210 West Laurens Street
Next to Bramlett's Shop-Completely Out of the High Priced District
LAURENS
GREENWOOD
ANDERSON
GREENVILLE
SPAKTANDURG
CHARLOTTE
