Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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f THE LEXINGTON DISPATCH; Jt Representative newspaper. Savers Lexington and the Borders af the Surrounding Bounties Like a Blanket, 'v- YQLTTTVT ~ LEXINGTON, S. C? WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 1906. 41~ I ? GLOBE DBY GOODS COMPANY, , m: JSf -w. H:. MoajTOKTOir, t:ES.? TOjU loao MAIN STREJ2T, COLUMBIA, H. C. p|# Solicits a Share of Your Valued Patronage. Polite and Prompt Attention. " / *, October istf _ COUNTY CAMPAIGN OPEN Synopsis of Speeches by Candidates for the House, i Etc.?About 300 Present?All Enjoyed the Day, I BY CYRUS If. SBDSAI/Y. Steadman, Aug. 8. ? The county f>amrv5i?m orwvned todav at Steadman. a new little town about eleven miles from Batesburg, near the Aiken line. This town has sprung up since the 5 railroad was built from Batesburg to Perry, and already it has a fair start on the road to prosperity. The merchants are polite and progressive; the people, generally are industrious, kind and hospitable. Most everybody in the immediate section and a large number from the Aiken side of the ~ Edisto attended this meeting. The ladies take an interest in political affairs, and they made up a full half of the crowd. County Chairman, Hon. C. M. Efird,' formally opened the campaign. Mr. Efird made a short address in which he said that his business as county chairman was to open the campaign and to attend as many of the meetings as possible. He then read the names of all the men who were entitled to speak?those who had filed predges and paid the assessment fee. * Mr. Efird here officially announced the withdrawal of Mr. .P. IS. JbLutto from the rape for the House. Under action of the executive committee, the candidates for the legislature will be asked to answer the following questipns: "Are you in favor t . of the State Dispensary?" .Are you in favor of the repeal of the Brice Law?" Mr. Efird stated that in his opinion ^ the statement of itemized expense accounts to be filed by each candidate - should begin today and run to the end of the campaign. Another account - should be kept from the last cam* paign meeting to and including the v day of election. According to order, (and the order was just as the pledges were filed) Hon. E. J. Etheredge was the first T speaker. Tomorrow, the second man np today, will speak first; Dr. Ether% edge, will be last, &c., &c. HON. E. J. ETHEREDGE. Two years ago, he said, he had asked to be sent to the legislature. That request had been granted. He now comes asking to be returned to the House. He says he has possibly made mistakes, and will probably make them again; but he will do his best. He asked that his record be examined; ^ he is out on his own merit. During his service in the legislature, he has been economic. "While there is an enormous appropriation that has to . be made, still I fought all unnecessary bills for this purpose,'' he said. He opposed the Jamestown Exposition aonroDriation, and the nurchase of the Charleston guard-house for the Citadel. He favors giving every old soldier a pension. In answer to the question: "Are you in favor of the State dispensary?" he stated frankly that ho? was. He is in favor of repealing the Brice f . law. "If the people do not see fit to abolish whiskey, nobody can legislate against it. If the dispensary is aDolished, we would invite lawlessness in purchasing whiskey." He then quoted figures showing that the sale of liquor in South Carolina was decreasing. "The man who buys a license is in the business solely for the money ;* % \ "MEET ME AT TAPP'S." 111 =w w' A , ^ w. | ARE STILL 0 Hundreds of yards of beautiful, designs?bound to please y< Beady made Sheets and We have Rugs and ffe:: Tlie ?J . M . therefore I favor State control." He says he is a prohibitionist habitually; but believes the dispensary is the best solution of this great problem. J. M. EPTTNG. Next in order was Hon. J. M. Epting who stands for re-election. He thanked the people for past support; he warned them to be on guard relative to a movement now on foot to prevent a certain uneducated element from voting. In dealing with the ViiflrVioi* inefifnfiATio lio rrrQnfa Qnmo r?f JLil^lXUJL AliOVXVUMVlAC7) AAV If WAAW UVAAAV VA the money now going to them to be better apportioned. He wants the same economy used in the colleges that the trustees of the common schools have to use. He opposed the Jamestown appropriation on the ground that a State government should not engage in such advertising business. He believes the present pension law is unjust. He wants the law generalized so that each old veteran shall be pensioned according to their needs. He opposed the ten circuit bill. Since the passage of this bill the dockets are still congested. ' Of the dispensay question, h? says he has been watching the movements and has been noting the results. 4'I am in favor of the State dispensary, and for that season, I am in favor of repealing the Brice law. I have nothing to say against the true prohibitionists, but, he said, the leaders of this party in the house have set back prohibition for at least twenty years. He says the local option that is now being advocated is nothing but the so-called county option. He spoke for a good while but did not get far beyond the great ring that forms such a majestic circle around the dispensary. In conclusion he told how the dispensary law guarded the young men, and how it lengthened the school terms, &c., &c. W. H. SHARPE. Hon. W. H. Sharpe was next introduced and went through the usual pre- 1 liminaries in a pleasing manner. He says all the other candidats are on the railroad, leaving the whole country to him. He says Hutto got out of the race to give him the right of way; the other men are scrapping between themselves for the other two places. Mr. Sharpe stands flatfooted for the State dispensary, and for the repeal of the Briee law. He quoted figures showing the profits derived from the dispensary; these profits now going to swell the various tax funds. He claims that liquor has always been the most saleable comodity of any country, If men just will drink, let the State take charge of the profits. COL. J. B. WINGARD. \ "Personally, as an individual, I have.no preference, but standing as a* representative of the people, I shall stand for such modifications and amendments to the dispensary law as will curtail graft,'1 he said. He was a member of the legislature when the Brice bill was introduced and passed; J i. - ,1 ? il. 1 1_ - 2.'J auu vutcu i.ux" ueuause xus constiiu- ) ents had petitioned that the bi ll should \ be passed. He says he does not believe any relief will come by repealing the Brice Law. This law gives the peo! pie the power to say just what they want?Dispensary or No Dispensary. He says it is the people's fault that small votes have been cast in those places where petitions have been presented asking for a vote on the ais1 pensary question. He claims there is too much of a tendency on the part of the government to interfere in private | rights. He favors compulsory educa(MIL OFF N AT TAPP'S, cool, summer Silks of every con ou and the prices are popular. I I Bed Spreads at prices that will Mattings, Lace Curtains, Hamm< ment cann rjsLMss : ion by the parents, but #not by the trustees. The government should not meddle in domestic affairs, such as compulsory education, vaccination, etc. "Who," he asks, "is better able than the parents to say whether the children should go to school or not. The children belong to the parents; let the parents say what shall be done with them." i MR. T. C. STURKIE Then addressed the crowd. Quite a good number of ladies were present and Mr. Sturkie remarked that this was a good indication of good surroundings. He felt complimented for the good vote given him two years ago. 4'Taxation," he said, "ought to be the paramount issue." He stressed the need of legislation in regard to good roads, the common schools, etc. He thinks the colleges can take care of themselves. He wants the people to know that he shall always be a friend of the common and the graded schools. He said it was strange that the whiskey question should be the paramount issue. "It cuts the candidates down to one or two problems," he said. "My opinion is that the people should have the right to say just what they want?whether dispensary or prohibition, or what not," he voiced. "This question ought to be settled by the Democratic voters of the county. A representative should not throttle a dispensary down the people's throat; let the people vote for what they want. Then let all support the majority man-to-man and shoulder-to-shoulder." ' He believes this to be democratic. "When you go to the polls vote conscienciously for what you want," he advised. Chairman Efird asked: "Are you in favor of the State dispensary?" "The way the law is now enforced I am against the dispensary. The Brice Law is a' good one, but it needs the amendment forcing the supervisor to order an election when properly petitioned to do so." In his opinion "any sensible man will say we need a better law for the handling of liquor." MR. EDWARDS' Answer to the dispensary question was a most emphatic "No." He is in favor of the "Brice Law amended." "The dispensary is an alien; it was brought on South Carolina contrary to her wishes," said he. He holds that Local option is the 3 -3-3 -3 i-3 - TT- U - guuu uiu ucmuuiauu sujlu. xie uclieves the dispensary is a great big piece of double machinery; and he didn't believe a man in the crowd could tell the expenses of the great machine. Since Mr. Edwards is a prohibitionist he did not take much time in holding up the hands of the dispensary. He is squarely aginst the liquor business and wants to seat prohibition away up yonder somewhere. MR. GUNNELL In a few short pointed statements told who he was, what he had done, and what he would like to be. He was born in Fairfield county, served ! in the sectional war, and for the past ten years has been a citizen of Lexington county. He thinks it is unfortunate that whiskey is the one question, j He says prohibition is out of the ques- i tion, and local option is about as un- | discussable. He favors the State j dispensary and the repeal of the Brice j Law. He believes the dispensary is j the best solution, and that it can be , managed honestly. Mr. Gunnell, coming from New 1 TAPE'S SEEATER i ERS INSUMMI AND THE PE< ceivable color and figure. All 1 ^adies' Furnishing department is astonish. The Notion departme ocks, etc. A special line of Men ot be surpassed, the Hats are be,' Ku. TAP1 Brookland, touched lightly the labor question. He thinks the employer and the employee can be3t bring the desired reduction in hours at the same rate of wages. He does not want to break into the harmonious relations now existing between labor and capital. We take it that he refers to conditions in Lexington county?South Carolina, at most. He wants to see every white boy and girl in this broad land to receive a good common school education; he stands for such taxa4-C n rt 11 V\ /-"? ?/">> Vv /-V ? I L1UII Cl2> Will UC 1UI L1IC UCUuCl 1ULC11U Ui the people. He advises: "If the dispensary' is abolished you will have to go down in vcur jeans to make up the deficit." The candidates for the legislature are taking most of the time; but some of the gentlemen seeking other county offices wedged in a few words. Judge Drafts and Mr. Martin for Probate Judge addressed the crowd. The men for Supervisor agreed to make no speech here today. Frank W. Shealy, for Treasurer, was introduced. He read the figures which tell the financial tale of Lexington county. Messrs. Koon and Oswald, the other aspirants for this office were called, but did not respond. Messrs. Derrick and Dent, for Auditor, both said they were strangers and wanted to be taken in. They are both teachers, and claim to be able to hold down the office. Only three of the eleven candidates for Commissioner spoke They were, Messrs. Henarix, Baughman and S. Rufus Smith. HON. A. F. LEVER'S SPEECH. Congressman A. F. Lever addressed the people at the county campaign meeting here today. For some reason Mr. Lever has had no opportunity of speaking to the people in this part of the district before; hence they listened to him closely. He shucked of? his coat and cuffs and made a plain, straightforward talk. He was earnest and humorous by turns. He threw all sorts cf pretty talk to the ladies, and gave them a gentle reminder by saying that he -was an old bachelor lnnlrinrr rmt". frkr a' wifo writ".AT* heard ail Aiken lady remark that she thought our "musk-rat" congressman would be a soft snap; and she wanted me to tell her all I knew about him, but?well, I didn't have the heart to tell her. Mr. Lever said that the standing of a member of congress was judged by his character and position on committees. He informed us that during the next session he will be the second Democrat on the great agricultural committee which last year carried the tremendous sum of ten million dollars. He urged that, as a matter of benefit to the people, a member should be kept in congress as long as he does not betray the confidence placed in him. He plead with the people to vote in the general election in order ! that he might make a good showing j when it came to that detestable negro j contest business. Mr. Lever said he ; was the only man from South Caro lina, who had won a contest of this ! kind since the war. He calls on his * constituents to go | into diversification of farming; to en- j gage in hog and cattle raising and the ! dairy business; and above all, to live ; at home. Mr. Lever is growing stronger and j stronger in public favor, and some dry we hope to see in him something ' ?^ ??? DBSABTMESSTX BSOBE. :R Sll KS. ORFJ 3PLE ARE RE, ovely and cheap. Extraordinar 5 full of new and fresh goods. I ,?nt contains thousands of article 's Furnishings that should he es auties and just what you are loc ? CO., c more than a "soft snap" and a "muskrat." Leesville, Aug. 9.?Most of the candidates for the legislature have prepared platforms, which will appear in next week's Dispatch. Mr. Epting spoke first today. He pointed out the places?higher institutions, etc.,?that are sucking up the people's taxes. He dwelt briefly on his work in trying to reduce and divide the appropriations, especially emphasizing his efforts against the "Ten-circuit bill." He claims that the congested dockets are due largely to the dilly-dallying of the lawyers and judges. He stands for tlie dispensary ; is for the repeal of the Brice Law because it is'not local option in the true sense; and he wants to be re-elected. Mr. Sharp followed with a tribute to Leesville; her brave men and beautiful and intelligent women. He said that the jury box, the ballot box nnd thp nartridcfi hox wcrp thp thrpp boxes that ruled the government; but with the jury and ballot box properly administered, we would have no further use of the cartridge box. He then read his platform, discussing the different sections. He is an advocate of the dispensary and wants the Brice Law repealed. Mr. Wingard came next. He says, personally, he is* tired of the liquor question. He says you cannot legislate honesty and sobriety into men; but they can be educated up to it; he will stand by a majority of the peo pie's wishes. Let them have what they want; yet, he believed a majority of the voters want the State dispensary retained. But he favors the Brice Law. He voted for its passage and still maintains that it is thor-, oughly democratic in its provisions. By this time the crowd was pretty noisy, and, when Mr. Sturkie was introduced, he began speaking without any flowery introduction. He regrets that whiskey has been made the para mount issue in this campaign. He is emphatically opposed to the dispensary ; favors the Brice Law with an amendment, which will make the supervisor perform his duty regarding elections on the whiskey question. After dinner, the people heard Mr. Gunnell. Being a stranger, he told who he was; his birthplace; his service in the army; his years of residence in this county. He says prohibition is out of the question, and that local option is only another name for prohibition. He thinks the employer and the employee can best settle the labor question. Mr. Edwards was next up, and read his platform. He is alarmed at the opinion ot our neighboring states and of foreign countries in regard to our rotten politics. He is a prohibitionist out-and-out, and wants to turn every drop of whiskey into channels by which it can never return. Dr. Etheredge's speech was fast and snappy. He spent most of his twenty minutes in refuting the statements made by Mr. Sturkie, relative to the railroad tax in the three Fork townships. Congressman Lever was present and addressed the large crowd. He was in good trim and he soon had the people going his way. His speech here dealt largely with national affairs. As little as he is, he jumped on the the president with game grit, and I think he did Teddy a pretty fair job. He ripped Mr. Roosevelt up one side and down the other; and in the meantime is GOODS, ET( JOICED AT TE y values in Wash Goods of all v iOvely White Skirts that makes is too numerous to mention. C :amined before you buy. The )k ing for. olumbii I ! he added rr.o *e stars to his crown than | he can cany; unless he borrows a barrel or two of Teddy's "iron nerve." Immediately after the speaking, the candidates for the House got together for the purpose of organizing. Mr. Joab Edwards was elected chairman, and Mr. J. M. Eptine:, secretary. It was decided that each man was to be allowed twenty-two minutes in which to speak. Gilbert, August 10.?Three days of campaigning have brought out nothing new of any importance; whiskey is still the issue. *!*- m "? i * - ?? i>ir. onarpe naa nrst snot today. He read his platform and says he will stand by it. He says if he is sent to the legislature he will not only vote, but will discuss the issues. Mr. Wingard again brought out his "majority rule." He indulged in no idle talk, but went directly into the questions of importance. He believes it man's duty as a good citizen to see that economy is used in every branch of the government. Mr. Sturkie spent most of his time in his criticism of our present delegation for the passage of an act affecting the railroad tax in the Fork. Mr. Edwards still talks prohibition. He read his platform, but hardly fin ished discussing it before time was called on him. He still insists that the dispensary is undemocratic, and the prohibition of the liquor traffic ought to be the goal of every true citizen. Mr. Gunnell made about the same speech as before. He has no political record, but comes as a practical business man. He is opposed to the bureau of immigration, and wants it abolished. Messrs. Etheredge and Epting took most of their time in proving themselves clear of the charge made by Mr. Sturkie. They discussed the act of 1885, which created the trouble, and for which they are in no v\Ti9e responsible, They further claim that the act passed by them in 1900 does not affect a single taxpayer on the south side of the Saluda river. Messrs. Lindler, Dent and Derrick for Auditor, and Mr. Martin for Probate Judge, put forth their claims for the office to which they aspire. The campaign party enjoyed more comfort at the Gilbert meeting than any previous meeting, and to cap the climax the Ladies String Band of Ethan furnished very sweet music during the day. Some of the candidates thought their time to depart had come, while others were visibly affected by the sweet strains. Declines. To the voters of Lexington county: in not entering tne race ior tne House of Representatives, I do it with regret, but for reasons beyond my control. I could not have made the campaign, however, I thank you for the confidence reposed in me two years ago, and I assure you I will always remember you even if I don't have the pleasure of serving you again, but I hope such will not be the case as a true citizen stands always ready to obey the commands of his countryj Yours respectfully, Paul E. Hutto. Russian revolutionists attacked a government train on Saturday and captured from it a lot of arms and $80,000 in money. Several persons were killed. "MSSX MS AX XAgJPS." I Ji; [E BARGAINS. reaves in latest patterns and i you saiile to see them, all and look through. Millinery depart ^9 iSle Ct V \ &v