Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, July 31, 1908, Image 2
Straps and .facts.
? That the Farmers' Union of Mississippi
has determined to hold cotton
out of the market, is evidenced by
many surface indications, although
the meetings are secret and members
give out nothing for publication, that
has not been strictly censored. The
union is thoroughly equipped for a
practical test, and its membership includes
a large majority of the farmers
of the state. Warehouses have
been established in almost every community.
When the season opens and
cotton begins to move in volume, the
union will have, it is said close to 150
- n AA I?-? ti<VtSnU I
nuuiuriii aiia.ii nun n??vn? a ov. ? v? ...
congress is able to contradict this. I
have insisted for years that it does
not matter where a candidate comes
from, but what he stands for that
should determine his election."
? Frankfort, July 29: Gov. Willson
declared in a letter sent today to Vice
President Rawn of the Illinois Central
railroad that no efforts at intimidation
on the part of lawlessly inclined
people of western Kentucky
will be considered in the movement
of troops or selection of camping
grounds for soldiers in active service
in that part of the state. The governor's
letter was in response to a communication
from Vice President
Rawn, informing the governor that
the Illinois Central railroad has received
written notice that if it permits
troops to be encamped on its right of
way all trains of the company will be
derailed. In his letter to Mr. Rawn
the governor says that state troops
have been in service "in the night rider"
districts to protect the lives and
property of the people and It is necessary
for them to be fed and have
camps at points most convenient. He
says that they will be ordered to take
all reasonable care to avoid any unnecessary
injury, damage or inconvenience
to owners of property.
? Both the Republican and the
Democratic parties have committed
themselves to the policy of making
public the accounts of their campaign
funds, and the two candidates have
on this point led their respective parties.
The Democratic party has written
its promise into its platform, thus
gaining an advantage over the Republican
party which refused to put
it in as a plank. The Democratic National
committee, also, has announced
that the accounts of the Democratic
fund will be made public before
election, namely, on October 15,
and that all sums received after that
date will be published upon the date
on which they are received: that the
publication of the names of contributors
will apply to every item over one
hundred dollars, and that no contrlKutl
Ar? than nna hnn/1 r^fl /I r?! _
lars will be received within three days
before the election. It has aiso fixed
the maximum for single contributions.
at ten thousand dollars. The
Republicans, however, have heretofore
only promised to announce their
accounts after the votes are cast.
Their publicity policy, however, is not
less voluntary than that of the other
party, and It is one which demands
statements under oath and provides
severe penalties.
? Chicago, July 29: Judge Kennesaw
M. Landis, of the United States
district court, probably will be sued
next week for $50,000 damages for
false imprisonment. The suit is to be
instituted by Daniel F. Keller, formerly
a captain in the United States
army, who was sent to the Federal
penitentiary at Fort Leavenworth last
Saturday by Judge Landis to serve a
two years' sentence for stealing government
checks. The proceedings are
an aftermath of the long feud between
Judge Landis and Judge Crosscup.
Attorneys YV. A. Adams and \V.
M. Yietman, representing Keller, alleged
that Judge Landis issued a mittimus
committing the army captain to
the penitentiary at Leavenworth in
the face of writs of supersedeas and
error which had been issued by Judge
Grosscup. Application for a writ of
habeas corpus will be made today
and in all probability Captain Keller
will be taken from the prison at Fort
Leavenworth and brought baek to
Chicago, the last of the week. For
some time Judge Landis and Judge
Grosscup have not been on speaking
terms and the breach became wider
iO 2UU WcH cuuuarn an ? mvii wvwm
may be stored to await the caprices
of the market.
? Fayetteville, Ark., July 29: L. W.
Blanchard, a leader in social, political
and religious affairs in this community
for fifteen years, and J. C.
Wilcoxson have been bound over to
the Federal grand jury on a charge
of counterfeiting. At the hearing before
United States Commissioner Nathan
B. Williams, Wilcoxson turned
state's evidence and testified that Dr.
Blanchard, although the superintendent
of a large Sunday school, had
been a counterfeiter for fifteen years.
Wilcoxson says he became associated
with Dr. Blanchard in making spurious
money about five months ago,
but never knowingly passed any of it.
The men were arrested at Huntsvllle.
Secret service men say that the counterfeiting
plant is at Hilltop, in Boone
county, equipped to turn out dimes,
quarters, halves and dollars.
? Oyster Bay, New York, July 28:
In a telegram to James E. Sullivan,
the American commissioner to the
Olympiad, President Roosevelt tenders
his congratulations for the splendid
showing made by the team in the
competition. The president received
a cablegram yesterday from Mr. Sullivan
apprising him of the splendid
achievements of the American team.
To this President Roosevelt sent the
following characteristic message:
"Heartiest congratulations to you and
team. Wish I could shake hands
with aach man.?Theodore Roosevelt."
Elaborate preparations are
being made for the reception of the
team when they arrive in New York.
A conference has been held by Acting
Mayor McGowan with a number of
public men with a view to holding a
public reception for the men when
they arrive.
? Americus, Ga., July 28: Judge
Charles R. Crisp, son of the former
speaker of the house of representatives,
has received a letter from W.
J. Bryan with reference to the charge
that Bryan failed to support Crisp's
father in the contest for speaker of
the house. Bryan says that while he
voted for Springer in the caucus, as
he lived in Springer's district, and
had promised to support him. he had
voted for Crisp when the election was
held In the house. Says Mr. Bryan:
"Nothing but the most malignant enmity
can account for the circulation
of the charge that I am prejudiced
against Southern Democrats:. Every
?v?nr? U'itK \\T V* Am 1 CAPVPfl in
? fit-11 juuKf uruKH'Uli niiPif Iiir ui?
cision for the court of appeals reversing
the $29,240,000 fine imposed by
Judge La lid is on the Standard Oil
com oany.
? For more than ten years a political
party known as the "Young
Turks" has been working to wrest
from the sultan the imperial power
which he has been exercising for
more than thirty years, and to establish
a constitutional form of government.
About July 14. reports began
to come in of mutinies among the
Turkish troops in Macedonia and it
was then found that the "Young
Turks" had succeeded in winning over
ninety per cent of the army officers
to their cause. This was followed by
a telegram addressed to the sultan
from the Albanians of I'shub informing
him that they also had taken oath
to favor the re-establishment of the
constitution. The sultan had been
under the Impression that he could
depend on the Albanians under all
circumstance. These opinions had
been fostered by an Albanian favorite
of the sultan's and when the facts became
known the ruler's wrath immediately
descended on the head of the
favorite who was at once dismissed in
disgrace. The former grand vizier
was then summoned to the palace,
and he gave the sultan an insight into
the real gravity of the situation in the
country and the hopelessness of attempting
to restore permanent peace
in the army and among the people
unless the personal regime, with its
attendant abuses and intrigues, which
had brought the country to the verge
of ruin, came to an end and some
steps were taken in the direction of
granting a measure of constitutional
government. Accordingly. on July
24. an imperial tirade was issued ordaining
the assembling of a chamber
of deputies in accordance with a constitution
which had been elaborated
by the sultan. The irade was at once
communicated to the provincial authorities
with the necessary orders
for the holding of elections. Although
it was thought generally that a constitutional
government would inevitably
grow out of existing conditions,
the announcement of the sultan came
as a great surprise and a widespread
sensation was created throughout the
nation. The constitution as just established
is practically a restoration
of the one proclaimed December 23,
18 76. by the present sultan immediately
following his elevation to the
sultanate, after the violent death of
Sultan Abdul Asiz, June 4, of that
year, and the deposition of Sultan
Murad V. on August 31, 1876.
?lu ^jorkviUr tfiiqttiw. I
Entered at the Postoffice in Yorkvllle
as Mail Matter of the Second Class.
YORKVILLE. S. C.j
FRIDAY, JULY 31, 1908.
Mr. John Wood, of Greenville an-1
nounoes that the story that he had
* - ? 111 -? ?'oo on orrnr
fallen neir 10 a imiiiun v.
Yes, it is true that the Witteklnd
experiment was a failure; but if we
have no good citizens in South Carolina
who belong to the immigrant class,
we have some who are descendants of
the immigrant class who think they
are as good as anybody, anywhere.
?
Although physically blind, Mr.
Swearingen insists that he can "see the
truth," and those who heard him
speak, believe it. His case was certainly
not included in Christ's reference
to "blind leaders of the blind," for
Mr. Swearingen's blindness is only
physical.
The trouble between Holland and
Venezuela over the Curacoa incident
seems to be growing more pronounced
rather than otherwise. The Dutch
government already has the cruiser
Gelderland in West Indian waters and
has ordered the battleship Jacob Von
Heemskirk to proceed there at once.
The understanding is that the Dutch
propose to demand an apology of Pres'
* ?4 ^~v?io foUuro tf\ mnlfP I
lapni Lasmi auu u? mo lanmv ??
such an apology, to bombard one of
the Venezuelan ports.
Tiie Yorkvllle Enquirer reads us a
lecture. It would be Inexcusable, it
surmises, to say, "It is a damned lie."
or "l'ou are a damned liar" to a fellow
who tells one "that one esteemed
as man and friend had stolen a sheep."
"After all," says The Enquirer, "it is
possible that a friend might steal a
sheep." Perhaps The Enquirer's standard
for "friends" is somewhat different
from that of The State's.?Columbia
State.
If the constancy of the State survives
the knowledge that a "friend"
has stolen a sheep. The Enquirer's
standard for "friends" is somewhat different.
The State Campaigners.
The candidates for the various state
offices addressed the voters of York
county in the court house last Wednesday,
and elsewhere in this issue, we
are giving as comprehensive an account
of what was said and done as is
practicable under the circumstances.
That different people have been im
pressed in different ways, there is no
question, and in view of the fact that
such impressions are often influenced
by individual preferences and interests,
it is not practicable for on? man to be
too free with his own impressions without
stepping on some other men's toes.
However, The Enquirer proposes to
give some of its impressions as to the
meeting last Wednesday, and leave it
to the public to agree or disagree with
those Impressions as it sees proper. '
The race for railroad commissioner
is practically a repetition of the same
situation that has been witnessed each
two years since the people have been
electing commissioners. All the new
aspirants to the job insist that the
commission has done practically nothing;
that the man whose commission
ts expiring has done worse than nothing,
and that there should be a change.
The only difference of opinion among
the outsiders is over the single question
as to which of them could best fill
the position and work great and needed
reforms in behalf of the dear people.
As the result, the people have been
steadily and consistently turning out
the incumbent and putting in a new
man not so well qualified to attend to
the duties of the .flee because, if for
no other reason le is without experience.
About the strongest plea that
any one of the present canuiuaies is
able to make, is that he has as much
ability and is generally as well qualified
to fill the office as is the incumbent.
As a matter of fact it stands to
reason that if the incumbent is as honest
and as competent as the others, the
interest of the people requires that
they hold on to him for his experience,
if for nothing else.
While we cannot fail to be impressed
with the fact that Mr. Blease is a
shrewd campaigner, somehow we are
not very much impressed with the case
he tries to make out. That the general
assembly is rather liberal in its appropriations,
we are not disposed to
deny; but it is difficult to see how Governor
Ansel is to be held responsible.
As a member of the senate, Mr. Blease
has been in a better position to hold
down appropriations than has Governor
Ansel. The governor has practically
nothing to do with the matter,
>- ~* mu/vM/x
us ne very neany explains. mcic w
nothing wrong with the governor's reconutieiHiution
for an increase of salaries.
It was not only his right to recommend
the increase, hut his duty if
he thought such an increase wise. The
general assembly has not seen lit to
authorize the increase. For that the
governor is no more responsible than if
the increase had been made. And nobody
understands that better than does
Mr. Mease. The argument that if the
Incumbent finds the salary too small,
all he has to do is to get out of the
way for some one else who will accept
the job at the price, is rather specious.
Tltai'A *..??* ha faitn #1 man U'htt U'Alllll
gladly give from $:i,000 to $r?0.000 a
year for the privilege of being governor.
And neither are we impressed with
the capital that Mr. Blease would make
against the governor because of the
governor's appointment of a negro as
notary public. Mr. Blease told his story
originally as if Mr. Ansel was the only
governor who ever did such a thing;
but it was not long in coining out that
it has been a Very common practice, so
common in fact that it is not difficult
to imagine that Mr. Blease himself
would have done the same thing had
he been in a position to do so. But taken
all in all it seems to us that the
governor, by his plain, frank statement
of the situation, made the whole matter
as clear as is necessary.
All three of the candidates for state
superintendent of education are good
men. and no matter which is elected,
the educational department will be under
as good management as it has been
for a number of years. We were impressed
with the energy and experience
that Mr. Elmore proposes to give
to the work, and we are still more impressed
with the high veneration in
which the veteran educator, Mr. Melllehamp
holds the position; but nothing
that occurred during the day impressed
us like the heroic record of Mr.
I John E. Swearingen, me Dunn pruies-j
son at Cedar Springs, and his bold declaration
to the effect that the greatest
trouble with the educational system
of South Carolina Is Inefficient teachers.
The probability Is that It will be
years before the people will begin to
give heed; but as we see it, Mr. Swearingen
raised the alarm against the further
enactment of what is nothing
more than a most pitiable tragedy.
There are able and efficient teachers in
South Carolina; but in every community
there are teachers who are neither
able or efficient, who hold their positions
by reason of local pull and influence,
not so much because of their ability
to teach as because of their need
of the position. Trustees give them
places from considerations of friendship
or patronage, and help to supply their
deficiency in equipment with profusion
of deliberately o\er-estimated praise,
while they still further sustain themselves
with unsuspecting patrons by
giving children credit for progress that
is impossible under the circumstances.
Mr. Swearingen said he would try to
put a stop to this, and those who heard
him had a right to feel convinced that
he would gladly devote the balance of
his life to such an undertaking.
As to the race for comptroller general,
it is hardly worth while to add
any comment to what is said in the report
of the meeting. The conditions in
the office of the comptroller general
may be all right and they may not be.
We don't know. But we are not in
clined to the opinion that the election
of Mr. Brooker would be the best way
to get at the facts. A thorough and
honest investigation by the legislature
would be more to the point.
Under conditions as they have grown
up in South Carolina, the politics in
the military department of the government
have been left principally to the
militia. Outsiders have given very little
attention to the office of adjutant
and inspector general. For years and
years thousands of voters have been
scratching their tickets at random or
submitting to the g lidance of friends
and acquaintances connected with the
militia. Often one or two militiamen at
a box have been able to throw practically
the entire vote for the candidate
of their choice. Col. Thompson seems
to be trying to get the general public
to take a more direct interest in the
situation, and while the controversy
between himself and Col. Boyd develops
some hints that more light on the
subject is desirable, still it is not fair
to sjfiv thfit the e-pne?-nl nuhlie has vet
been furnished with sufficient information
to warrant intelligent action.
Taken altogether, the meeting was
unsatisfactory. There was not time
for a sufficient presentation of the case
of any one of the candidates. The public
was unable to get a comprehensive
grasp of the merits of any of the controversies,
and as usual thousands of
people will be compelled to cast their
ballots without a clear understanding
of exactly what they are doing.
MERE-MENTION.
An escaped convict burned himself
to death at Richland, Ga., Tuesday,
after saying that he would rather die
than be sent back to Lundy's" convict
camp The treasury department
at Washington on Tuesday received
from the Central Pacific Railroad
company a check for $2,940,000,
the lust payment under the funding
act of 1889, under which the railroad
was completed Peter Sendek
killed his wife at Cleveland, O., Tuesday,
attempted to kill his two children
and then committed suicide....
The Sultan of Turkey has issued a
proclamation in which he states that
henceforth he will appear on the
streets of Constantinople the same as
any other citizen. He has been virtually
a prisoner in his palace since 1877.
....Andrew Carnegie and his family
had a very narrow escape from death
in an automobile collision in Scotland,
Tuesday The British navy is in
an uproar because of a scandalous
quarrel among its leading oiticers. A
number of resignations are looked for.
A New York broker estimates
that American visitors to Europe this
year have spent only $200,000,000,
which is considerably less than is
usually spent by American tourists in
Europe... .Burglars entered the office
of a heating company at Norfolk,
xr.. 1.. n,wl vlflarl I
YU., fai i) munua^ iiiv^i 111115 unu iiuvu
the safe of $4,500 Ten business
houses were destroyed by tire at Villa
Rica, Ga., Tuesday, entailing a loss of
$40,000. .. .Governor H jghes of New
York has given it out that he will run
as an independent candidate for the
governorship, if the Republican bosses
see lit to turn him down in the
nominating convention at Saratoga.
A man and woman were killed
at Gienhead, L. I., Monday night in a
collision between an automobile and
an express train on the Long Island
railroad The German automobile,
Protos, in the New York to Paris
race reached the latter city on Monday,
having covered the distance of
21,080 miles in live months and fifteen
days. The American, the Thomas,
reached Paris Wednesday night. The
race will probably be given to the
Thomas car owing to penalties incurred
by the Protos James O'Connel,
chief gunner on the Olympia in
tiie battle of Manila Ray, was electrocuted
in New York on Monday
while working for an electric railway
campany making repairs 011 the underground
wiring John K. Philips,
a former policeman of New York,
died Monday from hydrophobia caused
by a dog bite on his cheek nine
months ago The secretary of
state of Texas has declared void the
charters of 800 domestic corporations
doing business within the state, for
failni-A in luiv franchise taxes
Dr. Francis Gonzales, president of the
Liberal party in Mexico and the Iead?vr
of the recent revolution in that
country, lias been arrested and placed
in prison in Mexico City A typhoon
struck Hongkong. China, Monday
night and did much damage, besides
causing the loss of many lives.
In trying a defend a negro who
had attempted an assault on a white
woman at I'ensaeola, Flu., Wednesday
night, the sheriff of the county and his
deputies lired on the mob, killing two
and wounding a dozen or more. The
negro was lynched, and his victim will
die.
?Gaffney, July 30: A little ginger was
injected into the state campaign meeting
here today by a spirited colloquy
between Adjutant General Boyd and
Col. Henry T. Thompson. While Col.
Thompson was speaking he made the
statement that Col. Boyd was not supported
by his own regiment when Col.
Lewis was elected to the command of
same. (Jen. Boyd in reply said that
Lewis was elected colonel on his rec
i 111111?- ii (lit lion. voi. i iioiii|i.-miii men
asked Gen. Boyd if he would allow him
to tell what he (Boyd) told him at the
time. "Tell anything* that is the truth,"
answered Boyd. "You told me," said
Col. Thompson, "that the reason you
withdrew from the race was because
you knew you were beaten." Gen.
Boyd arose and with much feeling said:
"1 pronounce that statement as absolutely
and unqualifiedly false." Col.
Thompson very calmly continued his
speech until his time expired. Gen.
Boyd, in his reply, reiterated his statement
that he did not make the remarks
attributed to him by Col. Thompson.
LOCAL. AFFAIRS.
NEW ADVERTISEMENTS.
O. L. Sanders?Is presented to the voters
of York county as a candidate
for the house of representatives in
the primary.
Palace Theatre?Announces the production
of the "Passion Play" next
week and gives details of the origin
of the famous play.
First National Bank?Points out the
paying your bills with checks. Your
business is wanted.
J. r,ugai ruag, oiunn?iic>ni>.u.^uu
that now Is the time to list your
property and wants. Subscribe for
Poag's Real Estate monthly?fiOe.
J. L. Williams & Co.?Are showing
fall styles in "Nufangl" pants for
men $4 to $6 a pair.
Loan and Savings Bank?Gives its
platform as "safety first, liberality
next," and solicits your business on
that.
Luther Baber?Offers his services to
ladies desiring hair dressing in their
homes.
Strauss-Smith Co.?Wants you to
wake up and take advantage of its
bargain offerings.
J. C. Wilborn?Has a tract of land
in Fort Mill township and one in
York for sale.
Herndon & Gordon?Received yesterday
a supply of fruit Jars, rubbers,
tin cans, wax strings, etc.
M. W. White?Gives timely advice to
take advantage of returning prosperity.
Real estate offerings.
Thomson Co.?Calls attention to R.
& G. corsets, bordered calicoes,
Amoskeag ginghams, muslin underwear
and Ferris waists.
Yorkville Hardware Co.?Calls attention
to some of the summer necessities
that you need now. See them
for hardware wants.
York Drug Store?Tells about its
remedies for coughs and colds and
recommends Bowen cold and grippe
tablets.
Carroll Furniture Co.?Is prepared to
furnish you with all kinds of picture
frames made to measure.
A mule belonging to Mr. Luther G.
Thompson, had to be killed yesterday
as the result of injuries sustained by
being caught in a wire fence last Friday.
Elsewhere in this issue is published
an interesting communication from
Senator Brice on the Saye road law.
The communication has evidently been
called forth by the fact that effort is
being made to use the law to prejudice
Dr. Saye's candidacy for the senate,
and Senator Brice undertakes to show
how unreasonable are the various objections
that have been raised. The
article is well worth a most careful
reading.
THE CORN PRIZE FUND.
Previously acknowledged $279 00
Dr. T. N. Dulin No. 2, Clover* .. 2 00
$281 00
Subscriptions should be sent to Mr.
A. L. Black, R. F. D. No. 1, Yorkville or
to The Enquirer. ,
WITHIN THE TOWN.
? Mr. Hunter Clark, son of Mr. J. D.
Clark, who lives about four miles west
of Yorkvllle, was painfully injured
this morning as the result of a runaway
accident. A mule he was driving
to a wagon became frightened at the
ditching machine at work on Madison
street, and he was violently thrown to
the ground. He was badly bruised
and from such information as could be
had, several ribs were broken. He
has been removed to his home.
? The sewerage contractors on yesterday
got in operation the big ditching
machine that arrived Monday and
which was mentioned in The Enquirer
of Tuesday. The machine is at work
on East Madison street, and numbers
of people have been going there to witness
Its remarkable performances. The
machine consists of an endless chain
arrangement operated by a large steAm
engine. At its best it is capable of
going 1,200 feet a day with a ditch thirty
inches wide and eight feet deep. It
was walking right along yesterday, and
the contractors now believe that they
will be able to make short shift of
their Job.
EFFECTS OF PROHIBITION.
Rev. J. Li. Hnrley, superintendent of
the Anti-Saloon League, has been making
inquiries of the conditions In the
1 thn nrlnnHnn nf
various couiuira KIIH.C iiw.,,. ?
prohibition. In the current issue of
the Baptist Courier replies are printed
from the clerk of the court of Edgefield.
Cherokee. Lancaster, Pickens and
York counties. All these replies show
that since the adoption of prohibition,
business has increased and liquor
drinking has decreased. In all the
counties except York the questions
were answered over the signature of
the clerk. The questions and answers
in the case of York county are as follows:
1. How long has your county been
dry? Ans. Three years.
2. What effect has it had on business?
Ans. Helped business.
3. Have you been able to enforce
the law? Ans. Yes.
4. What effect has It had with reference
to sobriety and good order?
Ans. Splendid effect.
5. To what extent has the sale of
liquor and drinking been reduced?
Ans. Open public drinking has been
discontinued.
(Answered by J. S. Brice at request
of Clerk.)
ABOUT PEOPLE.
Mrs. Harry Hines of Lancaster is the
guest of Mr. and Mrs. R. B. Davidson.
Mrs. Miles Johnson of Rock Hill, is
visiting friends in Yorkville this week.
Miss Vera Tront of Forest City, N.
C., is visiting Miss Blanche Cain of
Sharon.
Mrs. C. C. Stewart, and Mrs. Jesse
Faris, of Yorkville are visiting at
Cliffside, N. C.
Edwin E. Smith of Atlanta, traveling
passenger agent of the Cleveland. Cincinnati,
Chicago and St. Louis railway,
(The Big Four Route) was in Yorkville
last Wednesday.
Mr. William Camp of Roanoke, Va.,
Is in Yorkville on a visit to nis uncles,
Messrs. W. H. and R. J. Hemdon.
Mr. Tscharner DeGraffenreid of Columbia,
is spending a few days in
Yorkville. the guest of Mr. J. M. Starr
and family.
Mrs. Oscar E. Cunningham and little
daughter Mary, of Waxhaw, N. C.,
and Mrs. Sallie Wilbom. and Miss
Louise Reitzel, of High Point N. C.,
are visiting the family of Mr. J. C.
Wilborn in Yorkville.
Col. Robert W. Hunt, formerly assistant
general passenger agent of the
Southern railroad, r. -w superintendent
of the train auditing department, with
headquarters in Atlanta, was in Yorkville
Wednesday on an errand that was
partly business and partly pleasure.
He spent the greater part of the day
making social calls on his friends, of
which lie has quite a number in Yorkville.
Because of the nature of his
present duties, the colonel is no longer
brought into business contact with tin
general public or any part of it. This
business is altogether with the em
plo.vees of the company; but he has so
many friends and admirers over the
state, tiint lie just cannot resist me
temptation to delight them with an occasional
visit.
WATSON TO FARMERS.
Hon. E. J. Watson, commissioner
of agriculture has published the following
for the benefit of those farmers
who may desire to avail themselves
of the benefit of the demonstration
work to he shown by the department
of agriculture near Columbia, on August
15:
"On behalf of the office of farm
management, bureau of plant industry.
I'nited States department of agriculture.
the state department of agriculture
and a committee on agriculture
of the Columbia Chamber of
Commerce. I wish to extend you a
1 iooliniion | i\ aMontl t h fi rvw*ot_
ins and demonstration work to be
held near Columbia, on August 15,
incident to the inauguration of the
new system of farm demonstration
work, which the United States de- t
partment is undertaking to establish <
in the different states of the Union; 1
South Carolina being selected as the
state in which the first efforts are to i
be made. I have applied to the rail- 1
road lines for cheap rates on account :
of this occasion, and if secured new
announcements will be immediately
made.
"It would be best for farmers, who
desire to see the practical preparation
of land for winter cover crops
and legumes, the employment of modern
machinery and other practical
demonstrations, to arrive in Columbia
on the evening of the 14th. On the
morning of the 15th at 10 o'clock a
special car will leave from the front
of the capitol and proceed to the
Gonzales farm, several miles north of
the city, which farm has been selected
as the central demonstration farm,
j ? t?Vils>Vi farm nrafllrill
meetings will be held once a month
during the twelve months of the year.
"On arriving at the farm the United
States experts will divide the visiting
farmers Into groups and a practical
demonstration with accompanying
explanations will begin. About
noon a special car will be boarded
and all visitors will be carried, at the
invitation of the Columbia Chamber
of Commerce, to the Rldgewood
Country club house, where, in the
main hall, the meeting will be conducted.
At this meeting there will be
addresses on lines related to the work
by the agriculturist of the United
States department of agriculture, Dr.
Spillman, or his chief assistant, Dr.
Brodie; by Dr. Goodrich of the United
States department who has been
placed, in charge of all this new work
In the southern states; Mr. Merrlman,
in direct charge of the farm;
Dr. Stiles of the United States department,
who is to be in direct charge in
South Carolina; Prof. Harper, the
director of the state experiment station,
and others.
"To this meeting the farmers of the
entire state and members of their
families are invited. During the progress
of the meeting the Chamber of
Commerce committees will furnish
the guests with a light lunch and refreshments,
so that it will be unnecessary
for any one to leave the
meeting to return to the city for dinner.
"There has been for many years
an earnest desire on the part of
farmers to benefit by such practical
demonstration work as is to be conducted
by the government henceforward?the
class of work that has
proved so beneficial In Canada, and
those farmers who follow the course
of the series of meetings to be held at
this central location during the year
should, and doubtless will, greatly
benefit therefrom. I trust that there
'? 1 A AM iho In!.
Will ue a fJUUU aurimaiicr uu mv ....
tin', meeting, if for no other reason
than to make It a manifestation of
interest in the work that the government
is inaugurating, and of appreciation
on the part of farmers In South
Carolina of the preference shown by
the Federal government In behalf of
our state. I trust that every farmer
in the state, who can make it convenient
to be away from his place on
this date, will attend this meeting."
THE STATE CAMPAIGN.
The state campaign meeting appointed
for York county was held in
the court house last Wednesday and.
from first to last, was attended by
about five hundred voters. Including for
the most part those who are usually
present on such occasions.
The meeting, taken as a whole, was
practically identical with the meetings
that have been held all over the state.
The various candidates pressed the
same points in very much the same
manner in which they had been pressing
them elsewhere, and during the
three hours that the meeting continued,
there developed very little that would
have been new to those who have heard
the campaigners In other counties.
Although the audience was composed
of white Democrats, It would not be
correct to define its sentiment as one
of political unanimity. There has always
been a more or less definable line
of political division among the people of
this county. On the extreme edges It
is clear enough to be discernible to the
most casual observer, while toward the
merging mark its identification requires
the careful calculation of the
more experienced politicians. It was
easily noticeable Wednesday; but
there was nothing unpleasantly demostrative
about it, even in connection
with the attention given Messrs. Ansel
and Blease, now the accepted, if not
altogether typical representatives of
the two lines of aspiration. The audience
was admirably self-contained,
showed due consideration to all of the
candidates, and gave to each and every
one the most patient and courteous
ottonHnn that could be desired. All
received impartial complimentary applause.
The meeting was called to order by
Mr. W. B. Wilson, Jr., county chairman,
and was opened wjth prayer by Rev.
Dr. S, A- Weber. Tfoe candidates for
governor were allowed a half hour each
and the other candidates were be'4
down to shorter time limits, some of
them being allowed only five minutes.
Mu^ic, which was an agreeable feature
of the occasion, was furnished by the
Yorkvllle cornet band under the leadership
of Sheriff Brown.
For Railroad Commissioner.
Hon. H. W. Richardson of Barnwell,
was the first speaker. He said that he
came before the Democrats of York as
a comparative stranger, but was glad
to know that there are a few who knew
him. There are five candidates for the
one office to be filled, and as he did not
think oratory a requirement of the office,
would undertake to tell of his
claims. He said he had spent his life
on his plantation as a farmer. He
went into the Confederate army In
April, 1861, before he was 16 years old,
and served the entire four years, except
six mohths that he spent in a
Yankee prison, after his capture at
Cold Harbor. Told of his participation
in the revolution or is<t>, ana saia wiai
with his own means he bought 100 rides
and 10,000 rounds of ammunition,
equipped a company and did all he
could in that struggle. He was appointed
collector of the port of Beaufort
by Grover Cleveland and served
until the Republicans got in power
again. Afterward engaged in railroad
building and had a large contract in
the building of the Three C's railroad.
Said he knew the railroad business
thoroughly from the hewing of a cross
tie to the building of a four bench trestle.
Said that if he got into that offlce
it would be his pleasure and duty
to listen to all complaints and main- i
tain justice as between the railroads
and the people. Promised that if he
was elected railroad commissioner, the
office would be no longer a joke. He
said that the people of York county
had made a mistake in entering the
"nag" they had in the race, Mr. C&nsler,
who will give better service in !
educational matters. [Applause]. <
Hon. J. A. Suminersett of Richland,
said it was a genuine pleasure to meet
the people of York, tell them what he
u-nnfM and pxnress the hone that they i
would help him to get it. He claimed
that he had lots of practical experience i
in the railroad business. He said he i
started in the railroad service at $8 a <
month and rations and rose gradually.
until be became telegraph operator, i
station agent, train dispatcher and <
train master. Suid that If elected he
would not have to get information sec- '
ond-handed from any department. Discussed
the matter of railroad discrimi- I
nation and claimed that it still needs I
correction. Argued that if the com- i
mission were made up of experienced <
men. the special commission recently I
appointed by the general assembly to i
investigate the railroads would not i
have been necessary. Said that people i
had been trying to prejudice his case !
with the statement that if elected he !
would he partial to the railroads; but !
claimed that this was unjust. He had I
given the railroads honest service and i
that they had paid him in full for that 1
service. Urged the importance of the <
office of railroad commissioner and the 1
great responsibility of the position. <
[Applause]. i
James Cansler said that he wanted I
to thank the people for the good vote I
they had given him before, and claimed
that If they would do It again, he
would be railroad commissioner.
Hon. B. L. Caughman, of Saluda, the
Incumbent, said that the candidates had
been unusually mild at this meeting,
for which he was grateful. He said
that he had handled the position the
people had given him fearlessly, and
honestly for the people of South Carolina.
Upon his election, he moved to
Columbia and gave his whole time and
attention to the office. As proof of
thi:}, he claimed that he had responded
to every call that had ever been made
'jli ullll. neiermig iu a. ictem iinwiigation
of the express company, he said,
that this company was the hardest
subject to regulate that he had ever
tackled, and the hardest task master on
the people that he had ever had anything
to do with. He was still after It,
however. He insisted that he had always
been on the side of the people as
against the railroad. Told of how Mr.
Chllds of Newberry had told his employees
to vote against Caughman, because
Caughman had required the railroad
to provide a badly needed station.
The speaker said that it was a common
thing for people to be cursed for
doing nothing; but he had been cursed
for doing something. Said that he had
walked the tracks to learn about the
physical condition of the railroads.
Said that during Summersett's management
of a section of road over Broad
river a trestle went down and killed
several people. He had no criticism to
make of any other man; but always
stood ready to commend anything that
might be done In improving conditions
on the railroads. lAppiausej.
Hon. F. C. Flschburne of Charleston,
said that there had been a good deal
of crimination and recrimination,
charges and counter-charges. He has
no charges to make; but when people
do things that they ought not to do. or
fail to do things that they ought to do,
the people should vote against them.
Said he was originally from Colleton,
but had lived In Charleston for the last
eighteen years. Said he went to the
war as a 16 year old boy, afterward
participated in the red shirt fight of
1876, the same as all the other white
people of the state: but he did not take
any credit along that line. Intimated
that some of the candidates were going
around the state with whisky bottles in
their pockets and valises, and said that
such men were not fit for the position.
He said that he had experience in railroading
and declared that if elected, he
would go Into the office wearing no
man's collar. He said that he did, not
want to see the railroads broken up:
but onlv wanted them to do what is
right and just to the people. Said that
if your fellow citizen of Tirzah, who
has been running for this office for the
past six years had been elected he
could not have qualified for the reason
that he was not a registered voter
and to prove what he said, read a certificate
from J. A. Tate, clerk of the
court for York countv. to the effect that
Mr. Cansler had not been registered to
vote at Tirzah since 1896. He advised
that Mr Cansler's fellow citizens require
him to vote or get out of the
race. |"Cheers and applause].
For Governor,
^ ir is
ljuvtfriii/r m. r, nuaci an icv^kvvi
with applause, He expressed his pleasure
at being before the people of York
county to render an account of his
stewardship as governor and offered
congratulations on the prospects of a
good rain which he thought would be
more acceptable than all the speeches
that would likely be made. He told
how, as a barefoot boy, studying- the
blue back speller in the public schools,
he had nursed an ambition to be governor
of South Carolina. He thought
then and he thinks now, that no one
could have a higher political ambition.
He felt when elected governor that
he attained the ambition of his
life; and that feeling has remained
unchanged except that now it
is his desire to leave a record
as one of the best governors the
state has ever had. He Is a candidate
for re-election, not because
he has been elected once before; but
on the record he has made during his
administration. Then he procedeed to
discuss his administration in a frank,
straightforward manner. He said that
he had dealt with every question with
which he had been confronted according
to the best lights before him, and
to the best of his ability. For one
thing he had been criticised for appointing
a negro hotary public, and
while he did not feel that he had committed
a grievous crime In this regard,
it might be proper that he should
make a statement. He had been a Democrat
all of his life and expected to
die a Democrat. He had put forth his
best efforts in behalf of white supremacy
In 1876. This Is a white's man
country now and It shall always be.
This negro had been recommended for
a commission by responsible white
men of Greenville: he was known to
be a man of good character, and as the
duties of the notary public are confined
principally to the matter of probating
papers, there is no reason why
the commission should not be Issued.
It had been charged that he,
Ansel, was the only governor who had
ever commissioned a negro; but this
is a mistake. Governor Tillman commissioned
a negro notary public, and
so did GovernorstEllerbe and Heyward,
all under the same circumstances. He
n*-*t took ud his recommendation for
an increase of the tax levy. He explained
that the state has been a year
behind with its taxes since radical
times. The revenues to pay this year's
expenses and appropriations are not
available until next year. It has been
necessary each year for years past, for
the state treasurer to borrow money in
order to enable him to run the state
on a cash basis, and lagt year it was
necessary to pay interest amounting to
$90,000. As a business man he thought
the best way to remedy this situation
was to put on an extra levy of 2 mills
for two years. He was also being criticised
for his recommendation for an
increase in the governor's salary. He
explained that if his recommendation
had been acted upon favorably by the
general assembly, he could have had
no benefit from it during his present
term, as the constitution provides that
the salary of no state officer may be
increased or diminished during the
term to which he has been elected. But
the present salary $3,000 is too small to
enable the governor to live in a manner
in keeping with the dignity of his
position. Former governors have been
unable to live on less than $4,000 a
year, and it has been costing him at
a thousand dollars a year over
and above his salary to live. He was
not concerned about himself. He was
very well able to supply the deficiency;
but that the people of South Carolina
were unwilling tnat the manner of
their support of their governor should
suffer in comparison with the support
of the governor of North Carolina or
Georgia. It has been suggested that
if the salary was not sufficient, the incumbent
might get out of the way and
give place to some one to serve for less
money. He would not argue this further
than to say that as he sees it, a
poor man is practically debarred from
accepting the position of governor for
the reason that the salary is not sufficient
to enable him to live in a style in
keeping with the position. He had
also been criticised because of his recommendation
that the general assembly
appoint a commission to look into
the matter of erecting a new executive
mansion. This was characterized as
more extiuvagance; but he did not
think so. While in his opinion a new
mansion is necessary and desirable, to
secure it was not necessarily a matter
of extravagance, for it would be possible
to buy another lot and erect a new
mansion in another part of the city
for the price of the present building and
grounds. He did not mean to suggest
that this should be done, but merely
gave it as a possibility in reply to the
charge of extravagance. It is his own
opinion that the mansion needs to be
improved and remodeled; but that is a
matter for the legislature. Having
called attention to it his responsibility
is ended. Referring to the criticisms
that had been made of his administration
because of alleged extravagance,
he calieu aienuon 10 me iaci tnai 11
Is the legislature not the governor who
makes the appropriations. The governor
could veto the appropriations. It
is true: but he did not feel like doing
anything of this kind unless he had
good reasons. A few years ago the
appropriations for pensions was only
550,000 a year. Now it has grown to
5250,000 a year. You don't think I
should veto a bill like that. No, my
friends, the thin grey line is disappearing
rapidly enough. You and I would
liad been there had we been old
?nough; but let that go. We will not
begrudge the small amount it costs
?ach of us to give them such comfort
is may be afforded by this appropriation.
There is the $50,000 appropriation
for the high schools. We do not
want to stop that. There is an appropriation
of $250,000 for the 1,700 unfortunates
in the hospital of the insane,
and the appropriation is most
economically administered. We could
not stop that if we wanted to. Here
are the appropriations for Wlnthrop
college in your own county. The necessities
of the institution, the best in
the land are constantly increasing and
we could not cut off anything that we
have given there. And there is the institute
for the blind at Cedar Springs.
T was over there not lomr asro and
made a speech that was heard by the
blind and seen by the deaf An expert
professor told it off on his fingers as
rapidly as I talked for the benefit of
the deaf. The cost of this school is
only $132 per pupil, and the cost of the
next best similar Institution in the land
Is $170 per pupil. We cannot cut off
anything here. Referring to the liquor
question, he said that he had recommended
a state wide prohibition law
with the provision that any county,
which by a majority vote, should declare
Its desire to sell llquo*' should
have the privilege of doing so from a
single dispensary located at the county
seat. While further discussing this
proposition the governor was notified
that his time was up; and thanking the
audience for its attention he sat down
umiu appiause.
Hon. Cole. L. Blease of Newberry,
was Introduced as the next speaker.
He was greeted with shouts of "Blease,
Blease," from retainers In different
parts of the house and there was considerable
applause. He began by saying
that he had said at Winnsboro, at
Lancaster and at Chester that the appointing
of a negro to a public office
was a dangerous precedent and he desired
to repeat the declaration here.
He said that there is sleeping in the
heart of every negro a desire for the
return of the conditions that existed
previous to 1876. and every appointment
of a negro to public position,
however, insignificant that position. Is
an encouragement of that ambition.
They claim that the office of notary is
not of sufficient Importance to amount
to anything. Notary public takes renunciations
of dower, probates all kinds
of papers and in some cases takes testimony.
But that jwas not altogether
the point. Any office given to a negro
stimulates a desire for higher office.
He read from the Columbia State
a statement that Joshua Wilson the
present negro postmaster at Florence
had been appointed a notary public by
Governor B. R. Tillman.' The statement
was made as a defense of G6vernor
Ansel's appointment of the
Greenville negro. The speaker said It
was an argument in favor of his own
contention. Encouraged by this official
recognition. Wilson's ambition to hold
office had been stimulated and as the
result he had finally become postmaster
at Florence to the great humiliation
of the people of that city. He referred
to the State's editorial as a Spanish argument
In a Spanish newspaper, in
favor of a Spanish governor. "If you
elect me governor," he said, "I will
never sign my name to a commission
of a negro for any office no matter under
what circumstances." Next, Mr.
Blease devoted himself to what he
characterized, the extravagancy of the
Ansel administration. He said it was
the most extravagant administration
the state had ever known, the appropriations
Increasing from $997,000 six
vears ago to $1,641,000 the present year.
Notwithstanding the constantly increasing
value of the property in the
state and increased assessments, there
is also an increase in the levy. The
levy this year is 1 mill higher than it
was last year. The governor says that
he is not responsible for it, yet he recommends
an extra 2 mill levy this year,
apd for what? To pay Interest? Yes:
but not interest on the public debt?
Interest on extravagant appropriations.
Mr. Blease read some extracts from
the comptroller general's report showing
that in the opinion of the comptroller
a levy of 4? mills was sufficient to pay
all the expenses of the state and leave
a surplus of $23,000. This surplus,
he said. If saved and. not wasted In
extravagance, would In four years pay
that $90,000 interest that the governor
wa* worried about and for which
h? wanted to levy an extra tax of 2
mills for two years. He felt quite
sure that at the present rate of increase
in property values, if expenses
were held down to something reasonable.
we could eventually catch up
with expenses so that each year's appropriations
could be paid out of each
year's revenues. Put Instead of saving
money. Governor Ansel wants to
build new mansions and Increase the
salaries of himself, the Judges and
the other state offices. Has anybody
heard that Chief Justice Pope hasiesigned
1 ecause of insufficient salary.
Has anybody heard of the resignation
of Judge Gage or of any of the
other judges? Suppose all of them
should resign, there would be two lawyers
offering for each place and all
of them glad to get it at the salary
that is being paid. He charged that
the trouble with Mr. Ansel was his
personal extravagance and the trouble
with the government was extravagant
appropriations. The majority
of the people of York county, he said
are living on a great deal less than
$3,000, and paying their own house
it npumnri tn him that almost
anybody might be able to live on $3,000
a year with free water and a
house furnished without cost. He
next quoted from Governor Ansel's
recent message recommending the
maintenance of the department of
immigration and advocating the encouragement
of desirable immigration.
Then he ridiculed the Wittekind
experiment, telling how a boat
load of people had been brought over
at an expense of $16,000, and defied
anybody to tell him where there was
a single one of the immigrants who
came over in the Wittekind making an
honest living In South Carolina. He was
opposed to the immigration department
and declared that if elected he would
veto the appropriation for its support.
He said that he had fought for the retention
of the old state dispensary and
people had sent him to the house
from Newberry and afterward to the
senate, mentioned his election to the
position of president pro tern of the
senate, and for information as to his
r>HovQr.t*?r nnri rpnnfntion referred
those who wanted to know, to any
county official of Newberry or to the
Methodist minister there. He said
that he was on one side or the other in
more th n half of the law cases in
Newberry county and cited the fact
that his own people so willingly trusted
their lives and fortunes with him
as evidence of their confidence in
him. He said that when the dispensary
was killed he accepted the result
in good faith and thought it should be
left to the people to decide whether
or not they wanted county dispensaries.
He advised the people to watch
out after the people who were constantly
crying graft and they would
find that such people would steal
themselves when they got the opportunity.
He took occasion to refer to
W. H. Stewart as the best reading
clerk the senate ever had. In conclusion
he rehearsed an adaptation of
Ansel's Brother Crafford story, told
how on the evening of the 25th of Au
KtlM llitr Iclli Ui tii*r WIU 5>aj huiov
would disappear In the distance of a
Columbia street, waving a good-bye to
Ansel. The speaker was several times
applauded during his speech and
again at its conclusion.
Comptroller General.
The next speakers were N. \V. Brooker,
candidate for comptroller general,
and A. W. Jones, candidate for reelection
to that office. Mr. Brooker was
once a clerk in the comptroller general's
office. He says that he is a candidate
now because he learned of a
great deal of crookedness during his
connection with the office and he
wants -that crookedness investigated.
He says, in effect that Mr. Jones, the
incumbent stands against investigation
and nothing can be done unless Mr.
Jones is turned out. He is not very
happy in his manner of expressing himself
and his hearers are unable to ful!?
nnilurstsinrl hi? crlnvnncp if ho hn?
any. Mr. Jones has a letter written by
Mr. Brooker, in which there is a statement
like this: "The tax books of
mosi oi ine counues or ?ourn Carolina
are in a state of pandemonium and
confusion that is a disgrace to civilization."
Reading this letter, Mr. Jones
asks Mr. Booker to designate the counties.
He asks then, if York is one of
them, and Mr. Booker says no. Then
Mr. Jones names other counties and
Mr. Rrooker declines to make specific
charges without reference to the books.
Mr. Brooker is not only unable to express
himself clearly; but he gets angry
quickly and in his anger he is unable
to express himself. One would
naturally be disposed to dismiss Mr.
Brooker's charges as being too general
and vague for serious credence; but
Mr. Jones himself seems to admit that
there Is something not exactly what It
ought to be in connection with the past
conduct of the affairs of the sinking
fund commission, and the audience is ^
left in doubt and confusion as to what
it Is all about, whether Mr. Brooker is
a common scold, whether Mr. Jones is
as frank as he might be or what. The
flavor of the whole business seems bad
rather than good.
Superintendent of Education.
Mr. E. C. Elmore of Spartanburg, 4
was the first speaker for this office. He
made some pleasant remarks about the
progress to be seen on all sides. He
was proud of the state and of her institutions.
He had devoted many years
of his life to educational work in Union
and Spartanburg, and now had an a
utdt^'u Hlth.
Cl II1UII Hill III IliaiXilftC llic oi??v w
lie school system. He was for the support
of all the educational institutions
of South Carolina; but especially desired
to develop a system that would
give country boys and girls the same
advantages that are enjoyed by the
boys and girls of the towns. He claimed
to have done a great deal of good
work In the development of the schools
of Spartanburg.
Mr. Styles R. Melllchamp of Orangeburg.
was the next speaker. He
was glad to meet the people of York
county, for he had formed a good impression
of them in advance. A candidate.
he said, necessarily has to
speak of himself, to at least give a
synopsis of his record as a basis for
Inquiry and Information. After graduating
from college, as a mere boy he
immediately entered the Confederate
army and remained there for four
years, doing the best he could for h's
country. But he did not preesnt his war
record aa a qualification for the office
of superintendent of education. He presented.
however, his qualifications as
a man and educator. Teach your children
at home and In the school
houses that your fathers and grandfathers
did no wrong in following the
flag of the Confederacy. After the
war, he said, he took up teaching as
a profession. Practically all of his life
has been spent as a teacher and as
superintendent of education. Has
taught in private schools and graded ^
-tchools, and for eight years was prin- 9
cipal of the preparatory department
of Furman university at Greenville.
Served twelve years as superintendent
of education, and is now in line of
promotion. He advised the people to
select the best man for state superintendent.
Favors building up all the
way from high educational Institutions
to common schools. The latter ^
is the foundation of all. and he there
fore insists on building up the country
schools. He alluded to the state's
progress In educational matters. Taking
his own county. Orangeburg, as
an example, he said 18 years ago |t -v
raised only $16,000 for school pur- A
poses, while now $80,000 Is expended
annually for education. As many as
45 school districts In that county now
schools of the state, and he or she Is
the most outrageous Imposition on the
children. In a way that Indicated that
he meant It, he said that If chosen to
fill the position of state superintendent
of education, he would Improve the
standard of teaching:.
Adjutant and Inspector General.
Col. Henry T. Thompson said he had
been connected with the militia of ^
South Carolina for thirty years and
during that time he had filled every
grade from private to senior colonel.
He is the only man in South Carolina
with a similar record. Everything that
was to be had through his own efforts fl
and through the confidence, esteem and M
appreciation of the militia he has got
ten. The only position remaining to
round out his career is that of adjutant
and inspector general. This position
belongs to the people and can be
had only by appeal to them and that is
why he is here. He was captain of the
Darlington company at the time of the
famous dispensary riot. This company
immediately obeyed Governor Tillman's
orders to report for duty, and remained
at the command of the governor during
the whole trouble, protecting the dispensary
and the threatened constables, V
He read a letter written by Governor
Tillman at the time commending him
and his company for their faithful and
loyal service. He said also that his
company was the first company in
South Carolina to volunteer for service
at the outbreak of the Spanish-Ameri- 3
can war. He stated that Gen. Hoyd
had said that he could not get the support
of the officers of his own regiment.
He asked coi. Hoya wnat omcers woufu
not support him. Col. Boyd named twp.
He afterward saw both of these a#d
they had told him that they expecfep
to support him. Col. Boyd denied that
he had said what Col. Thompson attributed
to him; but claimed Instead that
he had said: "That it Is a poor colonel
who could not get the support of the
officers of his own regiment" Ool.
Thompson asked Col. Boyd how it was
that he withdrew from the race for colonei
of the First regiment in opposition ^
to Col. Lewis, leaving the inference that
he would not have done so had he been ^
able to get the support of his own regment,
or that there was a trade under
the terms of which Boyd was to get
out of Lewis's way and Lewis and his H
friends were to support Boyd for adjutant
general two years ago. Col.
Thompson said that Gen. Boyd had
failed to show proper consideration to
liirn in transferring a Bennettsville company
from the First to the Second regiment.
The company was In rather bad
repute as to military efficiency and was
taken out of the First regiment and
saddled on the Second. He charged In
effect that Gen. Boyd would have mustered
the company out of the service
except for the fact that he was afraid *
that Bennettsville would retaliate in
the election. Col. Thompson however,
had taken the company, made the most
of it. and it is now a credit to his reir
iment.
Gen. J. C. Boyd was the next speaker.
He spoke of his long service in the ^
militia, and claimed that the service
had reached higher efficiency under his
administration than it hud ever attained
before. He read resolutions of the
National Guard of South Carolina commending
his annual report as the most
complete ever made. He elso read extracts
from a number of highly complimentary
letters from different officers.
Col. Thompson had claimed that he
was the first man in South Carolina to
advocate pensions for Confederate soldiers
and read a number of editorials ^
that he had written as far back as 1877
to prove the fact. Col. Boyd was not
prepared to dispute Col. Thompson's
claim along this line; but made the
point that Col. Thompson was the first
man in South Carolina who had ever
attempted to turn a Confederate sol- w
dler out of office and that at the end
of his first term. Colonel Boyd referred
to his record as a Confederate soldier
and said that in asking for re-election
evy special taxes for school purposes?that's
progress. Education is the
solution of all other problems.
Mr. Jno. E. Swearingen was the next
speaker, and because of the faot that
he Is blind and his remarkable history,
he received unusually close attention.
He began by reciting his history to the
effect that he lost his eyesight as the
result of a gun accident when only 13 m
vears of age. and in consequence suf
aU JlnA<lif/iniA?A in kia
iciru iiiutjii u i."*au vaiuagr in 1110 cuuj u
to prepare himself to play the part of
a man In the world. In a modest, but
very clear and comprehensive manner,
he told how he had entered the South
Carolina university and been graduated
from that institution with honors. The J
certificate he got there, says that he Is
able to perform any task that is to be
expected of any other man. After leaving
college, without solicitation on his
part, he was offered a professorship in
the Cedar Springs institute and he has
held the position for eight years. He
argued that in spite of his inability to
see with his eyes, he could perform the
rlnfloa nf ata to tuinnrlnionHpnt r\f n^n.
uuti\.o V4 umvv MU|/vt Iiibv?t\?vttv Vf V.V4 M
cation as well as could another. The "*
work he said was altogether mental,
The superintendent has stenographers
and typewriters to do the mechanical
work and he can do this work by this
neans as well as another; but he declared
with some show of pride, If need i
be, I can operate the typewriter myself, .
and I can do it as well as anybody else,
who is applying for the plaoe. He
said also that the state superintendent
does not deal In original information to
any considerable extent. He dlreots
and superintends the work through
data furnished him from the county superintendents,
and knowing the needs
of the schools, he could do this as well
as another. If elected superintendent of
education, he would demand better g
schools. He wanted the people to understand
that from the beginning. To
have better schools, it is neoessary to
have better teachers. It is a fact that
may not be pleasant for some people to
hear; but one thing the schools need
most, is to get rid of Incompetent M
teachers. The incompetent teacher -is
the most serious drawback to the