The Barnwell people. (Barnwell, S.C.) 1884-1925, June 25, 1914, Image 7

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WM' MET AT ORANGEBURG ! ' — - ' SENATORIAL HNUmitS SPEAI TO COUNTY YOTtRS » ’ V • *- SUBSTANCE OF REMARKS Governor Itlea.se Denies Charging U. 8. Marshal Sims With Etliting Xe- gro Paper—A Complete Synopsis of Each Candidate's 'Address De livered Thursday.— • (By Special Correspondent.) ' The second stop of the candidates for the United States Senate in their trip around the State was made in this city Thursday and a crowd of approximately 1,200 people gathered on the-Court House square to hear the claims for suffrage presented hv those who desire to represent the State in the higher hall of legislation in Washington. The crowd was or derly and there was no attempt to howl down any speaker. Several times the candidates were interro gated while talking but there was no show of an inclination on the part of any one to cause trouble. A goodly number of ladies attended the meet ing and paid close attention to what the candidates had to say. Hon. Thomas M. Raysor presided over the meeting in the absence of ol. A. H. Moss, county chairman, -ol. Moss having been , called away on an important business matter. Mr. Raysor conducted the proceed ings in an absolutely fair and impar tial manner. ^ Several times he ap pealed to the crowd to give the speak-, ers a fair hearing. The meeting was opened with pray er by Rev. J. I,. McLees at 11 o’clock In the Court House yard, facing Rus sell street, where seats had been erected and a platform had been plac ed on which were the presiding offi cer, candidates, press reporters and other candidates. Governor Rlease was the last speaker of the day. He was not on the platform when the meeting was opened but came on while Senator Smith, who preceded him. was speaking. All of the speakers received ap plause, Senator Smith and GoV Rlease, however, were the recipient^ of the majority of the manifestation of favoritism. The other three can didates assailed the record of Sena tor Smith and claimed that he had done nothing. Senator Smith did not refer to the records of the other candidates but gave a review of his record in the Senate and what he had done. Jennings Spoke First. Mr. Jennings was the first speaker, as the same order was used as in St Matthews Wednesday, except that he who spoke second there spoke first here. —s— Mr. Jennings referred to the fact that Senator Smith has' been called “Cotton Smith” and said he hoped to show that Smith had nothing to do with the price of cotton. "Smith advocated holding cotton to produce higher price,” said Mr. Jennings. He referred to Smith’s saying that he (Smith) said that the consumers and buyers and ajl the people not pro lucers of cotton got scared when Smith was elected, and kept cotton up. "Senator Smith has done noth ing although he claims to have done much.” (There were several cheers for Smith as this was said and cheers also for Gov^ Rlease.) .“He claims credit for,, what he has- not .done.” “I have nothing against Smith.” A voice from the audience then cried out, “But you want the job.” This provoked considerable laughter and merriment. Mr. Jennings denied the claim of Senator Smith that profit would ac crue to the cotton seller by the use of the government grades of cotton as advocated by Smith. His advice was to get all the appropriations from the United States government as possible as other sections are get ting them. He next took up Smith's clause in the currency bill and said it did not mean to the farmer what the senator claimed it did. Favors Smith Over Rlease. ^ “If I and Pollock were not in this race,” said. Mr. Jennings, “I would vote for Smith.” “All should work together for the upbuildfrtg of this commonwealth and to make South Carolina the equal of any State ht. the Unioh, People should pull to gether. Elect a man to represent all the people. ^J’m no.politicao and it would not worry me to go back kome after August. I am not seeking this office for the salary, but for the good of the State.” ’ ’ “Now lets get on the records of the rest of them.” “In 1912 I cast ?e Jones, and -gaWlToSei'X majority. There were claims of fraud on both sides tn this election.” He then re ferred to the former rnlea of the State Democratic party which, he claimed, were loose and were respon sible for the cry of fraud. "Wh^p 1 was elected delegate to the State con vention In Colombia this year I had no idea of running for any offlee but Jones,“rntlnn f hlgh^ honest in Sonth Carolina could speaker defended the entire action of the State .convention and said it worked for the good of the ,people. "When the revision of the rqles was started-there was 50, per cent more white people on the rolls than there were voters in South Carolina. The new rules are all right and work a hardship on nobody. Any white man who han’t enough interest in the wellfare of his State, County or town to sign the club rolls under the new rules, doesn’t deserve to vote. It anybody" is disfranchised it is his own fault. I have heard no complaint by farmers in my county about the new rules but have heard numbers of them say they like them. I make no charges against anyone but under the old rules the names from tombstones and of men who had moved from the precinct and other unlawful names could be used on the club rolls.” Attacks Itlease's Pardons. Mr. Jennipgs opened up on the pardon record of Governor Rlease and condemed this liberal pardoning policy of the governor. He said that Governor Rlease was perhaps honest in the opinion that he was right in pardoning as he does. He said over 1.20T) convicts, mostly^negroes, had been turned loose to roam around the State and in the rural districts where the white women and children were afforded little protection. He said he believes there are some who should, have been turned out. This Indiscriminate pardoning, he said, destroys the work of .many juries. As to petitions, he said, in refering to Rlease’s claim that he released convicts if petitions were sent him, “you could get a petition to hang the" best man in South Carolina if you took it around the streets. He asked the crowd to vote for him for the U. S. Senate but told them that if he was not elected he would still be friendly to all and would have no enimle?. Pollock Makes Address. Mr. Pollock, oPUheraw, was the next speaker and said he could truly address the assemblage as “fellow citizens" as he was one-half Orange burg and “the best half”. “Twelve years ago I came here and married one of Orangeburg’s fairest daugh ters and I feel at home in Orange burg county so will call you brother and you call me brother-in-law.” “Up till several days ago,” he said, “there were only 2 candidates announced for;the U. S. Senate Smith and Rlease. Just before that time the Orangeburg coupty democratic convention endorsed Smith and If I had been a member of that conven tion and only had Smith and Rlease to choose from. I would have voted to endorse Smith. I have never vot ed for Rlease and never expect to. believe neither Smith nor Rlease has been the full measure of man to take the place of John C. Calhoun or Mc Duffie. “I was urged by men-all over the State to run 'but hesitated as I was afraid that If I entered it might keep some man out who would be more acceptable. After some time passed I felt that South Carolina needed the services of a son and so I offered my services. I want you to vote for the man you think the best. I am a can didate of no clique or caucus.” “It makes me tired to hear Rlease talk of the “poor” mill man, and Smith of the “poor” farmer; they dTm’t need the sympathy of the candi dates who are trying to get their votes.” His Legislative Record. ::I’m not an untried man. I serv ed in the S. C. Legislature for eight years and fought #>r the people got the law through requiring fertili zer companies make, fertilizers come up to analyses or pay a penal- ty." • / ~ - “Governor' Rlease said in St. Mat- thews'^orhething about a Jim Crow car law. I flight have cast a vote agajnst such a law, but it was when there was no issue about seperating the whites and negroes on trains and there were at the time first class ac commodations for white people and second accommodation class for neg roes.” “I am willing to be judged by my record in the S. C. Legisla ture," In refering to the National Senate and house or representatives, Mr. Pollock said, "few men lead in the U. S. Senate and House but the majority follow the lead of tlie few. Smith Is not registered as a leader in the Sen ate. Smith has not measured up to heights to be returned and kept In there indefinitely. His service there may have rendered him better fit to serve the people but there are other men Jn South Carolina who would have done more than he”. 'XjSmith Better Than Blease. Pollotk^said “Smith is a lot better than RleasexRlease has the “nigger in the woodpile’^x'He, told a story of a man who said another man could do more flian the LoCtl because he could make ice in the summertime, said this was like Smith raisin^ tli'e price of cotton. , “Everything mules are high and if Smith raised the price of cotton he probably rais ed the price qf. mules also and should pay you the difference.” Mr. Pollock charged that to a cer tain ettent Blease and Smith have political machines at ther hacks and mentioned as & great Influence for Smith the power he 'has to appoint Federal offices and the'powar Blease i lies who he keeps “at the pleasure, of the Governor.” “I won’t purchase votes or offlee and no honest man would. Do your duty and vote for the best man!?*' In the name of the women and children who can’t vote, vote for the man who favors law order and honor and not one who favors disorder and dishon- or.” The speaker paid tribute to W. J Bryan and Wilson and the nat ional ^Democratic administration and commended the tariff, anti-trust, and banking and currency laws passed in Washington and the repeal of the panama canal tolls exemption clause. He closed by thanking his hearers for their attention and told them that If they feel that he is proper, he would consider It a great, honor, but if not, he would be contlpnt to stay at home. , Senator Smith Talks. Senator Smith was the next speak er and arose amid cheers. He re ferred to what the other candidate had been saying about cotton. He said he knew that they would soon jump on a bale of cotton. “Maybe,” he said, “they want us to stay at home becuase .Blease is Blease and because I’m a farmer.” The Senator said that “we have heretofore been too timid” but said “we have been working In the Senate while I have been In the Senate.” In reference to the raising of the price of cotton Mr. Smith said that he does not claim to have done the whole thing but does claim that he was a fighter in the crowd for the price of cotton. He gave relative figures of the price af cotton for the last 20 years in support of his con tention of the increase in price. He referred to the year when "Dan Sully put cotton up” and said that the staple was sold to Europe and Amer ica and the mills used It and it was .found that everything was all right with cotton bringing a good price. In reference to the statement made by Mr. Pollock that Smith did not measure up to Calhoun and Mc Duffie. Mr. Smith said, “ that may be so, but I certainly have worked for the' farmers. “When I was working for cotton Senator Reed from Miss ouri asked me if all the legislation was to be for the farmer and I told him it was not so much that as it was to take some laws off the books which were ‘agin’ the farmer.” Smith quoted figures in reference to the rise in the prices of cotton which rise said that the other candidates claimed he had nothing to do with the Increased price of cotton, “but," he said, “If this were a crime they were trying me for, they would use these figures and convict me. It is a strange coincidence that the price of of cotton went up while I was in the Senate if I had nothing to do with it.” - He told the story of the two ne groes having joint ownership of a cow, one owning the front half and the other the back half. The owner of the front, when the other fellow told him he was not entitled to any milk as he had nohing to do with the back half, said, "us gwine turn that cow round right now.” He said “we have turned that cow around.” X.ot Hoke Smith’s Bill. Smith referred to cotton bill No. 110, which he introduced and which passed the Senate unanimously. Ife said he wanted to keep the record straight and with emphasis said: “Thjs was E. D. Smith’s and not Hoke Smith’s bill. Hoke Smith has never introduced any cotton bill since I've been in the Senate.” He told of the efforts the New York cottqn_ex- change made to have him cease his work in the interest of the cotton farmer. “It was charged here to-day that I claimed to be the one who put cotton I know that the people at Wash- offieera. He sarcastically said that «np' appoints the aotary pub- up. ington, knowing my knowledge of cotton, I wielded a great influence. I talked dnd talked cotton and will continue to work for higher prices for cotton until It will be put where it is commensurate with the work necessary to produce it. I don’t take the credit for the. bill to standardize grades of cotton. This bill was pass ed before I got there but was lying dormant.” He told of getting an approprla- tiontlon mentioned. As a quick illustration of what he has done Smith said: "If you were asleep and a inan was taking money from your pocket and I woke you, you should have manhood enough to make him stop, and I have done my duty.” “A slurring remark was made of my amendment ta the bank ing and currency bill;'90-day paper is no good for the farmer. Under the new law, your paper,- when ac cepted as negotiable paper, becomes as United States bonds. Other bus inesses get returns right away but you have to wait six months get a commercial asset.” He compared the farmers to the coal and water necessary to run the engine that* pulls the pullman . car. ‘ Fulfilled Every Promise.’ “Errrr Iff , ‘drnTi‘e^nTaHe”you on the platform has been filled. 1 have got ten bills^through the Senate and many new laws have been added to lug! ground of the “riff-raff” and bob-tails” of the old world and said that if It were in his power, he would let no alien enter the United States during the next ten years for the purpose of becoming citizens. Smith told of his now being the ranking member of the committees on agriculture; on post offices and post roads and on the committee on interstate commerce and told of working against the “fertilizer” trust and the "bagging and tie” trust. “ ‘Cotton Smith’ is on the job,” he said with much emphasis. Said he was not surprised that he was the target of the other candi dates, but that he had done his duty and been faithful to his trust. He referred to his majority of 30,000 when he was sent to the Senate. He said he was not a lawyer. “I know that up to 1904 the cotton farmers caught the devil but since then they have been having an easier time. “Mr. Smith paid his respects to his friends, Mr. Lee Parnell, who years ago suggested to him to do some thing for the farmers and To whom he said, “by the help of God I will do It, and you send me back to the Senate and I will do more in spite of the flesh, lawyers and high water.” Governor Blease Speaks Last. Gov. Blease was the last speaker of the day and was next presented to the audience. When he appeared there were cheers for him and oth ers and he said: “I heard before I came here that I would be howled down. You can show yourselves not gentlemen if you want to but I am one.” The governor said he had heard something about the majority Or angeburg gave against him In the election of 1912., “But,” he pas sionately exclaimed, “where are the poll lists and club rolls from here?” "Robert Lide has never been accus ed of being a Rleaselte.’ Rain commenced falling at this juncture and the meeting was called together inside the court house. The room was packed and some found It Impossible to get in. Mr. I^ysor called for order and quiet so the gov ernor could be heard, and Blease re sumed his speech. f Denies Charge Against Sims. “Yesterday," Blease said, “at St. Matthews I read by entire speech. My purpose was to place myself in the position that the South Carolina newspapers could not misquote what I said then. I have no apology to make to any man or set of men for what I’ve done. I sent that paper to The State and The News and Cour ier and to the papers in the Piedmont section and The State came out this morning with a lie at its masthead It said that I said that Jas. L. Sims edited a negro newspaper; I said nothing like that; I’ll repeat what I said; I said that ‘Sims, the United States marshal, has set type on Republican paper at Klngstree,’ and I have his word for It. (Some one in the audience said, “That’s nothing against him. The governor replied, “There are lots who are not of your mind.”) The governor brought out an 1884 edition of “Industries and Resources in the South,” In which Rlease said was a history .of the life of Sims written by Mr. Sims himself. He then read the fololwiqg; "Mr. Stms, a native of Charleston, worked oh the “Courier”; went to Spartanburg “ IJ cx o 1H M +411 ’ 7 C and worked on the "Herald” till ’78, then went to Orangeburg to start The Times and Democrat.” Blease read an extract from an article writ ten by Mr. Sims during the controv ersy which arose when he was men tioned for the U. S. marshalship. The extract reads: “When I was a little over 21 years of age I was em ployed on a Republican paper at Klngstree.” The governor continued, saying that he had already said that “Smith had given appointments to men who were associated with Has kel or the Republican party in ’7G.” He read a letter from Tillman to Sen ator Smith which bore on the ap pointment of Mr Sims and said that Smith had agreed to the appointment of Sims and this would cost Smith thousands of votes. He also referred to a communication from Tillman to Thos. F. Brantley in connection with the appointment of Sims and Wes ton. He said that Smith was instru mental in the appointment of United States marshal and district attorney. As to Some Pardons. Gov. Blease referred to the mat ter of pardons and showed a petition for a pardon he had received with the remark, “there Is not a friend of mine, on it.” Some one bollored to the governor, “Who asked you to release Mack Stokes?” Blease re plied, “None of your business.” He referred to the case of the nr- gro from -Orangeburg, Holman, who was sent from the penitentiary to the chain gang, and spoke of the article, which appeared in The Times and Democrat which said that Rlease showed favor to Holman. "If ft was J A-laxor,’,’- said Mease, “It wan on petition of your representatives and to keep him from raising cotton in competition to you.” the statute book*/’ The senatoiFftere' sang the praises of President Wil son and in an eloquent burst of ora tory told of what Wilson has done for the South. He said: “I’ve voted with and stack to the administration all tha way through.” only wanted to fix rul+a eo every dis- had was the appointment of State He gave some attention here to.the found that the assault had been com- Immlgration question and paid that guilty of assault wlth lntent to rav- ish. A petition was presented for a pardon signed* by M. F. Inabinet, T. M. McMichael, A. D. Fair, T. A. Sal ley, R. H. Jennings, chief of police of Orangeburg, <J. L. Salley and A. M. Salley. T have- investigated and mltted on a ft Jr Gov. Blease told the audience that he had pardoned a man from Cal houn county the night before. ”1 will pardon more, “he said, “and you and you can’t help It”. As to Smith’s Labors. “Smith talked about immigrant” (cheers for Smith were heard amid cheers and yells for Blease). Blease said, “your impoliteness here will make votes for me.” He told of an Immigrant who, he Niald, couldn’t write and “who was tagged and sent into your State to work in opposition to your boys and girlsA^Smith gets these immigrants in.” Gov. Blease said that to others in the Senate, Smith's "Immigration bill” was look ed on as a joke and cited the Con gressional Record to prove It. The speaker next took up the “cot ton’* phase of Smith’s claims and said “Hoko Smith and Lever are the ’Smith-Lev+r’ bill,” and continued to ridicule Senator Smith’s ‘ralsing&fae price of cotton’." “I w as born on a farm and 4 work ed in a livery stable and made myself with the help of God and He has been with me and I have been elect ed to the legislature, was elected governor two times and will be elect ed United States Senator. They can't beat me. He is on my side. In, 1910 I fought the newspapers, cor porations, and the world, flesh and the devil and in 1912 I fought every thing.” » . He referred to the candidates for State offices who spoke In Sumter Wednesday and said “they talked of Rlease; they can't talk of anything pise.” u “Senator Smith's banking and cur rency measure," he said, “Is a hard ship and not a convenience. Smith is a clever fellow but is the laugh ing stock of the U. S. Senate.” - As to the Xew Rules. “There are three clubs in one ward in the city of Orangeburg and some men have to ride ten miles to come here to register. Put a club In each ward in the city and a club In each countrl 1 district.” The governor told the voters to be sure and sign their full name on the club rolls. He con demned this provision in the rules and said that It was a “farce and was to steal the laboring and poor man’s vote.” He mentioned that it required residence in Charleston of one year to vote and "you have to be in the county two years.” He drew the comparison that.lt would be easier for foreigners to vote in Charleston than for others to vote In other dis tricts. He paid his ‘‘respects’’ to Mr Barnwell and others of Charleston Rlease said he would get more vote* here this time than he did be fore, and that his crowd would watch the election. He closed his speech by saying: “When I am Senator, Sima, and his Republican paper will go out and a Rleaselte will be appointed. Nobody will be given an offlee unless he voted for Blease. If you want Ice cream and cake, get on the band wagon Forty-five minutes, were allotted each speaker and each took up the entire time apportioned to him. All the candidates were given an attentive hearing. During the speech of each candidate there would occa sionally be cheers for some other than the cndldate who was speaking, bat fcourtesy ’ was accorded each speaker. The bulk of the applause and dem onstration was accorded Senator Smith and Gov Blease, although Mr. Jennings and Mr. Pollock also were anolauded. A. T. W. REACH AGREEMENT STUMBLING BLOCK IS BEMOVBH FROM MEDIATORS’ PATH. :7T POINT REFUSES TO ANNOUNCE PLANS. Caramza Declines to Discuss Action in Mediation Conference. Gen. Carranza declined Saturday to discuss the scope of action for the powers which will be delegated to the represented of the Constitu tionalists to be sent to Niagara Falls He also declined to discuss the pos sibility of an armistice, declaring In diplomatic affairs as in military mat ters it was inadvisable that certain matters be made public. He asked to be excused fram dis cussing these matters, saying that he preferred to remain silent in regard to them rather than to have any statement he might make given a possible misleading Instruction. Gen. Carranza, however, seemed optimistic regarding the reception of the Constitutionalist representatives and the success of their mission. He reiterated that he previously had ac cepted the good offices of the A. B. C. mediators in principle for the dis cussion of international questions. About the military affairs of the Constitutionalists, Geh. Carranza spoke more freely. He estimated the number of men under arms In the Constitutionalist army at 100,000. He said there were in possession also 120 pieces of field artillery, all cap tured from the Federals; 175 ma- c5iip,g ..£uas,.ajnd^iuaplft am muaUloa, Cigarette Causes Fatal Explosion Five Then are dead and ten are Int the. hoai>ltal» Pi JL’qliUttllU*.IUUm « a result of an explosion of gfs among laborers engaged In laying pipes, one of whom ttas smoking a cigarette. Falling Tree Hits Auto. While riding In his auto near Tal lahassee, Fla., Clyde Hughes was In stantly killed when a tree MI into woman and I hi* automobile; wrecking the ma ne and Full Conference Between and Delegatee of Both ConaUlea Results In an Agreement as to tiM ; Method of the Transfer of Author ity to the President to be ficl+dteil. An important point in plaAf for the pacification of Mexico was gained by the " Ufilled States . Thursday through the conciliatory spirit dis played by the Mexican delegation. What bad been a stumbling block for several days was passed In. safpty. In a full conference of the medlsr tors and the delegates of both coun tries it war agreed that tha transfer of authority from the present admin istration to the new provietonrl gov ernment should be accomplished in some other way than by Gen. Huer ta’s appointment of a minister of for eign affairs to succeed to the provi sional presidency. This method, pro vided for in the Mexican constitution, will be-abandoned because the United States insisted that to assent to It would be tantamount to a recognition Of Huerta’s right to exercise consti tutional functions. The mediation conference hpd been wrestling on this point for the three weeks and for the past three dayn continuance of the conference has been threatened. The mediators themselves almost had lost hope of a peaceful settlement. Somewhat piqued at Gen. Carransa’s delay in answering their last communication they suddenly had made public all correspondence with the Constitution alists and declared the Incident dor ed. As the Americans began their die* cussion with the mediators, the Utter contended again that the method of transfer would not be construed as n recognition of Huerta, but the Amer icans reiterated that the Const!t*- tionalists would never accept such n method and the United States could not yield consistently with its own policy. v Finally, when matters seemed at a' breaking point, Luis Elguero, one of the Mexican delegates, entered the conference room and Immediately n spirit of compromise was noticeable. Observing It, the Americans suggest ed that the other Mexicans come Inti the conference and Emilio Habaaa and Augustin Rodrigues Joined the group. It was not a formal confer ence, but an Impromptu talk. In n surprisingly brief time the Ameri cans found they had made more head way with the Mexicans direct than they had previously by workiaf through the mediators. The Mexican delegatea bald that although anxious to follow the con stitutional form, they would not frus trate the proceedings on a technical* ity. Accordingly the prat cUuae of the mediators' plan respecting the method of transfer was omitted. A substitute process will be left to fr ture conferences. ^ Frederick W. Lehmann told corre spondents of the congress made and Justice Lamar dictated the following: “I was authorized by the mediators to say that we have substantially agreed on the first plank as to tha^ method of transfer of authorfiy t« the new provisional government* Tuesday night’s conference lasted more than an hour. Another almost irreconcilable difference of opinion exists on the type of man for the pro visional presidency, the Mexicans ar guing for a “neutral” while th' Americans want an out and out Con stitutionalist. One of the individuals being talk ed of informally is Gen. Natera, com mander of the central division of the Constitutionalist army. The MexL can delegates have heard that he U a man of, humane disposition with no thirst for loot or execution.* Whether he Is fitted for the political task con fronting Mexico Is a point on which there is little information. LuF Cabrera, confidential adviser of Car ranza, is another who is being favor ably considered. Found Murdered. * i For the fourth time recently the citizens of Columbus, Gal, are pon dering over the death of one of their citizens who had been found dead mysteriousjy. Oscar McCtntey was shot through the back 'of the head near the city limits by unknown par ties. -. Montana Ask* for FWlei'al Troopa.'^ | The governor of Moutana has aak- ed the president to hold. United States troops ready to sedd to State in case of further .rioting gear mure. Lightning Causes Mach Storms passing over various per- tlons of the State Saturday sad 8u»- day caused considerable 1 * a result of fires rssssd by ■ 1 eaisq .j —■ ■ ~~ :: **5 -p- r-« Blease sad Smith