Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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THESTATECAMPAIGN The Contest is Growing More Spirited as the Days Go By. CANDIDATES GET BELLIGERENT, And Propose to Spoil Each Others' Countenances?The Meetings Are as a Rule Well Attended. Colleton Meeting. Walterbcro, Special.?Col. A. Howard Patterson took a hand primary here. He asked all those who would support him for governor to raise their hands. There was an air of confidence about him. but the hands uplifted showed that he was not the unanimous choice. Patterson ac quired new dynimite in Charleston. He seemed to know a great deal about and jollied The News and Courier. The crowd numbered about 300, intelligent fanners principally, and a few. ladies. Business men are not attending the meetings. McSweeney and Patterson are from adjoining counties and each have supporters here. Col. Hoyt's speech was his best so far. He is hopeful of Colleton and Dorchester. The candidates for State treasurer spoKe nrsi. uapi. Jennings opening up and Dr. Timmermaa following. Then followed the fight for comptroller general. This has assumed unexpected proportions. Mr. Brcoker, agent of the sinking fund commission, has made charges that he has reported delinquent tax^es in many counties with executions outstanding for years and that the sinking fund commission has thwarted him. He says they have vir, tually robbed him of his commissions and that Derham was behind it all. Derham resented Brookers charges. If Brooker would accuse him in private conversation of robbery he would go away with an altered countenance. Barney Evans took the Plant system for his text, and charged that the people of this section were bottled up by that road because the railroad commission was subsidized. He would make vestibules stop at all stations. Mr. T. N. Berry, for railroad commis* ' " -j j*? ?? sioner, taiKea up iur pruuiuuiou vu railroad Inspecting tours as well as elsewhere. Senator Pettigrew, was present and addressed the meeting. W. D. Mayfleld sent regrets. Candidate Etheridge remained in Cfiarleston. Mr. W. D. Evans stated that for It years he had been county chairman in Marlboro, had gone to the house, then to the senate and had now unanimous endorsement for re-election to this place. In reply to charges, he said that South Carolina had as good depots as any State. Barney Evans had smelt that champagne bottle they had the train and wanted some of it. He (W. D.) had taken but one drink of champagne in his life. Col. J. H. Wharton told a Joke about what happened to a parrot for talking too much. He didn't want to do too much talking, but a lot of handshaking. The candidates fOT governor then opened. Mr. Frank B. Gary of Abbeville, the first speaker, said he had just received three letters commending his policy of campaign, and he declared that he would not indulge in mud-slinging. Ho made practically the same speech, favoring local option between prohibition and dispensary. He had voted for thfe bill to give the common schools $100,000. The senate had called it a KWnff anH h??d it. For his part he had voted for it honestly and wanted the schools to get the money. He put in a good word for the Charleston exposition. McSweeney was the next speaker. He had lived in an adjoining county 21 years and was quite at home. He was not a mud-slinger and stood on his record. He gave advice to young men, however limited their opportunities, if they would be honest and faithful they could win any position. He defied any man to show proof of any official misconduct. The dispensary law had been better executed under him than under any predecessor. He got into the Derham-Brooker controversy and said that it was untrue that there was collusion of state house officials on the sinking fund commission. He again replied to Patterson's charges about in the game manner as at Charleston. He read extracts from editorials in the Spartanburg Herald and Greenville News, who opposed his dispensary views, commending his administration. Col. Hoyt said he was confident that the people of South Carolina will vote for prohibition this year. He charged that Mr. Gary had not voted for the Robinson bill which represented the V platform upon which Gary is now running. When he jumped on ihe dispensary McSweeney asked if the law is not being enforced in Greenville now better than ever before. Voice?Colonel, how can you prevent ? blind tigers? s< In reply Col. Hoyt said that the people of South Carolina would see the law enforced. The last speaker in the gubernatorial regatta was Mr. Patterson, Barnwell and Colleton are closely allied and he had friends and kinsmen here. Patterl r son, in the course of the speech, made 6ome allusion to the crowd being orderly as evidence of the salutary effects of the dispensary law. Voice?Why, because it's closed. Patterson?Yes, it is closed; it can be closed. Darrooms would have their back doors open. His speech was tho only one applauded during its delivery, and when he sat down he also received flowers. Patterson had some new ammunition. McSweeney had left the stand, v..* n-ortcii tn set- him if he U U I r<\ L cCl OUll r? Uiiivu vw favored the dispensary, and if so why was it that Charleston would vote for him. Under the very hall in which they were speaking in Charleston was a blind tiger. Th<~y had not seized bar fixtures in their raids in Charleston. In reply to McSweeney's statement that he subscribed for papers to get the proclamations and grand jury reports. Patterson asked why did he subscribe for religious papers and pay for them out of the contingent fund, to help him spiritually? The candidates for lieutenant governor then spoke. Col. Livingston was not there. Cols. Sloan. Tillman and Blease and Mr. Winkler spoke. A number left for Beaufort. The Beaufort Heeling. Beaufoit. Special.?As there are few rural voters in Beaufort county, the meeting was held at night, after the stores ciosed. A large number of ladies were present and the crowd numbered over 300. Brooker and Derham did not Ire up. Capers said McMahan was an imperialist, in that he wanted to appoint county superintendents and faculties of rhc county normals: also that State summer school faculty are Northern teach ere. McMahan replied that there was a movement to take election of county superintendents out of the hands of the people in order that "jack-leg" politicians could not keep out trained and expert teachers. This would not affect efficient superintendents row in office. Gen. Floyd was given unite an ovation. T. X. Berry opened the railroad commissioners' debate on schedule time. J. E. Pettigrew made himself solid, by saying no sensible government would think of removing Port Royal dry dock. W. I). Evans rendered an account of his stewardship. He had served six years. A fellow In the gallery had objected to a marriage because he wanted the "eal" himself. That was the way with his opponents. Mr. Etheridge was unwell aud merely sfatf-d his candidacy. Col. Wharton referred to Beaufort's record in overcoming large majorities. "Let them move hell if t'noy want, bjt don't let them move the dry dock," he said, in paraphrasing another candidate's joke. B. P. Evans said that Beaufort's harbor is useless as a point of shipment, as the town is bottled up by the Coast Line. He renewed his charge that W. D. Evans had written to Lucas, president of the Laurens mill, that he was not responsible to the Legislature but to the people. He had the applause. The gubernatorial candidates then1 ernt nndnr Vioarlnfav flj i n f? blind TitT 6V^ 1?*4V4V* M J , .?o ?o ers. McSweeney was well received. He had lived in the neighboring county, had marrfed in Beaufort county and had always stuck by Beaufort in her trials. His speech was about the same as at Charleston. He made an appeal against lynch law. He would have had the notorious scoundrel Thomas tried and hanged long ago. and he decried delays in court in such heinous crimes. He defied any of his opponent to have one single word against his official record. Col. Hoyt told of his record since 1896, through 1S90 and down to the present day as a servant of the Democratic party, without asking for office. He had been one cf those to peti tion for the prohibition election in 1892. which led up to the dispensary George's which had been a prohibition law. He recited an Incident at St. town, but had a dispensary. A boy 13 years old hail forged his father's name to a request, gotten a bottle of liquor, had taken it to "school and had gotten drunk on it. He is 17 years old now and a drunkard. This was an instance of the State debauching its youth. Take away profits and you take away supporters of the dispensary. Mr. Patterson without much preliminaries began to discuss the issues in the campaign He made the dispensary the main topic and defended it as he did at Orangeburg. He wanted to know if it were worse for him. vicepresident of the Baptist convention, to advocate dispensary than for Col Hoyt who had been president to advo eate coalition between prohibition anc' v:?.u l:???<-? ?- ho ir* on oHitnrii UI?I1 livcuau uo iiC Uiu *** **** vvt.vv. last fall. He charged McSweeney with evading the dispensary issue tcnigh' and covering it up with local matters. When he said there wer^ only four constables in Charleston some fellow said that was too many (Cheers.) Pattersen showed that 20 persons in Beaufort use revenue licenses. This is evidence of violation of the dispensary law. Go to the Charleston Hotel and yoi will see a bar room in full blast, glasses. fixtures and everything! Why die no: they seize the fixtures? Mr. Gary made a speech along thi usual lines. Col. Hoyt had charge: that h?. Gary, had not voted for tb? Robinson local option bill. He did not recall the purport of that bill, but had voted for the Archer bill, which is almost identical with his platform. Gary's applause was next that of McSweeney. The candidates for lieutenant governor then took the stump. About 13 voters and the negro band were left for them to talk to and it was nearly mid night when Capt. Jennings adjourned the meeting. Dr. Timmerman was not here. At Hampton C. H. Hampton. C. H., Special.?Gov. McSweeney was not accorded an ovation at his home, but he is said to have the support of the county. It 'is nip and tuck between prohibition and dispensary here, but McSweeSey personally is strone. However, the bulk of the crowd was evidently in sympathy with Col. Hoyt. Each of the candidates was respectfully listened to. and there were no startling denouncements. The candidates for lieutenant governor grew eloquent. Absent?B. R. Tillman, A. C. Jones, Mayfield, Etheredge, Bellinger, Moore. Timmerman, Knox Livingston, Walt Whitman. Col. Jasper Talbert was here but having no opposition did not take up the time of the other candidates. Mr. B. H. Theus presided. The exercises were opened with prayers, the second time since the campaign starred. McSweeney gave a cordial welcome to the candidates to the homes of Hampton. He made no speech, but simply asked them to take him on his record. He received a beautiful basket of flowers. McMahan opened the programme. Ha said that he had opposed doing away with campaign meetings, as it woulu result in political stagnation. He was not in this office for politics or to hold the office, but to do good. His op Kim POntiMllcl V injueui woo liiuwjoiu^ mm He had always talked freely with Capers and had thought he was upholding the policy of the office. Capers led in the applause for his opponent. He then stated that McMahan was not practical. McMahan had said that in a helter-skelter campaign the county superintendent might be j -A- 1 icj SWtippCQ Oil, (lUU J'Cl uc nunicu 10 uv.fore the people in a helter-skelter campaign. McMahan is a college man. nor a teacher of county schools. He had children and can study their nature, while McMahan is an old bachelor. Dr. Rowes said he could not enter into an oratorical contest with the Cicero of South Carolina politics. Gen. Floyd, but he came as a young man for a young man's office. Col. Floyd replied that young men had had the office prior to his administration. and he had found its affairs in confusion, but to-day the militia is ready to uphold the dignity and peace of South Carolina. It was his speech before'the committee on militia, which had induced that committee to favor an increase in the appropriation from $400,000 to $1,000,000. Mr. Pettigrew opened the throttle for the aspirants for railroad commissioner. Mr. Ethcredge had been detained by sickness. Pettigrew was endorsed by his county (Florence). It is to our interest to build up the railroads, but the people have their rights tco. % Mr. W. D. Evans said that he had a conscience clear that he had been faithful to his duty in his term as commissioner. The first thing done by his board was to reduce rates on fertilizer. All joint local rates had been reduced 20 per cent. It had required conductors to return excess for cash fares collected where tickets could not be obtained. Wharton said he was no enemy to railroads, but they have lawyers to look after their interests. The people should have representatives. He called attention to a number of railroad regulations which work hardships upon the peoplp. He had known fertilizers to be dumped on the ground with no protection while the car from which they came stood empty 011 the side track for three or four days. He talked about long hauls and short hauls and said that schedules and connections in some parts of the State were unfair. Barney Lvans said that they had heard the stewardship of a man who had been in office six years. He had ret r? r\r\ Hvi/?lr luti liour ICUULCU CliC i U/lV. V/A* many farmers buy a carload of Uriel:? Rates cn meats, etc, have not been re. ducei. He had not charged W. IX Evans with being nishemst man, but the commission had, by mer 1 iI;c Tas. L. Orr of GreermHe, been charged of being subsidized. He read a letter from Col. Orr saving that they were either igncant or under the control of the iailroads whom they fear to oppose. Mr. T. N. Berry promised to give palace waiting rooms, commodious warehouses, free freights and 1 cent a mile passenger rates. He then declared his position on the liquor question and befriended prohibition. Col. J no. T. Sloan "came acourting" fcr votes for lieutenant governor. He made a strong presentation of his views on the liquor question?favoring . local option, letting each county manage its own business. Mr. Blease stated his position on education?liberal but not extravagant with colleges?and he was an advocate of common schools, having voted to appropriate $100,COO to the common schools. He was applauded when he said he wanted to see white people's money go to educate white children. The county schools should have longer terms, so that children in county and town should have equal advantages. He was opposed to local option; had voted against the bill last legislature because it would have caused an aproar and 15,000 negro voters would be appealed to as the balance of power. If it is a sin to sell liquor it is a sin to license the sale cf it. He is a dispen fary man in theory and to a modest extent in practice. Blease wound up with a joke whirh caught the crowd. Jim Tillman began by saying that while he was a stranger some of his relatives were not. He delivered a message from "his aged father on his farm in Edgeheld." He 6aid "he has found Methusaleh's receipt for lcag living: drink plenty of buttermilk, eat no supper and keep out of politics." Wo aim had a mpssaep from his un cle, who is now opposed by a fellow Jones, "a dry goods drummer who has lately taken up notions for a side line." He had no Confederate war record, but he had been colonel of the First South CCarolina in the Spanish war, and one of his opponents had given him a medal from the privates under him. Winkler explained his position on the Harris Lithia issue by saying that a bill was introduced providing for pure water, and everybody knows what Columbia water is. He replied to Tillman that pure water is an incentive to sobriety. It is better put than is Columbia water with liquor in it. He favored the dispensary and had done all he could for it. It is the best method yet devised for restricting sale of liquor. It is no new thing, but has been tried successfully in Europe. However, he is in favor of lotting each county do as it pleased, and had so voted in the legislature. The constitution is not mandatory, but permits local option elections. However, he was opposed to high license under dis pensary law. Col. Sloan is ngnting wind if he hopes to see a restoration of barrooms. Col. Sloan retorted that he had thought that he was fighting wind in this campaign. Capt. Jennings spoke kindly of Dr. Timmersan, who was absent. Mr. Brooker renewed his affirmation that though Mr. Derham is an honest and honorable man he has disregarded the law and has allowed executions to be on the books year after year. Derham's influence had been against him for five years. Brooker declared he is running for an office which he really does not want, but he wants to get into position to continue the work in which he had been stopped. In Barnwell county he had allowed the settlement for 1897 stand on the books until 1S99. Mr. Derham stated that Brooker at tacKS tne sinKing iuuu cuuiunssiuu, consisting of the governor, attorney general, comptroller general, State Treasurer, chairman of finance committee of senate and ways and means committee of the house. Would he dare say tl^ese gentlemen had been dictated to by the comptroller general? The attack covers every treasurer and auditor of the State, and he is the great reformer! Does he want the job so that he can dictate to the sinking fund commission? Does he want the appointment of treasurer and auditor, as he has said on the stump? He then pitched into Mr. Brooker's figures. He found 51.500 in executions where but $S00 had been issued. Col. Hoyt was greeted with handclapping. He tackled Blease, who had told a i joke in which a girl had perverted the j golden rule so as to allow her sweet- i heart to embrace her. The colonel | said that not all Scripture could be j perverted. He quoted the verse in | Habakkuk, which says, "Woe to him j who gives his neighbor strong drink, i who putteth the bottle to his lips."' "Now, pervert that, can you?" He then paid his respects to Mr. Patterson. In regard to his editorial of last win- i ter in which he had advocated coali- , (Ion between opposition to dispensary, he said that he had agreed to it on account of the minority of 140 to 25 of the prohibitionists in the legislature. ! He had done so that there might be a ; repeal of the dispensary law followed by prohibition. : He concluded by appealing for the | liquor question to be settled and to be I settled this year. i Mr. Gary said that when he saw Col. I : Hoyt getting so many flowers he was : forced to say, "That's right, ladies, bring on the flowers, for we have buried him." He had buried Col. Hoyt politically. If elected himself he chow tho same imDartiality which he had done in the speaker's chair. His friends knew that he had' never been a usurer. They knew, too. that he was a true friend of the dispensary law. He then explained his1 local option position?to let the several counties vote between the dispensary and prohibition. A governor hostile to the dispensary law could paralyze it by seeing J that it is not enforced, and if Coi. | Hoyt be elected, which i3 impossible, affairs would be mixed up unless he had a prohibition legislature behind him. He warned the dispensary people* that Col. Hoyt was a coalition I , candidate. Mr. Gary digressed from his accus- j tcmed speech. Mr. Patterson was the last speaker. He was received almost silently. H:s ( county adjoins Hampton and he has ' some support here. He was to have ] been next to last speaker, but declined ( to go into compact to limit speeches j to half an hour and exchanged places ( with Gary. His opening remarks were identical with those elsewhere. Spoki at Barnwell. Barnwell, Special.?The first sensation here Mas the announcement of ? the withdrawal of A. C. Jones, candidate for United States Senate. Walt t Whitman showed no here. This was'J ? the largest attended and most representative gathering of the campaign. The cpera house was packed. The day was cloudy and farmers came in to town. T.iere were quite a number of ladies present. The crowd, estimated at a thousand, remained orderly through the. day. Walt Whitman resumed the role as clown. Patterson spoke with mare. spirit than at Hampton and other recent meetings, but it is evident that he will not have a walkover here. Mr. W. D. Mayfteia made his debut. He had been detained by business engagements from joining tne campaign , at former meetings. Ho wanted to fitrhf fho ennse of the DeoDle against the a-ttorneys of the railroads. If the laws are insufficient a commission should be elected which would suggest proper legislation. It has I let the beast that South Carolina woulo be the manufacturing State of the Union. This can never be so long as rates on commodities are high. Those who aspire to be first mate on the ship of State were next presented. Mr. Blease referred the voters to the legislators from Barnwell and others with whom he had been associated. He had in 18SS taken the position that white people's money should go to educate white children. "It is wrong to make a white man pay taxes to educate a free nigger when he can hardly pay taxes." Mr. Winkler began by referring to the interest in matters political exhibited by the ladies. Whenever ladies are present candidates will not indulge in abuse for South. Carolina gentlemen respect ladies. His position on the dis pensary had been consistent. He nau always supported it, not as a money making scheme, but because prohibition could not succeed and the dispensary would minimize the sale of liquor. Col. Jim Tillman seemed to be the favorite in this race. His opponent? had been accustomed to boast of their services; two for six years in the legislature, one for eight years in the senate. If he had been in either body that long and had done nothing he would not be boasting of his record. He had been accused of the crime of being named Tillman. He was running on his merit, not on the name of his father or uncle. Col. Sloan said that he would be the next lieutenant governor if he could get votes enough. He had been a senator for eight years and had voluntarily retired because he was tired of it. But now he had a longing to get back to old associations. He favored local option as true Democracy. "You are better able to control it in your counties than centrally." Dr. Timmerman rejoined the campaign and discussed with Capt. Jennings their relative qualifications. Mr. J. P. Derham was next presented. He made a few preliminary passes and then got down to business. Brooker had said that if elected he would put incompetent auditors and treasurers out of office. There is no warrant of law which gives the comptroller general this authority. Brooker ^ * ?? * aU * ^ had charged at Mampm iuc settlement for 1S97 in Barnwell had not been made until 1899. The records disprove this fact. ' Brooker claimed a shortage of $4,000 in Berkeley county. An expert going behind him said there was not a cent of shortage. Brcoker charged that the record in Barnwell was not closed until 1899. If it was made in October, 189S, where was the money? When he came to Barnwell to visit the several counties, he found that Derham had not come here to examine the books and system cf bookkeeping. Had he done so there .would have been no trouble wi a the books. He referred with sadness to jthe late Mr. Free, county treasurer. He had 19 written charges against Derham and he read two of them. They are extraordinary absence from the office, his family residing in Horry, and irregularities in Richland. He would publish these charges and challenge Derham to settle them before competent lawyers. Mr. Ellison Capers. Jr.. then bespoke his claims for the office of State superintendent of education. His opponent, who was absent, was too theoretical. He. Capers, had taught in the country schools, net 1^, colleges. Mr. McMahan was not present. Walt. Whitman's appearance was received as a joke. He jumped on MeSweeney and Hoyt for their liquor views. He did not outlive his policy except he favors dispensary. During his speech there were cries of "Patterson." Walt shouted, "You had better heller for him. that's all the votes he'll get." Somebody asked who sent him down here. He replied: "The people of the Piedmont belt, who have the brains and the votes, which can't be Baid of you." Voice?Where's your wheel? Walt?There- i?a't room enough in our head to hold a wheel. Continuing he sakl that he was in he race to'help Col. Hoyt aicng. 'Gary ain't in it." Patterson was greeted with some heering. McSweeney began by saying that at Hampton he had made no speech ex ept to welcome the candidates. He lad assailed nobody there. At St. George's he had read a statement from iV. W. Harris that the dispensary law s being enforced. He read a letter rom a magistrate in Greenville showng violations of the dispensary lav/ lad decreased 50 per cent. He is being ittacked for little things. Mr. Gary said he would make but a en minutes' speech. While Col. Hoyt ind Patterson were wasting time dis