Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Consolidated Aua. 3,1881. SUMTER, S. 0., SATURDAY, JONE 20, 1914. Vol. XXXVIII. No. 34. STATE CIN OPEDED HUI Richard I. Manning Sounds the Keynote? 44 A way With Bitterness, Abuse and Vituperation." MEETING WAR LARGELY ATTENDED AND THE CROWD WAS OR? DERLY AND ATTENTIVE/?THERE WERE NO HOWLING DOWN TACTICS AND THE STATEMENT OF MR. HETHEA, THE FIRST CANDIDATE TO SPEAK. THAT A REITER AND BRIGHTER DAY IS DAWNING FOR SOlTH CAROLINA POLITICS WHEN MERIT, HONESTY AND DEVOTION TO THE INTERESTS OF THE WHOLE PEOPLE, AND NOT GREED FOR PERSONAL PROFIT OR AD? VANCEMENT Sil ALL HE THE DISTINGUISHING MARK OF PUB? LIC MEN. WAS HOHNE OPT RY THE CONDUCT OF THE CAN? DIDATES AND THE AUDIENCE. Tlie Interest of the poople in poli? tic* ss an ahiitract matter and in the mere practical side lssuo?tho am? bitions anc^ aspirations of tho candi? dates for oHlce?is ono of tho fixed and certain efY.ments in American life, and they can always bo counts**! on to attend a political meeting in force and give the candidate* a more or lees patient hearing while they explain their views on political issues anil urga the claims for preferment that they bellevo that they possess in a greater measure than their oppon? ents The Stato campaign meeting and the tlrst meeting of the forty four that trail their weary way across and up and down the State is an old story to Sum?or, but there has not failed to be a large crowd present in all the years since the custom of hav? ing a State-wldo campaign became fixed, and today when tho campaign of 1914 opened in the Court Houso at 11 o'lock the crowd was present and there was as much interest and sup? pressed excitement as usual. When the meeting was called to order the flStPUrt mom was filled with a crowd numbering at least six hUflffWH Und rapidly increased whilo the candidates for Lieutenant Governor we.e speak? ing until every available se it was fill? ed and the aides, bar and lobby un? comfortably crowded, with others still on the outside socking admission. A conservrMve estimate places the num? ber present at twelve to fourteen hun? dred. When the candidates for Lieu? tenant Governor had spok the chairman was requested to adjourn the meeting to the Court House grounds In order tc glvo all an oppor? tunity to hear the speakers and a ma? jority of the crowd appearing to ap? prove of the move, the meeting mi? grated to the front iportlco whero the speech-making was continued for a time, hut here the noise was so great that no one could hear satisfac? torily and It was docldcd to return to the court room, where tho speech making was concluded. The meeting was called to order by County Chairman John II. Clifton, who announced that the candidates had met and arranged programme and allotted tho time that each of the candidate* is to havo at th!s and subsequent, meetings. The tlrst candidates to speak we re the aspirants for tho office of Lieu? tenant Governor, Mr. Andrew J Itethea. of Columbia, making the opening address. lie briefly sketch? ed his career and gavo the facts that ho believes should convince the peo? ple that ho Is tiunVflcd to fill the on?ce and to discharge its duties cred? itably. Ho stated emphatically that he was no coat-tull swinger and was running on his own merits. Mr. W. M. llamer,% of Inllon. a Sa*? cessful farmer and business man made his Initial bow us a candidate for pub? lic otflco and niailo a stiuightforward plea for the confidence and votes of the people Mr. J. A. Hunter, of r.amberg. a member of tho legislature from his county for several years and a suc? cess as a merchant ami in several other llne? of business asked the of ftco of Lieutenant Governor because ho felt confident that ho would dis? charge the duties of the office in a manner creditable to the State and to himself. Mr. M. Frank Keils. oT Rlshopvllle, last of the sstfsAtaatss for Lleutoaanl Governor to speak. was given SJUltS a flattering reception when he was in? troduced. He said as felt at homo and appreciated the rc< eption gtVCS him by the people of SUISltOf BSJIOng whom he had spent nine of I he beat years of his life He reminded hkt audience of the struggles that ho had endured as a boy and young man to I'M no are educ etle.n ami get 'a t"???>t hohl on the ro.idwny of life. He? saiel he felt confident, as a result of bis travel* over the State, that he would in* the next L'cutenp. d Ckrreraof of tio Stute, anil pledged the people tho bcrt and most devoted service of which he is capable. Secretary of State II. M. McCown, of Florence, who is seeking re-cioc tion and has no opposition, brloily thanked tho people of Sumter for tho support given him in past campaigns and pledged himself to give to of? fice in future the sumo attention that ho has in the past. Comptroller General A. W. Jones, of Abbeville, who has occupied that olflce for eleven years, asks for re? election on his record of efficiency, strict and non-partisan discharge of his duties of tho office in nOOOrdnnco with the law. He briefly reviewed bla efforts to bring about the equalization of taxation throughout and the fair and honest return of property. Mr. J. A. Summcrsctt, of Columbia, who is also seeking the offle of Comp? troller General reviewed hl3 record as a railroad man in which he rose to a position of responsibility and in which he became familiar with book? keeping, auditing and system of ac? counts in general, as a real estate and insurance mun, in wh!ch ho had likewise attained a degree of JUSOess and a public official, having served .?a a member of the Stato board of par? dons and as o member of tho board ! i of regents of the Stato Hospital TCf tho Insane, of which latter board he is now chairman. Ho advocates rota? tion in ofllco and if rotated into the oftlco ho seeks will do his utmost to make a record for elllcicncy that will redound to the benefit of the people of the state. Stato Treasure S. T. Carter, has no opposition and his speech was merely ono of thanks for tho handsome sup? port given him by Sumter county two i years ago and a pledge for continued J efforts to administer his office ccono j mlcally and efficiently. State Superintendent of Education ij. E. Swcaringen has no opposition. I but ho discussed brielly some of tho needs of tho educational system ami pointed out how tho schools may be improved and brought more nearly up to tho standard of efficiency main? tained in some other States. The cry? ing need of the school system is more money and moro and better teachers, but the latter need is the result of the IOCS' of an adequate income. Mr. A. Q, Hrlce, of Chester, who has represented his county in the House of Kcpresentatlvcs, Introduced himself to the people of Sumter and reviewed his record and based his re? quest for tho votes ami confidence of the public on that record. Attorney General Thos. H. Ptcples. Is seeking re-election OH his record in that olllec. "It Is xin open book." ho said, " and If it don't suit any of you, don't vote for me." He assert er that he had administered his of? fice in a fair end non-partisan man? ner, has regarded no man as above another and had showed no favori? tism. He has saved money i>y ad? ministering his ttfnce economically and had endeavored to do the work lot the office himself. The candidates for Railroad Com? nUesloner then spoke In the following order: Ceo. Fairer, ?d* Galhnun county, v. ho naked for the office on two grounds?that this section oT the state should have representation, whi< h it had never bad, and on his record as a successful and reliable bttslnt Dfl man. Mr. C, IX Forlner, of Rpnrtnnhurg, seeks the ofllco on his record na :? member of the legislature, where he was the author of the I-cent mileage bill and the Forint r hill to prohibit whites teaching in negro schools and vice rersn Mr. Frank w. Bhcalcy, of Loxlmt" ton. spoke briefly, asking for support on his record ;ts m business man. Pol, John II, Wharton, of Laurcns, m running ngaln Lor Ihe ofnee which he once held and liked SO well tl.it he feels oul ??r place when not ill Charging Its duties. ||c discussed the powers and responsibilities of the po-1 LATEST DEVELOPMENTS LEAD TO THIS CONCLUSION, Choice of Ca era 11 zu for .Provisional Prc+ddcnt Will bo Put Before Me? diation Bonrd, Thought, However, tliut Huertaltes Will Object Stren? uously and Mediatie n Will Collapse. Niagara Falls, June 17.?Carranza has been allowed to pick a provisional president of Mexico, whose name will bo placed before the mediators, ac? cording to all signs and indications; today. Possessing direct and com? plete information from political rep? resentatives of the constitutionalists, the American delegates arc ready to name a man for the head of the pro? visional government. The constitu? tionalist representatives, though not formally received in the confer? ence of mediations had a long confer? ence with the American delegates. The general opinion is that the Hucrta delegates will refuse to accept the American's choice and this will be fol? lowed by a collapse of mediation, and a recall of the American delegates. sition and also referred to rate mak? ing for the railroads and express companies. He used all of the time allotted to him and was just getting well into his speech when time was called. Mr. W. 1. Withcrspoon, of York, spoke brielly, asking support on his record as a successful business man and farmer. Mr. James Cansler, of Tirzah, the ii rcpressible?as he says, the logical? candidate, as usual in all of his many campaigns received the good humored applause of the crowd. He said he was in favor of making the railroads give the best service they arc able to af? ford and to allow them to charge a living rate for the service. People laugh at Cunsjer of Tirzah but there is a whole lot of sound sense in what he says and the policies he advocates. Capt. M. C. Willis, of York, asks for the votes of the people for the of? fice of Adjutant and Inspector Gener? al, on the ground that his long ser? vice as a member of the militia has fitted him to know ts needs, and his experience has equipped him to dis? charge tho duties of the ollicc satis? factorily to the public, Gen. W. W. Moore, of P>arnwcll, the incumbent asks for re-election on his record in the otficc. He said he had discharged his duties in strict accord with the law and despite the friction and the criticism of his olllcial acts j that every position that he had been sustained. It was his duty to admin? ister tho law in relation to his ofllce as he found it and not as some people might think the law ought to be. On his record he asked for re-election and on this record he is willing to bo judged. Commissioner of Agriculture F. J. Watson, who has no opposition for re? election thanked the people of Sumter and South Carolina lor the hearty and united support they have given j him in his effort to build up and de? velop the material resources of the State. For the future he could only pledge his best services to the State that we all love so well. Gubernatorial Candidates. The last set of candidates to speak were those for the ollicc of governor, the most interesting feature of the campaign being left to the last. Two I Candidate! had spoken, Messrs. U. I. Manning and L. J. Drowning, when it was decided to adjourn the meet? ing until 3.80 o'clock, when the other nine candidates would be beard. There was sumo debate as to ad? journment, but Chairman Clifton de? cided in favor of a recess. A departure was made from the regular order of speakers In allowing .Mr. Manning to speak first, this heins I Ids home tow n. It was stated by the chairman that Mr. Manning merely wanted to make his announcement and would allow the rest cd" his time to bo divided betWOClPthe other can? didates. 1!. I. Mlllinlflg Applauded. Mr. Manning was Introduced by the chairman as "Sumtcr's favorite son" and bis reception was cordial, lie was erected with cheering and handclap pine;, as ho stepped upon the ros? trum, the cheering being kepi up for sometime before be was abb' to speak. He was applauded during bis re marks and again as ho ceased speak? ing. Mr. Manning made only a few re? marks, snylng lhal ho wan gladdened by his reception. lie expressed sin? cere thanks for tho unfailing support of bim In Ihe part bj bis home peo? ple, not only when running for ofllce, int when undertaking any mcauurc Cm' ihr benefit of (he community, lie merely wanted I hem Ui know Hint bo BLEASE AND SMITH LOC K HORNS AT ONCEj Blcasc Makes Charges Against Smith Which Latter Denounces as False? Bleaae Then Throws Burden of Statement on Senator Tillman?Jen? nings Well Received* St. Matthews, June 17.?Before a crowd of about 800, including ladles, and a number of visitors from ad? joining counties, the candidates for! the United States senate spoke hen today at the opening meeting of what promise to bo at least an interesting , campaign. Gov. I Mease, who was the .first speaker, was introduced by County Chairman T, H. Dreher, and when an (intermission for dinner was taken about '.i o'clock, the governor and I Mayor Jennings had concluded their I speeches. Tho governor left the school grounds immediately after his speech. He delivered his speech from man? uscript. Practically no enthusiasm has , been shown by the crowds. A number of Bleaae leaders arc here from oth? er places. Bleaae's claim that Smith I was responsible for the appointment of James L. Simms as United States Marshall and Wm. E. Gonzales, as , Minister to Cuba, was denied by Smith, who interrupted governor, say I ; ing that Sims was Tlllman's appointee, and "I had no more to do with the appointment Of Gonzales than Cole L. j Blcasc." Gov. Blcasc repeated that Sims was Smith's appointment, giving as ou , thorlty a letter from Senator Tillman to W. J. Shelton. i Senator Smith advanced toward I Please, explaining his agreement with Tillman in reference to the marshal J ship and adding, ' and no man in j the image of God can call me a liar." Chairman Dreher interfered, and , Senator Smith sat down while Please isnid, "Weil Mr. Tillman wrote tho letter." Gov. Blcasc closed by criticising Senator Smith's record. j Mayor Jennings was very favorably received. He thinks a man is needed to show up the present conditions and stated that he hopes to make himself better known to the voters and prove neither Smith nor Please- is "lit to sit in the United States senate." J He told much about his career, hardships, etc. lie is a farmer himself and will show before the campaign ends who is the real friends of the ,farmer. lie praised President Wilson and his acts. He says ho is not beg? ging for votes. Without calling names he made several references to Llease and Smith. was in the race. "My watchword," he said, "will be enforcement of the laws, whether it I be that against tarrying concealed weapons, race track gambling, the il? licit sale or liquor or what not." In the past the State campaign had been alluded to as a circus. He deem? ed this a reflection on the state. "Bitterness, personalities and abuse have been brought up during past J campaigns. I will ask that all candi 1 dates allow bitterness, personalities land vituperations to be done away with and that public questions he dis !cussed In a parliamentary way." While 1 he would alb v bis time to be dlvld 1 ed among ihe other candidates, he would ask that the newspapers pub 1 lish his platform spech, which he Would deliver tomorrow. Lowndes J. Browning, of Union, a farmer, was next speaker. In open? ing his address Mr. Browning stated j that, as far as be was concern*1 d, ho would heartily reciprocate courtesies In the discussion of all questions. He stated that he was a Jefferson Ian Democrat and advocated those measures of tho Democratic parly which were being carried out by 1 President Woodrow Wilson. Ho was the candidate of no faction, party or newspape r. "There Is no coat-tail In South Carolina sufficiently large for Lowndes J. Drowning to swing to." he announced, and this remark was ? 1 eeted v. it h applause, The national government was now Coming to the aid of Hie people of the State and it was time thai the Stato government also did something tit better condition - within ithc Statt?. He stressed the need of honehuibling, I f _ would abolish personal Inxdu tor State purposes and Wcitfd substifllle an 1*1 come and Inh{t'llance tax In its place. Me characterized the real estate tax as v< ry unju1 I and was in Ihe net of showing wh, when time was called. His address followed closely the outlines < f lie platform printed clsc w her? in t hi- Issue. At t his jit? ??( uro t lie no t 1 ing ad journcd for . inner. HE [MUTES' PIK ~ Views of Eleven Men who Seek Governors Office Briefly Outlined. THOSE OFFERING THEIR SERVICES TO STATE AS ITS CHIEF EXECUTIVE ARE It. I. MANNING, BANKER, BUNTER* J. Q. RICHARDS, RAILROAD COMMISSIONER, LIBERTY HILL; MEN? DEL L. SMITH, LAWYER, CAMDENj C. V. SMITH, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, TIMMONSVILLE{ W. C. IRBY, JR., LAWYER, LAU RENSi lt. A. COOPER, SOLICITOR, LAVREXS; .J. CLINKSCALES, TEACHER, SPARTAN BURG i J. B. ADGER Ml LLALLY, LAWYER, ANDERSON; L. J. BROWNING, FARMER, UNION; CHARLES CAR ROLL SIMMS, LAWYER, BARN WELL; JOHN T. DUNCAN, COLUM? BIA. _\ * m Eleven candidates divided interest In the race for governor of South Carolina. Most of them are good men and the voters have a good Held to choose from. The names and plat? forms of the various candidates fed low: j Kichaid I. Manning. <> As a candidate for the gover/ c?' ship of our beloved State, I arn^ / Ing for the support of all who sire a clean, progressive, business administration?In which the watch. Word Will be efficiency with economy. Under our democratic form of government we have the executive, legislative and judicial branches, I each separate and distinct from the others, and each a check on the j othMfr. The governor of the State , is at the head of the executive ; branch. It is his first and highest duty to enforce the laws as they I stand* on the Statute books?this he ! must do fearlessly and without fav. or in order that law may be respect. ! cd and obeyed. It is not his prcroga. ! tive to decide whether a law la wise or i-vst suited to a community, bur wh "i a law has been enacted he is j to see to it that that lawr is enforced and obeyed. If elected governor 1 ; consercratc the best that is in me 'faithfully to perform this duty. 1 j do purpose not to deal in vague (generalities. I am determined that the people of South Carolina whom I love, whom I honor, and whom 1 wish to serve shall be in no doubt as , to my position on any question which affects them or their interests. i The time has come for plain I speaking. It has been said in other States and it has been said even in j I our own legislative halls that we are a lawless people. Even the idea that this is true must be wiped out. If j the people do not wish a law it must I be repealed; But, if I am governor, while it is on the statute book it must be obeyed; and this whether it is against carrying concealed weapons, the illicit sale of liquor, race track gambling or what not. Another duty which devolves upon the governor is that of considering pardons. There are many eases in which pardons should be granted, but I shall endeovor to see that the verdicts of juries and the judgment of our courts shall stand. 1 shall always be willing to hear arguments and to be appealed to by reason and justice; yet, 1 serve notice now that after a fair trial those convicted of applying the torch and risking the lives of innocent people, and destroy? ing property by tire?yeggmen. safe, crackers, pick pockets, and above all those who attempt outrage on our women, need not apply for par. dons. I i Appointments. 1 stand for merit and fitness as the tests for appointments?seeking always to secure effec tive service | for the State. I will promise to sec that every department <?f the state government coming und ?r the intlu. enco and control of the governor shall be run on business principles j of efficiency and economy. Education. Education is the most important pui lie question before this State, and upon tin4 solution of the pro. Mems involved depend the status of our Stale's future citizenship, and largely its material prosperity. South Carolin.', stands near the bot. torn of the iist of all the Slates in cducalbm; its percentage of illitcr. acy is e no e>i* the highest. I shall never be satisfied till ibis shame Is removed. We have made progress, but I am satisfied that illiteracy can be effaced from among our white people; and it must l>e>; wo arc mak. ? !ng some progress towards it, yet wc move too slowly. As mone> cannot i he better spent by the pan lit lb in I in educating the child, so the state cannot do better than spend Its I money educating the citizen. I be. i I love in education at the public e\_ pense, Its Justification is In bavin:; i an educated citizenship a citizen. ? .ship (hat is made more etllcient by i education i } is elevated by in. Ulliyen' ^ ode more active in the Held productive wealth; more can; ?<>' Ahd discriminating in de. ci' j. A\ public (juestions. I favor %{9 ?cral support of Winthrop, the j /crsity of South Carolina, Clem. A, the Civ; del, the Medical Col. fKgjo and C* dar Springs Institute? and to provide for their steady growth, whi< h growth will be assur? ed if proper and adequate support is given to our primary common schools and to our high schools, which are the feeders of these insti. lotions of higher learning. These institutions of higher learning should be so organized and co.ordin. ated as to prevent wasteful duplica? tion of work. 1 vish to stress the importance of doing more for the common schools in the country. 1 stand for liberal State appropriations from the State treasury for free public schools to give a minimum seven months term for every white public school. Only one county maintained a seven months tern" in every white school this year, a id this after years of ef? fort and dis< ussion, but it shows that ibis can be done if the money is available. Our people arc determined to edu? cate their children. Two.thirds of the school districts have voted school taxes. It is only by the com. lunation of local tax and State aid that a seven months term can be secured uniformly throughout the Statt. Wo have three sources from which we derive money for schools: 1st. Th?. school district, where taxes may h voted by resident elec? tors and whe own property. 2nd. The county, where three mill constitutional tax is imposed. 3rd. The State appropriation. The present average expenditure from all sources combined per pupil be. $13.39. Twenty counties fall be? low this average. The average must be Increased to give a longer school term. I favor better salaries for teach, crs. i I favor a larger number of public school teachers. Besides longer terms and more teachers with bet? ter pay there- are many either im. provements which appeal to me, and will he dealt with at the proper time. I favor the medical inspection of pupils under the supervision e?f tho State Hoard of Education In co? operation with the State Hoard of Health, with due provision for the protection ol the pupil. I favor giving to the counties the right to vote on the question of compulsory attendance?this is democratic, it is home rule. An examination of our resources and our equipment in buildings and otherwise will not warrant general compulsory attend. ? a nee, as we could not take care of the children if they were compelled to attend school. But this county option would give opportunity for immediate adoption of compulsory attendance in the counties that are ready for it, and In which public sentiment would support it. At the same time it would enable us te? ele. rclop a sentiment that would take are* of compulsory attendance at a later date. .'{culture. I Agriculture is the foundation of nur wealth. I'Mghty.flve per cent e?f mir people arc dependent on it; but it por cent of the white farmers of ?oiitb Carolina are tenan' ?. We want more homeowners, more farmers Mho live on their own farms. The owns are growing satisfactorily, md the number of home-owners In owns is steaddj increasing. H?lsi? ng and Loan Associations h?*tp tho own man to own bis home, but lure ate no inch sssoclations to ?t'omotc home-ownership in the oiintry. 1 I a vor a land registration ict that will Ih? a guarantee for title nut boundary lines this would bo ?phonal. not compulsory but if A id opted would enable a laud on ner AM