The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1896-08-12

had never askt d to be rewarded for
her faithfulness to toe doctrine OF the
fathers by the bestowal Of State or
judicial Office upon one OF her sons;
that in the division of Offices Lexlng-
ton had been ignored. but she un-
complaingly went on voting for men
from other counties. Now she had
a son asking the suffrage OF the peo-
pie of this judicial circuit who was
in every wsy qualified to discharge
the duties of the Solicitorship with
honor to the circuit and credit to him
self, and it was the duty of the other
counties to assist her in electing him.
He urged the necessity oil having
good and competent men as Masls-
trates, as from them come nearly all
Of the indictments and testimony IN
the case, and by having such they
would greatly aid and assist the So
licitor in preparing his cases. The
people was acquainted with his abll-
ity; they have seen his work in the
court room, and heard his pleadlngs
at the bar, and he would pledge him
self to work as hard and as faith
fully for the people Of the circuit as
te did in his private practice should
they honor him with an election.
Hon. J Wm Thurmond, of Edge
field, candidate for Solicitor, was the
next speaker to step in the political
arena and tell the people his views OF
the problems which the people have
to study and solve. He expressed
himself as being highly delighted to
meet the people of Lexington county;
he had been among them, had shared
the hospitality of their homes and
found them to be clever, kind hearted
and as true as steel. He reviewed
his record as member Ct the House
of Representatives, and said that his
labors had always been directed IN
the interest of the laboring men; that
be had saved the taxpayers large
sums of money by opposing and
fighting and defeating some meas
ures before the Legislature. He
wanted to see the public schools i'm
proved, there was much room to ele-
vate the standard, and extend the
benefits of it to boys and girls alike.
This was not contest of localities;
the test of the candidates should not
be from what county they came;
ability, fitness and competency should
be the motive which should influence
the elector in coming to a decision; g
was in favor of giving honor to whom
honor was due, and if this should be
carried out he would be the next So
licitor. He is q Reformer out and
out, but if my record don't make me
worthy citizen, and don't commend
my claims to your consideration don't
vote for me. He discussed at length
what the Reform Movement had &C
complished, chief among which was
making legal the primary system OF
nominating candidates for Office; it
made it necessary for the person ask
ing the suffrage Of them to come be-
fore them face to face and tell their
views upon questions OF government;
the making of a grand constitution
under which white men could live
with feeling of security; increasing
the constitutional school tax one mill
thus lengthening the school term;
it has given US the dispensary law,
which is the most practical and best
solution Of the liquor question. He
closed by urging the people to work
for the election of Bryan and Sewall, as
their election meant the remonetiza-
tion of silver and peace, prosperity
and happiness to the whole country
would follow.
Hon. J. Walter Mitchell, who is
seeking Senatorial honors, was intro
duced. He opened his remarks by
saying that he was glad of the honor
of addressing the people of Lewie-
dale and vicinity; that the people
had honored him in the past by send.
ing him to the Legislature to repre-
sent them, for which he was thank
full. BE was the first to take an
active part in the Reform Movement
and was working in harness yet be-
cause he believed that the principles
and measures advocated by the lead
ers of the Movement to be right and
the best interest Of the people. He
was much pleased with what had
been accomplished, but there were
other good measures that should be
carried out. He thought the election
| of Bryan and Sewall would give the