The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-07-29
Coffee or Pistols 2
The Campaign Outlook May
Mean Anything.
pHE MOST EXCITING MEET
- ING UP TO DATE.
Flat Contradictions and Finger
shaking-Governor Evans Says
That Col. John c. Has
kell Lied.
Special to The State.

Special to The State
CHERAw, July 2l.-HuDgry. weary.
wet wornout and more or less d'sgusted
were the newspaper men who reached
here from Chesterfield tooighs 10 search
Of a telegraph Office. They drove there
this morning, heard six and a halt bait
hours of solid speech-making to 800
farmers, returning twelve miles tonight
in a rain. The revelations expected to.
dav did not materialize. Secretary of
State Tompkins made statement of a
mild order aud not affecting Governor
Evans; Duncan produced 20 afidavits.
The sensational feature was the COLO
ouy between Judge Earle and Governor
Evans. Debates can scarcely continue
10 the straiu of today without there be-
ing trouble between these uen. There
are limits which must be reached even
in these days of iodecency upon the
stump. There were contradictions fiat.
Judge Earle declared Evans had con-
demned himself by his own statement
in the bond case. In his talk about
Detective Newbold. there were some re-
marks which might be construed to
mean anything you please from coffee
to pistols. s
burdened tonight, and the lightning in-
terfering, the candidates for State off.
GERS will pardon being made to take a
back seat. There was nothing out Of
ordinary.
Mr.. P. B. Sellers and Solicitor J.
AZ johnson, candidates for solicitor,
met here today Dir. Johnson made
the humorous speech of the campaign.
Rev. B. F. Hsrgett invoked the divine
blessing and Mr.. D. NJ. Barentioe was
county chairman.
When Mr.. Tompkins was ;o:roduced
he said that he was no public speaker !;
that his duties were purely ministerial,
demanding no explanation; that they
had been satisfactorily performed was
evidenced by absence of opposition to
his e-election. He would not have
been mere except for the fact that there
had been talk Of differences between
Governor Evans and himself about the
new dispensary Law, and an editorial
had appeared 10 the Mauuing Times in
siuuatiug that he had appropriated some
rebates from liquor obtained when ae
was member of the board of control.
He would tell them of his connection
with the board aud about the alleged
differences With Governor Evans. The
dispepsary law of '93 made the attorney
general, the comptroller general aud the
governor constitute the state board of
control. In 1894 Attorney General Bar
ber asked him if be would not 60 on
the board in his place, as be had 20
time to attend to the business. He
agreeing, was put on the board. Dur
ing the mouth of January, 1895,
Chairman Evans called meeting of
the State board of control. They then
elected the commissioners and clerk.
Afterwards be signed three orders clos
ing the distilleries. On another occa-
sion be walked into the governors Of
fee aod found him considering the appli-
cation Of the Southern railroad for per-
mission to sell liquor ou dining cars
running through the State. The gov
ernor submitted to him a system Of
bookkeeping prepared by Mr.. Scruggs.
This year another meeting of the board
was called to consider the application of
the city of Columbia for a portion of the
dispensary profits. He had never
asked the commissioner to buy liquor
from but one man-his immediate CON-
mauder in the war. 40 officer under
Gen. Gary. He had 20 interests
which would enable him to obtain any
rebates.
As to the alleged differences With
Governor Evans. Mr. Barber had told
him Of a dispenaary bill proposed by the
governor, leaving off himself and Comp
.ro!ler General Norton and letting the
legislature elect TWO members. M7.
TompkiDs said .ha; be objected to that,
saving that if there was any defect in