The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-07-29
A POLITICAL SENSATION.
GOV. EVANS READS A LETTER FROM
SENATOR TlLLMAN.

Lively Day Among the Senatorial Aspi
rants ut the Birthplace of the Reform
Party-Most OF the Time Consumed b,
Them.
BENNETTsyLLE, 8. G., July %. -
There was a bout 450 people present a
the campaign meeting here today
The usual formality of opening the
meeting with prayer was dispensed
with and County Chairman, w. D.
Evans, introduced Judge Earle as the
first of the Senatorial candidates. He
started off in the discussion of State
issues by stating that the only objec
ton either of his opponents could
bring against him was that he opposed
Tillman in 1890. Another objection
is that [ had not entered the race al
the start. The Governor objects be
cause, he SAYS, | ought to be satisfied
with the Office of Judge, but why
shouldn't he be satisfied with his pres
ent positionI Why is he a candidate
Simply because he wants the office.
want it, and | feel that am compe
tent 10 fill the duties Of the position.
lie referred 10 his 6ghL against Till
man in 1890, buSsEzsasid that he had AZ
ways said that Tillman was honest.
He was not tainted with bond deals
and commissions like others. The re-
of his speech was devoted to
q discussion of financial matters.
MR.. DUNCAN NEXT.
Mr.. Duncan discussed national pol
itics as a starter but very soon got
down to State issues. As to one of his
competitors, the campaign could be
made in a decent and gentlemanly y
manner; as to the other he would
leave his exhibition to the people to
say whether it was becoming to a
Governor of South Carolina. He be-
lieved that if Judge Earle had not
come into the race Governor Evans
would have been run off the stump;
he would not have made the canvass.
Judge EArle's candidacy could not
possibly mean his election.
Judge Earle Gnterrupting): THAT
would be pity" (Laughter)
Mr.. Duncan, in continuing, referred
to judge Earle as an old man. and he
latter jocularly asked Mr.. Duncan to
say anything about him except call
him old. Mr.. Duncan said he would
let the Judges gray hairs speak for
themselves.
Mr.. A. b. Hennegan Qrom the audi,
ence): THAT don't make any differ
ence. DeLesseps, who built the Pan
anna Canal, had baby at 80 years
DID,"
The whole crowd was convulsed
with laughter at this sally.
Mr.. Duncan in the course OF his
speech said that Mr.. Barber would ex-
plain about the drawing up Of the
present Dispensary law.
Mr.. Barber said he would explain or
answer any questions provided it came
out of Mr.. Duncan's time.
Mr.. Duncan: "Was an outline of a
bill agreed upon before hand2"
Mr.. Barber: "The first bill was
drawn by Mr.. johnson of Fairfield.
Governor Evaas handed it to me. He
and Senator E6rd had taken a great
deal of interest in it, and they met in
my Office for the purpose of drafting q
bill, the principal thing discussed be.
ing the system OF bookkeeping. There
was an understanding about the Board
of Control, but for the life OF me l
can't remember the details. Neither
does Senator E6rd remember. Later
Governor Evans saw Colonel Tomp'
kius, who objected to the bill, and az
ter that at Governor EYan's direction
the present bill was drawn up by me. "
Mr.. Duncan then referred to the
Manning Times article. stating that
he had b ought 10000 acres of land
about Columbia. [ did buy some lit
tie land about Columbia, but the price
of land there is $500 per acre. The
insinuation is thst bought with
whiskey rebates That means that |
got So, 900, 600. If that is so, what sort
of watcher of the States interest is
he2 Mr.. Duncan attacked Governor
Evans for making diame.rically op
pssite statements and concluded by
referring to two oEshis brothers hold
log Office, one appointed by Governor
Tlllman and the other appointed by
Mr.. Duncan himself.
GOVERNOR EVANS CLOSES.
Governor Evans started off by refer
ring TO the fact that the first tocsin of
Reform was sounded in the court
house in this place. He said that he
did not care to be fumigating skunk
at every meeting, but he liked to an
swer an honorable man in an honora-
BILE way. Wnen Judge Earle first en-.
tered the campaign, ne mad said he
was glad to welcome him as an honor.
able Zoe. but he too had resortsd to in.
by asking him questions
which were calcuaated to put hin in q
false light.
Judge Earle aaose. and advancing
towards Governor Evans, said Who
started chat warfare2 1t was you yes
terday who made statements in the
presence of ladies that no Governor of
South Carolina should use. (aurrahs
for Earle and E7ans.) [ want you to
understand here and now tina. | will
not submit to such language.
Governor Evans: You can't bluff
me. l will say to you or anybody else
whatever I want"
Judge Earle: Don't you dare make
the statements that you made yester
day"
Govern )r Evans: "I'll max. auy
staten snts l pie lse be ore my people. "
Governor Evans continued and said
that Jud se Earle had charged that hs
had cancelled insura ace in Ande 80 j
and given it to his brother.
Judge f lrle said that he had been