The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-07-02
slim Gathering
at Georgetown
DUNCAN ASKS "A DIRECT CUES
TON
an Answcr-Thc Dispcnsary Rusi-
ness Again to the Front.

1t is unlikely that campaign meet
ing held in this State in 20 years has
been so slimly attended as the one
hero today. 1t was intended to open
the meeting at II o'clock and that
candidates should speak from the high |
porch Of the court house to the antici-
patod multitudcs below. But when | |
o'clock arrived there was no multitude, |
neither q crowd. There were few |
knots of townspeople. SO postpone
mcnt was had till ~ o'clock. The |
crowd failing to materialize, there was
| u caucus as to whether Or not the can |
didatcs should speak. 1t seems that
they are fond of speaking, for they
spoke; not from the balcony, for the |
balcony could hold the audience. They
were all asked inside, whore there
were front seats to spare. There were,
all told, candidates, correspondents,
whites and negroes, l22 people present
when the meeting was called to order.
or these l3 were negroes.
| Captain Ward county chairman,
called the meeting to order, asking
for ar attentive hearing for al. The
courteous people of this old town,
| whether agreeing or not with the
speak crs, let no candidate tako his seat
without giving him some little en-
couragement.
MIR. Nj. B. McSwccncy. for Lieuten-
ant Governor, made a short speech.
The office he sought was not one re-
quiring much spccchmaking, but he
would promise to serve as a business
man and perform his duties faithfully.
Mr.. Cooper was absent, and McSwcen-
cy magnanimously announced his can
didacy for him.
General Richbourg followed. He
gave his experience, and said he folt
that entitled him to as much claim to
this Otficc as a few years course at Il
military school. He was 80 years old
his opponent u. He had never held
II public Office for proit; while Mr.
Watts had had 10 years Of public pap.
He thought he could wait awhile now.
General Watts was confident of his
) friends here. His record was known,
and what he had done for the unor.
ganized militia which he found on
coming into Office was known.
General ltichbourg, interrupting
asked if the Greenville Guards and
Butler Guards, two OF Chc Oldest organ
izatiOns in tho State, had been dis
banded recently.
General Watts said they had not.
General Rich hbourg replied that he
saw it In the papers.
General Watts intmatcd that the
| PtPClo TClC '.oO IClltOlC. nc com
panics, under the new law, could not
be disbandod except by the Governor.
General Richbourg wanted to know
II they had not asked to bo disbandcd
General Watts-They have not.
General Richbourg-Your assista Mt
told me so.
General Watts--Then he didn't
know what he was talking about.
General Watts was confident he could
be elected if he did not make another
speech.
Editor T. G. Robinson, of pickens,
candidate for school commissioner
was the next to address the meeting,
which had been augmented by about
- more negroes.
lie thought Mr.. Maytield made 100
many claims and was too greedy. Mr..
Mayticlu claimed credit for everything
dono by the Reform party, from tn G
building Of Clemson College down. He
was the only State officer elected in
1890 who hadnot retired and given place
for others. If he was modest he would
retire and not ask Il fourth time for
reelection.
MIR. Robinson expressed liberal vcws
on education, and hoped the burden Of
conducting the Office for the next two
years would be laid on his shoulders
Mr. Mayiield being absent, DR.. Tim
norman, the only candidate for treas
urer, was introduced. He was not
going to abuse the other fellow, he
said, because he was absent. But,
exclaimed the doctor, if there was
another fellow, | would be the last
man in the State to ride into Office by
pulling down others. ! stand on my
own good name and not in tainting
others.
| Mr.. Norton, upopposcd for COmptrol-
lcr General, told d story, and spoke Of
the hospitality of Georgetown, Il hos
pitality which, by the way. cannot be
told of too often nor be too gratefully
acknowledged
| Chairman Ward, in reference to Mr.
| Norton's joke, made pleasant hit on
the dispensary, and then introduced
Governor Evans as the next speaker.
Governor Evans excused himself for
making short speech, saying his
throat was sore. He spoke in a con.
versational tone, going at once into
the bond matter. and in condensed
form giving his bond statement. He
| had asked at each meeting, said the
Governor, for an honest man who be-
| lievcd him guilty after hearing his
statement to hold up his hand. Not
one had been held up.
| Just then young man standing Is feet
in front Of tho Governor, hold alOft his
right hand.
DO you believe me guilty asked
the Governor.
The citizen nodded his head.
Governor Evans-Why, you have not
heard my case and are willing to con-
vict before the evidence. Well, [ am
satisfied with your verdict and vote. |
cannot convince my enemies that | did
not steal $40, 900 II gave the evidence
on stack of Bibles. After further
continuing in the bond matter, the
Governor turned to the citizen and
ask Il if his explanation was not plain.
The citizen replied that it was. He
had understood the Governor to ask
any man believing him guilty to hold
up his hand, and, said the citizen, that
being my belief at that time, | popped
1t up.
Governor Evans begged his pardon
for what he had said, stating that the
explanation haG been perfectly salts
factory.
Governor Evans said Bunch" Nc
Bee had gonc to Baltimore to look into