The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-08-19
THE STATE CAMPAIGN MEETING.

L
After tour of all the Counties of the
State save one, the State campaign party
reached Anderson last Monday, and with
one or two exceptions, all the candidates
who are anxious to servo the people IN
State offices and the si1-year term as
United States Senator, had their say to
an Anderson audience of about six hum
dred people. The meeting was conceded
by all the candidates to have been one OF
the most orderly held during this cam
paign in the State. 10 those who have
read the reports of all the other meetings,
there was nothing new presented by the
speakers. It was simply 8 repetition Of
the old stories. There were very few in
terruptions from the audience and very
little enthusiasm manifested. All the
speakers had a patient hearing, and we
doubt if q dozen votes were changed by
what either of them said.
About 1880 o'clock the sweet strains of
music from the Anderson Cornet Band
were heard on the Court House Square.
Stylish carriages W ere drawn up in front
ofthe Hotel Chiquola, and in short time
the reception committee had them filled
with the candidates, who were carried to
the grove in the Blue Ridge Railroad
yard.
AT II o'clock Chairman John e. Brea-
zsale called the assembly to order and in
vited Rev. 4. c. Wilkins to cffer prayer.
nopening the meeting Chairman Brea-
zsale sdid he hoped the people would hear
the speakers discuss the issues patiently
and quietly and that there would be no
personalities INDUCED in. He felt sure
the people Of Anderson County, as they
had always done in the past, would con-
duct themselves in becoming manner
and treat all the speakers with all the
courtesy and respect due them. He an
nounced that the candidates for Governor
would be heard first: and introduced Mr..
Whitman who was the only one present.
Mr.. Whitman said he had run all of his
opponents off the field, that they had given
up the fight and gone home. He had
pulled the skin off the old Swamp Fox"
+ (Eilerbe) and there was nothing left OF
him. He was sure to be the next Cover
nor of South Carolina and his opponents
knew it. He said he was one of the
original Reformers and the only true one
in existencs~now. Tillman had fallen
from grace and retired. The Reformers
had built new ring on the ruins of the
! old ring, and the pap suckers and camp
followers had ruined the Reform party.
Some Of the State and County officers
think they own the State and the Reform
movement. Tillman could not carry out
his pledges to the people because he was
tied down by the leaders, some of whom
were scuundrels and robbers. He was
opposed TO the State selling whiskey and
that the Dispensary law was a humbug.
He was also opposed to collegiate educa.
ton by the State. Mr.. Whitman's speech
caused an occasional laugh and he took
: his seat without cheer.
Mr.. Mr.. r. Cooper, candidate for lieu
tenant Governor, said he was in the Re-
form movement in 1883. His hearers had
heard the Dispensary and other State is
alone. He proposed to discuss himself,
which he did thoroughly. He told what
he had done for the great movement az
member Of the Constitutional Conv ention
and delegate tn the Chicago Convention
He spoke of his opponent as being g.
newspaper man, the newspapers caudi
date and member of the s'subsidizsd
press" His speech was full of big ps.
Col. NJ. B. McSweeney, the opponent
Of Mr.. Cooper, was next introduced. He
spoke of the great pleasure it gave him to
meet the good people Of Anderson, and
said he appeared before them as caudi-
date for Lieutenant Governor, a position
: of no profit but one of honor. He was
surprised to hear of his opponent allud-
ing to the press Of South Carolina as the
subsidized press. He was proud of the
endorsement of his brother editors, re-
gardless Of factional lines. He had serv.
ed them as President of the State Press
Association for several years, and they
knew him. While he had been identified
with the Reform movement since its in
ception, he had received the unanimous
endorsement OF both factions in his
County. Ee had represented his people
in various postiIous-the Legislature, the
Constitutional Convention and the Chica-
r go Cocventlon-and had always done bis
DUTY to the best of his ability. He was
running for the position on his merit and
not as q coat tail swinger. He hoped the
day was near at hand when all factional
strife would cease in South Carolina. The
speaker then branched off on national is.
sues, and told of some of the great bene-
fits that the people would derive from the
election of Bryan and Sewall. His speech
was in striking contrast to that of his op
ponent.
AT the conclusion of Col. Mes cSweeney's
speech, Gen. Harrison, of Greenville, can
didate for Governor, appeared on the
stand, having just arrived on the 1915
train, and was introduced Gen. Harri-
son said he had not been run off the
track, for he expected to be elected Gov
ernor of South Carolina, and he would
eonhne bis speech to the discussion OF
State issues He said taxes had not been
reduced, though taxable property had
been increased $4,000 III recent years.
There was too much extravaganza in
State affairs. Then he took up the Glenn
son College matters and explained his
views of how things could be more eco-
nomically run. That institution receiv-
ed more money than was necessary, and
that the phosphate tax should go directly
to the general treasury, where it was
needed. He next took up the DISPENSE
ry law, and said it could be greatly i'm
proved. The last Legislature had made
some steps in that direction, but the law
could yet be greatly improved. AS to
profits on liquor his plan would leave it
Z 10 every Iunty Thetherit wanted profits
or not, or whetherit would sell liquor at
all. He favored doing away with the
cum bersome and expensive machinery
in Columbia. The constabulary force
should also be done away with. The
sheriffs, Deputy Sherifts and Magistrates
Constables, with little more pay, could
enforce the law, and the Grand Jury OF
each County could do the work of the
Boards of Control. Cheap liquor, he
thought, was the best thing with which
to fight "blind tigers and "moonshin-
ers." He wanted the office of Governor
because he felt able to perform the duties
satisfactorily to the whole people.
The candidates for United States Sena- |
tor were next on the program, and Mr.
J. T. Duncan was introduced as the first
speaker. M. Duncan said he was before |
the people seeking the position of United |
States Senator. He told of the various |
positions in which he had served the peo-
pie of his County. They knew his re.
cord, and he was proud to say that it had |
never been assailed. In national affairs |
the people were almost united, and |
grand victory awaited the Democracy |
in November. He was opposed TO Ma |
tional Banks, the single gold standard,
etc., but 1t was useless to discuss these is |
sues. Asa Reformer he felt it his duty |
TO discuss the condition of South Carroll |
ma to-day. He knew the farmers needs |
for he was born and reared on the farm,
and was better fitted to represent their in
terests in the Senate than either Of his |
opponents. He had not uttered false
hood against his opponents, Thought |