The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-08-17
LOCAL NEWS.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 10, 1898.
The State Campaign Meeting.

The State Campaign Meeting.
The State campaign meeting was held
here yesterday, and there were present
about seven hundred voters and few
ladies. The time allowed the "Govern
ors". for discussion was only fifteen min
utes each, and five minutes each to the
other candidates. The liquor law was
the main issue, in fact it appears to ne
about the only issue in the campaign.
There was q total absence of that noisy
anthnsiasm which has characterized for
mer meetings since 1890, and this meet
ing was lust about to pass into history as
the uuietest held in Anderson since the
new regime when Hon. w. D. Mayfield
and J. j. McMahan, candidates for State
Superintendent of Education, sprung a
sensation by caustic language, quickly
followed by blows, and exhibiting them
selves, when the dust cleared, in the
hands of the Chief OF Police seeking
bond.
Gov. Ellerbe was first introduced and
rapidly over his official record, explain
ing, as well as he could in the short time
allowed. his official acts which we're not
clearly understood.
Gov. Ellerbe was followed by lion.
Geo. D. Tillman, who advocated local
option, greater liberty and lower taxes,
and pointed out defects in the laws regu-
lating the tax privilege on fertilizers,
the appointment of school trustees OF
country schools, and made the charge that
Clemson College had failed in the dis
charge of its duty in the collection OF
taxes appropriated for its support, thus
showing it did not need the approprla
tiOns made for it's maintenance.
Mr.. Schumpert was next introduced.
He called attention to the fact that they
were not present to discuss higher educa-
ton. or education Of the masses, nor to
discuss the financial system OF the state,
but to discuss the liquor law. He depre-
Gated this state of affairs. and hoped the
question would be finally and definitely
settled and kicked out of politics. He
was opposed to prohibition after years OF
careful study. 1t made men the victims
of secret sins, and it would entail more
hardships and cause more trounle IN lts
enforcement than the present system.
\ Mr.. Watson was the next speaker. He
opposed prohibition. It could not be en-
forced. Prohibition came by practicing
temperauce-it could not be legislated
into men. He had practiced and preach
ed tenn perance for fifty years, and raised
q generation who did not drink whiskey.
he spoke of his official record, and stated
that if elected the dispensary law would
be properly enforced.
Mr.. Featherstone spoke next, and made
strong and earnest appeal for prohioi-
tion. basing his claims upon the fact that
prohibition was right from moral, busi-
ness and religious standpoints, and argu-
Ing that il the dispensary law reduced
the sale of hquur 46 per cent, as claimed
by. Gov. Ellerbe, prohibition would
bring further reduction. That If legisla-
ton has accomplished so much by the
dispensary law, legislation would accom-
plish more by the enactment Of prohi-
bition law. Many beautiful flowers were
sent by the ladies to Mr.. Featherstone,
and his speech was warmly applauded.
Mr.. Archer, OF Spartanburg, then fol-
lowed and devoted his fifteen minutes to
an appeal for the education of the masses,
and showing by statistics that the farmers
were paying taxes to educate the children
of rich men in colleges while the children
of the poor grew up in Ignorance or were
allowed only $3.50 for education at home.
Mr.. G. Walt Whitman followed on the
same line, claiming that the position
taken by Mr.. Archer had been his plat
form for years, and that he had been
fighting on this line alone until now it
had grown to be the popular question OF
The day and that he expected, from prom
Uses made him, to get forty thousand
votes on August 30th next.
Speeches were then made by candidates
for Attorney General, Comptroller Gene
raj, Railroad Commissioners and last by
candidates for State Superintendent of
Education. The fight between Mr.. May
field and Mr.. McMahan, candidates for
this Office and above referred to, was
brought about as follows: Mayfield cir
culated a printed speech which reflected
upon McMahan and which McMahan
says was not delivered In his presence
and which was not brought to his atten-
ton until to-day. In his speech to-day
he roasted Msyfield severely. Mayfeld
stepped to the front and demanded that
he stop. McMahan would not stop.
Mayfield then addressed the crowd say
ing: sI slapped this man once" Nc
Mahan faced him Immediately and said
with emphasis, "You are are liar" AS
quick as thought Mayfield struck. but
MaMahan caught the blow and landed q
etinging left-hander on Mayield's eye.
At this point Chief Dillingham; separated
them by placing them under arrest.
Both were required to give bond for ap-
pearance at the Mayors Court at ten
o'clock this morning.
By invitation, the candidates spoke at
Williamson last night, and they are at
Sandy 2rriuOa to.6av