The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-03-09
THE Weeks POLITICS.
SOME INTERESTING DEVELOPMENTS
PROMISED.

UuceS SmlIeS--Ge0rSe Illiinan'S Cal'
didlcy DlScredited = View Of the
Field.
Columbia, March 5.-The most sig
nifcant move on the political chess
board during the past week has been
the call for a prohibition convention.
This fight will be pushed with the
zeal that is ever characteristic of the
'Crusades," but altogether within
the lines of the Democratic party,
across which line four white men IN
South Carolina have the temerity to
step.
The strength OF the Prohibition
party is now an unknown factor, but
there are many men who contend that
this faction is very much stronger
than it is popularity supposed to be.
This sentiment is entertained by
many of The Prohibitionists who have
ioined in the movement towards an
organization for the purpose of put
tins out complete State ticket. As
matter OF fact, many of the old-time
Prohibiticnists, especially in the ru-
raj districts, where the Prohibition
lists have always found their strength,
have bedded themselves so intimately
with the dispensary party that this
Gabriel's trumpet will not rouse them
from their dreams. In order to CON-
pensate for this loss of strength, it is
urged by some of the leaders to form
a coalescence with the local option
lists, their rival cousins, and thus
draw the line sharply between dis
pensary and anti-dispensary, and
once having over5hrown their COM
mon enemy and barring the bone of
contention again between them, to
fight ont their old quarrel on new
lines. It is argued that ahtagonism
to the State control of liquor will
make as strong bond Of union as
could be desired, and will lead to po-
litical affiliations that under other
circumstances would be impossible.
The natural leader of the Pronibi-
tionists is Mr.. Childs. 1t is believed
that he could recall more of the wan
dering sheep to the house Of David
than any man in the State, but he
would not prove drawing card for
the local option men, and while con-
cession is not characteristic OF the
advocates of prohibition, it is urged
that the ezigencies of the case must
make amends for what might be re-
garded under ordinary circumstances
as sops to cerebus or treaties with
the devil. If the local optionists are
to become allies of the Prohibition
lists, the old principle of give and
take must be employed. In view of
these facts, there are many of the
leaders who urge joint ticket and
who are negotiating treaties with the
local option men, and it is not I'M
probable that the convention called
for on April II will have a ring
streaked and striped complexion to
the old-time cold water army and the
contents of the canteen will have a
spicy stick in it that will be new
flavor and probably not disagreed
bic one to the palates of the uncom-
promising.
Senator Mayfeld has been again
approached in the matter of leading
these combined forces, as being the
most acceptable man to both sides.
He told the gentleman who discussed
the matter with him that he fully
agreed with them that prohibition in
itself could not win, but he thought
the combination could very likely
carry the State, but as for his run
ming, he could not at present see his
way clearly to accepting the honor
of the leadership, which would mean
the sacrifice of his individual busi-
ness just now growing to comfortable
proportions and for its preservation
needing his exclusive attention. The
man, he argues, who enters public
life, should be in a position to protect
himself against the great danger Of
becoming public pensioner, which
is the fate of so many public officers.
Mr.. Childs's health is against his
making an active canvass, which is
necessary. As a strong second to the
straight Prohibition ticket, or as the
leader 10 the event of Mr.. Childs not
being able to enter the race, Hon.
J. 4 Mccullough of Greenville is
prominently mentioned. He is also
spoken of as a second to the combi-
nation ticket if Mr.. Mayield can be
induced to lead 1t.
In regard to the other factions in
the fight, there are many whispers OF
fancy tinged with more or less fact, a
recounting of even all the most in
teresting would consume too much Of
your space. Briefly told, the position
now is that the support of the old Re
formers has been drawn away froui
Senator Archer, who seems to have
reached the zenith of his popularity
about the time ne made his formal
announcement Of candidacy. Then
be appeared the strongest man in the
field, but he seems to have lost ground
steadily ever since. He came out of
the woods too soon and getting
into daylight be could not measure
up all wool and a yard wide, the fill
ing began to drop out and be began
to be considered as weak imitation
of Ben Tillman, and there were some
hints of the old fable of the lion 5
skin being revamped. This support
is now believed to be making toward
Col. R. B. Watson; yet there are some
indications of the mantle falling OF
the shoulders OF the Hon. Dan Tomp-