The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1898-08-17
THE COUNTY CAMPAIGN.

Last week was red letter one for
barbecues in this county and there
were many homicides in the ranks
of the hog and sheep communities.
The first barbecue was that at
Leesville given by Johns & Harman,
on county campaign day last Wed
nesday. There was large crowd OF
electors, ladies and minors, who
were enticed to leave their homes by
the promise of day Of pleasure and
enjoyment. The candidates were
out in full force hunting for votes
and were active in search of them.
Captain A. P. West, the nestor Of
pure and unadulterated Democracy
in that section of the county, was the
master of ceremonies and happily
introduced the candidates.
W. Fl. Sharpe, Esq, candidate for
the Legislature, was the first speaker
to appear before the people. he
opened his remarks by pleasantly
telling an anecdote and then clearly
stated his views on the questions OF
public interest. He said that while
he did not wish to antagonize Glenn
son and Winthrop colleges, yet he
was of the opinion that the appro,
priations for these two institutions
were much too large and they should
be reduced. He thought that a
larger sum of money should be ap-
propriated to the free common
schools so as to improve their eth-
cheney and make them more useful
He favored the old county govern
ment system, because it was not
near so cumbersome and less expen-
sive and promised that should he be
elected to the Legislature he would
use his best endeavors to reduce ex-
penses and thus lower the tax levy.
He fayors bi-annual sessions OF the
General Assembly. The above is
about his platform briefly stated.
j. Brooks Wingard, candidate for
the House, was then introduced and
opened by saying that he was happy
to meet the people of Leesville. That
he was untried, but felt and knew
that he was competent to meet the
emergencies which might be de-
manded of him in the performance
of his duties as Representative. he
stated that the sum in round num-
bers Of $l75,00O by the State to
maintain her five institutions OF
higher education as follows: Glen
son, Winthrop, the South Carolina,
the Citadel and the Colored Normal
College at Orangeburg. These fig
ures were excessive and startling.
he thought it was wisdom on the
part of the State to provide higher
institutions of learning for the edu-
cation of her sons and daughters,
but we must not run wild over them.
He was a friend to all high and low
educational institutions, but they
should be run with economy and
with reasonable appropriations and
if he was sent to the Legislature he
would use his best efforts in that
direction. He declared with Sam
Jones, that whiskey's place was in
hell and cuts no figure with him.
He thought that sobriety should he
taught at home around the freside
and believed that the State would
never control the sale of whisky by
sumptuary laws. If he could believe
that prohibition would prohibit, he
would favor prohibition.
At tie mention of Senator Till
mans name and when he came for
ward to be introduced he was greet
ed with applause. He opened by
saying that be could not have spoken
at more appropriate and suitable
place, being on the border Of Lex
ington and Saluda counties, the ban
ners of the Reform and he was
among personal and political friends
He said I have advised you in many
things and while in some instances
have given some bad advice and
made mistakes, and have felt the
responsibility, but God knows he
was sincere and honest. He said
that he could discuss national issues,
but it was unnecessary as We were all
a unit on those questions. You know,
he said, that it is claimed that I am
the father of Winthrop and Clemson,
and then gave glowing occount of
the noble work being accomplished
by them. He was a friend to the
common schools and all institutions
of learning. He was proud of Clem-
son and proud of the work being
done there for the farmers sons, but
it was not necessary to 60 over that