Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-04-13
IN THF RACE TO STAY.
Col. Watson Will be There at the
Last Day.

eyes, I am going 10 run for Gov
ernor. will be in the race until
the last day and late in tie even
ing. I will make no trades or COM
binations, but will run squarely on
my merits"
Such was the very emphatic
language Used by Col. R. B. Wat
son, the sage of saluda, yesterday
in reply to the question if he wefe
unwavering in his determination
to enter the gubernatorial contest.
1t is generally thought, and
wrongfully so, that Col. Watson Is
an enemy to the State educational
institutions. In reply to a ques-
tion along this line, he said that
such was not the case. His educa-
tional theory is to build up always,
to tear down never. Help along
the common schools; restrain the
young men from entering State
colleges at the expense of the State
until they are prepared. Lack of
preparation Injuries the work of the
college and de prives fitting schools
of much support. He disclaims
being an enemy to the State insti-
tutions of learning, and always
voted for the appropriations tor
each, but he thinks that there
should be more economy practiced
IN these institutions. They should
be conducted with rs little ex-
travagance as the denominational
schools. The colonel is graduate
of Furman and is of course a
staunch friend of denominational
schools, but he is not all enemy to
State institutions. There is de-
mand for both.
Col. Watson is hat-footed for the
dispcnsary. On account of his
we'll known hatred of the selling
and drinking of liquor, he has
since last December received many
letters asking him to carry the pro-
hibition banner.
At the meeting of the prnhibi-
tionists of Saluda county, Col.
Watson Nas elected a delegate to
the State convention. He was Lot
at the county convention and will
not attend the State convention,
for he is not in sympathy with the
1t appears too much
like politics to him.
There is no greater prohibition
list (in the true sense of the word
in the State than Col. Watson. He
does not know the taste of whis-
key. In his immediate commu-
nifty he has educated generation
of anti-liquor people. The white
people regard it too disreputable
to sell whiskey, and the negroes
don t dare do it.
For many years past, whenever
he has disposed OF any land. there
was always proviso il the title
that should the purchaser engage
in selling liquor, he looses the right
to the title.
He ran some dangerous blind
tigers away upon one occasion with
q douhle-barrel sholg gun, to empha-
size his commands to them to
leave.
In view of his strong ploclivi-
ties toward temperance 1t would
seem strange that he should cleave
to the dispensary, but he thinks
''prohibition" in the common ac-
ceptation of the term, means "free
licker."
The colonel thinks that the State
Democratic Executive committee
did right to permit the prohibition
candidates to enter the primary.
Had they not been permitted to do
so, their movement would have been
He says that the
country is not ready for prohibit
ton and will not be for generations
to come. l the leaders in the
are sincere, the proper
way to accomplish their purpose is
to first educate the people to quit
drinking, and then it will not be
so difficult to prohibit the sale.
That is the way be has been