The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-09-01

Mr.. Reatherstone began by telling his
goat story on Col. Watson, eliciting
laughter. He then took notice of the
published statement that he had voted
for DR.. Sampson Pope, the independ-
ent candidate, declaring it was false.
He had eaten his crow like man, be-
cause he felt bound by his pledge, and
had voted for the regular Democratic
nominee. During the entire cam
paign he had tried to abstain from
anything bordering on personalities; he
had discussed the question upon
principle and not in a dogmatic way.
Senator Archer vigorously warned
the churches to let the Gqout question
alone. The State was not to be run by
the churches. Wherever the church
took control and the people surrender
ed their rights the world has been
hurled back into darkness and igno-
| rance. Mr.. Whitman was amusing,
versatile, vigorous, and he and the
audience got right together instanter
| He said he had mastered the hetero-
| doxical science of phrenology before
| he went to school. When he said ho
had married q wife, somebody in
| the crowd advised him to stick to it.
He had mastered metaphysics, science,
| history and political economy, and yet
some people and newspapers had held
him up as an ignoramUs. Mr.. Mower
was glad to meet the people of Column
bia and Richland. He was running as
Democrat and was entitled to all
that that term implies. He had fre-
quently been engaged in litigation for
the State and urged the voters to IN
vestigate his work. He had consider
able experience in legal matters and
| felt that he was qualified to fill the
office. Lieut.. Gov. McSweeney made
| briSf address stating that he was un-
opposed for reelection, but he thought
it the right thing as we'll as privilege
to appear before the sovereigns and
thank them. He made telling de-
fense of Winthrop, of Clemson, OF the
| Citadel, of the South Carolina College,
| declaring that the man who would de-
stroy them was not patriot. Comp.
troller General Derham asked re-elec-
fion because he had the practical ex-
perience and training that qualified
him fer the position. He had served
four years as auditor and three years
as chief clerk in the comptroller's Of
fee. These facts, no doubt, influenced
the legislators in selecting him instead
of the gentleman who is now opposing
him. Secretary of State Tompkins was
greeted with applause. He had per-
formed the duties of his Office for the
last three years to the entire satisfac-
ton of the whole people. His two
competitors had no complaint to make
of any of his official acts, but asked
people to defeat him for the sole reason
that if elected this would be his third
term. Capt. Bradham also received
applause. He said that he had serveo
his people in times of war and peace.
He was member of Kershaw's regi-
ment. He commanded his company OF
Manassas, losing % men with only q
in the fight. Here he lost his arm.
He had been sheriff of his county from
1865 to 1869. He was afterwards elect
ed auditor, which position he filled fo1
five years without opposition. He was
again elected sheriff of Clarendon and
was now serving his second term. He
had never been defeated for anything
that he had asked his people for.
Maj. Blythe was we'll received. He
said that progress was the order OF the
day in military matters as well as ~
other things. He claimed to have
more military experience of the mod
ern kind than his opponents had: Ne
believed that the militia needed O
! young man with energy and bus
mess capacity and military training.
Adjutant General Watts was proud that
his opponents had no criticisms against
his administration. All they could say
wss that they wanted the office. He
did not appear as factional or COM
bination candidate. Col. Rice began
by remarking that he hoped this would
be the last primary that South Carolina
would ever see. If elected superin-
tendent of education he would ask the
J legislature to eliminate the Office from
| all colleges. He was heartily in favor
of higher education. Superintendent
of Education Mavfeld declared that his
opponents proposed no new measures
| for the Improvement of the schools.
They proposed nothing that would
bring more money or provide better
| teachers over what he had done. The
only way to improve the schools is to
provide more money and better teach
ers. Mr.. Brown wanted to help the
common schools. South Carolina could
never become the great State she ought
| to be unless she educates the masses of
the people. Her progress will be in
proportion to her educational advance
ment Tie other speakers were Can
didates Belllnger, Thomas. Gray,
Evans, Floyd, McMahau, Donaldson,
Wilson, Johnson and Epton.