The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-07-28
Def-qt Would Not Mean Conviction
by the People.
SHOWED BRAZEN EFFRONTERY,
The Candidates Discuss Issues at
Bishopvillc--Person !ndulsed
In ---Fcatherstone on Prohibition.
BISUOPvILLE MEETING.

" luC III uSGlIISo III llO OiiIOi Sou.4
ties Governor Ellerbo said that If his
record as uovernnr was not such as 10
merit reelection he would not accept 1t.
He had beeI elected as a non-factloaal
candidate and was glad that he had
assisted in bringing the people to-
gether. Some of his opponents would
be supporting him today if 1t
were not that they wanted the office.
Col. Tillman said the South Carolina
college could not even get the money
to bind the valuable books in the libra
ry, while Winthrop and Clemson, the
Dets, could get all the money they
wanted. He wanted every county to
have the privilege of saying whether 1t
wanted the dispensary, license or pro-
hibition, and he recommended local
option aud that the money could be
put in the county treasury to pay the
expenses of prosecutions and to tighten
taxes. Col. Schumpert criticised the
Governors appeal not to be 'convict-
ed" by defeating him. The people
elected their Governors for two years
and no longer, and as Governor FL
lerbe was not on trial for malfeasance,
misfeasance or nonfeasance, 1t
would not be "convicting" him if
some other candidate were elected.
Mr.. Featherstone said that IN all
save one respect the ground had been
fully kivered" by the preceding speak
ers, and but for that one thing he
would not speak He wanted to talk
prohibition pure and simple. Col.
Watson said he thought he could beat
the prohibition man making temper
ance speech. He hesitated to attack
him because he liked to have him
speak his beautiful sentiments. Mr..
Archer amused the crowd with his de-
scriptions Of his opponents. If he had
had the $50, 600 that "Uncle George"
got fromshis sixteen years in Congress
he would say like the negro, 81 don't
want nothing else in this world nor in
no other" Tillman reminded him of
a horse that day by day had to walk in
a circle turning mill wheel. He was
so accustomed to it that when turned
out to Craze he cropped grass in circle.
Col. Gwalt Whitman opened upsome OF
his old-time fire against the South Car
olina college, "that monster of all in
iquities so far as equal rights are con-
cerned." 1t wasn't right to support q
college because it turned out some good
men. It also turned out heap Of
fools. Solicitor Bellinger referred 10
his opponent being the candidate OF the
prohibition faction. Prohibition might
be right in theory, but our citizenship
fortunately bore no, resemblance to
that of the blue nosed Puritans of New
England. Col. Mower advocated pro-
hibition, but denied that it was any
disqualification for the Office of attor-
ney general. Mr. Sigh was very witty
in portraying Commissioner Thomas.
He ironically pictured him as diving
down into the very mudsills and climb
ing up posts while engaged in the
onerous duty of inspecting trestles.
Mr.. Thomas said Mr.. Sigh had already
been tried as railroad commissioner,
and at the end of his two years the peo-
pie put him out because he was no ac-
count Mr.. Evans said that Thomas
showed brazen effronteryin in coming be-
fore people who knew him with his
claims. Thomas had said that the
railroads knew what men to employ.
said Mr.. Evans, sit is very evident
from his record that they know where
they can get their men. He charged
Thomas with having offered free passes
to men who were present at the meet
ing. The other speakers were: Can
didates Stansell. Gray, Berry, Garrls,
Tompkins, Bradham, Blythe, Watts,
Floyd, McMahan, Rice, Mayfeld,
Brown, Stokes and Brantley.
c.>,DpS ,,pErISc
he candidates were entertained at
the expense of the county executive
committee, and in Mr.. T.J. Kirkland's
hands they Jared we'll. The meeting
was small one, there being only sew
eral hundred persons present, but as an
evidence of the era of good feel
ing, there was present score
or 30 of those who have not attended a
political meeting in the county for
years. Mr.. Berry spoke first. He
thought he could fill the Office Of rail-
road commissioner as practical busi-
ness man. MIR. Evans yielded to no
man when it came to business tran
saction. The interests Of the people and
the railroads were linked, and he was
conn stent to pass upon questions of
disac Mr.. Garrls said he
never could joke when talking politics.
He knew something about the burdens
of the people and the dis
Grim nation of the railroads. Mr..
Thomas unrolled his map and de-
clarcd he spoke from the records, show
ing that he kept his oath to do justice
to the people and the roads. Gen;
Gray elected a laugh when he asked
what would become of the State If
Thomas should die. In spite Of his
monumental self. praise the impression
vas prevalent throughout the State
tha. when there was an issue Thomas
llned up with the railroads. Mr.. Stan
sell. the genial gentleman from Elko,
was beaming with smiles as he spoke.
| an no silver tongued orator, said
he, or lawyer. L am fresh from
the fields of Barnwell county,
one OF your men, and L am u
candidate for railroad commissioner.
Ge4. Watts sud lie mad come to beard
tka lion in his den: 10 meet Col. Floyd