The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-05-16

Of both Of the old papers, and is mani
festly the best advertising medium IN
Sumter.
The Grand Lodge, knights o.
Pythias, will be invited to meet il
Sumter next year The Pytbians, and
every other citizen of Sumter. have
pleasant reco!lections of the meeting
of the Graad Lodge in this city
few years ego. and it is hoped thai
that body now in session in Charles
ton will accept the invitation and
give this city the pleasure of enter
tanning the Pythians again.
The Boer war cannot be protracted
much longer for the overwhelming
force of the British army will crush
the comparatively small army the
Beers now have in the field The
burghers Of the Transvaal will be
able to continue hostilities by divid-
ing their army into small bands and
harassing the British outposts, but
the odds against them are too great
aud their gallant fight for independ-
ence is doomed to defeat.
The prohibitionists of this county
have declared a preference for Col,
Jas. A. Hoyt as a candidate for
governor. and all things considered.
the choice is the wisest that they
could have made. Col Hoyt is well
and favorab!y known throughout
South Carolina, be has hosts OF per
sonal friends in every county, and II
any prohibition candidate can win
he can.
The views of E. W Dabbs on the
road question and as to the sale OF
the State farms coincide. in the paio,
with our views, but be goes so large.
Iy into detaile. as to the manner and
methods for utilizing the convlcts,
after the farms shall be sold, that we
fear he will cloud the main issue AID
create opposition where none exists
a. present. a man may favor the
sale OF the State farms and the use OF
convicts to build roads. but be may
be decidedly opposed to some OF the
suggestions thrown out by Mr..
Dabbs, or that may be made by others
For this reason we do not regard
with favor the attempt TO plan 80 far
ahead So many of US are agreed
that the State farms should be sold
because they are Improbable, create
unfair competition with the farmers
of the State. and are wrong in prlncl
p,e, that it appears wisest to us for
the campaign to be made directly Oh
this central idea We do not agree
with Z W p when he asserts "that
very few of our people will appreciate
the importance Of good roads aud the
doing away with convict farming" :"
o. the contrary, we believe that our
people now take mvre interest than
ever before in good roads and that
thew have trrer appreciation OF
Their importance We know that q
majority OF taose who have given the
question Of convict flaming thought
fol consideration are agreed that thus
far !, has beer de'osion and snare-
We know that the people who live
sDy where near the State farms are
prepared to furnish information that
will convince any reasonable mao
that the s.ese farms have been a
positive ;piusy to the farmers 10 the
peieeboraood. We have sufficient
co,fiieace 10 the intelligence OF the
voters of Sumtey county to feel con
fdent that when the matter is fairly
presented to them they will see at
once where the public interest fee
and vii! vote accordingly We DO
not believe ;Gat the candidate who
comes oas square!y for The sale OF
the State farms as soon as a falr
price eau be realized. and gives the
~ooeo,a FIR hls position Will! be de