The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-06-27
The Candidates Speak
The State Campaign Meeting
Yesterday.
Outline of What They Said.

The meeting was called to order at 10 As
O'Clock by County Chairman J. H. Knight
and prayer was offered by Rev. J. A. Clifton.
Col. ]. 81. Whartan, of Laurens, candidate
or Railroad Commissioner, was the FIRST
speaker. he discussed Discriminating and
unjust freight rates and cited the case of the
Sumter Coffin Factory as an instance. he
charged that the commission is responsible
for poor connections and high freight rates.
Msj B. B. Evans. of Edge6eld, csught the
crowd by jumping on the miserable depot ac-
commodations iE this city aHd attacking the
present commission for nor making the rail-
roads give this and other places first class
depots. he attacked the commission for
making personal use Of the money appropria-
ton to bring the express and telegraph COM
pan;es under the direction of the commission.
he asserted that Sumter is paying the highest
freight rates of any competing poiot in the
State, owing to the lack of back bone of the
Commissioners and their failure TO do their
duty. he charged ,ba. they had made deal
with the railroads whereby, as an Offset
against the reduction in rates on cotton and
fertilizers other rates had been Increased to
more shsn reimburse the railroads.
Col Thos. N. Berry, Of Darlington, prom
ised if elected to the Office of railroad eoso-
missioser be would do what wss right and
all ,ha, his ability permitted. he then
branched out and made prohibition speech.
J. T. Pettigrew, of Florence, spoke briefly,
bot made good impression. he fAvors just
rates and does not believe in crippling the
railroads.
". D. Aay6eld, OF Coluubia, made
speech, bnt said little, except to impress the
fact that he wants an Office
Col. W. D. Eyans, who has been mem
ber of the Railroad Commission for six years,
made stroog defense of his record. and
showed when AID how rates had been re-
dneed, referring to reductions that bad beue-
fted this city and county, facts that are
known to all who receive or ship freight.
Mr. J. A. Etheridge, of Lexington also q
candidate for Railroad Commissioners was
absent but sent q letter which was read.
Solicitor Joo. S. Wilson was absent, bat
his friends wi! remember him on election
Day.
Congressman J. VIM. Stokes was prevent
ed from attending the meeting by sickuesa,
but wrote that be would visit Sumter later
Senator B. R. Tillman has gone to South
Dakota, but few days ago wrote County
Chairman Knight saying that be regretted
his inability to attend toe meeting, but if
Sumter County wanted to hear him be would
come later and make speech.
A. q. Patterson, of Barnweli, candidate
for governor, protested against being limited
10 thirty minutes, because it is matter of
impessibillty for e man to discuss the issues
in that time. He referred to the time that be
lived in Sumter twenty. Eve years ago. end
lew he appreciated the kind auc courteous
treatment be then received he advocated
the improvement of the conmon schools and
The naic:enance of the State colleges. On
the dispenssty oasstion be came out fat
footed il favor of the system, declaring that
It was better than prohibition, as it accom-
plished better results and had decreased
drunkenness. Ee cited the record 10 support
of his claim. He asserted on the authority
OF Neal Dow that more liquor is sold lc
Maine than in South Carolina. BE charged
that Col Hoyt had advocated coalitior Of
prohibitionists and high license men to
destroy the dispersary.
Col Hoyt interrupted and explained his
position, saying that he had favored coali-
ton of the prohibitionists and high license
men in the Legislature to repeal ,he dispen-
sary law and to enact law giving the peo-
pie of the several counties the right to vote
whether they would have prohibition, dis
peosary o. high license under the constitu-
;iooal regulations.
Mc. Patterson attacked Gov. McSweeuey' 3
record, charging that be had failed to enforce
the dispcnsary law aud that there are now
more than three hundred blind tigers wide
open in Charleston and naoy ia Columbia
tight under his official nose He seaashed
The charge that the governor had spent the
contingent fund to subscribe to newspapers,
bad appointed newspaper men to his staff
and used bis position to WIZ the support Of
;he State press. &c accused him also of
being responsible for an editorial il the
aamptou Guardian endorsing tie appeIs
local option bill, which was put out as a
:eeier to fad if it was safe 10 turn against the
dispensary He charged that the papers were
6ghtiog him aod refused to report his speech
fairly he urged the people to believe moth
ing the papers say aud to take his words as
the truth He later oc modified that state
nent SO as to apply only to the daily papers
ae bad a number OF frleods in the crowd and
rhoarod lon61