The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-08-08
THE CAMPAIGN
OF EDUCATION.
An Object Lesson on the
Stump in Laurens.

Laureue, Aug 4.-The great edu
ostional campaign evolved into Q
slugging match today II was some
what the unexpected which happen
Cd. Frank B Gary and A Howard
Patterson had . rough end tumble
aght before thousand Laurens peo
pie. meu and women. They fought
With desperation and determination
until Jim Tillmsn snd others separat.
Cd them, and then they wanted to
get back ct each other Had the
.scoidens occurred years ago in this
county, when there were Q cartload
Of pistois st . meeting. there would
have been funerals here tomorrow.
bot now oil the feeling seems to be
between tho candidates Today the
result wss two badly bruised faces
end emphasis on the style of cam.
psiguiug going on. aud il others
showed the same spirit there would
b many more 6sticuhs from day to
day. At sodsy's meeting Mr. Potter
sou in his speech attacked Mr. Gary
sbout bic Charleston speech. reading
the olippings and making the state
neat Published Mr. Gary thought
tAis persistent effort wss to make il
sppssr. Indirectly, that he straddled
in Charleston. or favored . local
option while in Charleston with tho
license feature, which be insisted
IVES not tho case. and Pasterson's
effort by reading extrscts was to
|laoe him in Q false position as to
What be said, and bis attitude on the
liquor question
When Mr. Gary's turn came to
spesk he Immediately replied that he
did not "straddle," and that his posi-
tion then IS now was plain. Mr. Pat
terson wss sitting about five feet
behind where Mr. Gary was speaking,
and Mr. Patterson got up and he
said "Mr Gary, want to explain
something" Mr. Gary turned square
y around and said: "Now. Mr.
Patterson. l want to ask you plainly
10 what have said about that
Charleston matter true :" Mr. Pat
terson said he would explain Mr.
Gsry replied there was no use to
explsin. but insisted on knowing
whether what he had just said about
the whole matter was true or not
Mr. Patterson went on to say the
candidates would not agree with Mr.
Gary. or something ON that line, and
ssid be dared him to prove his state.
ments by any Of the candidates Mr.
Gary insisted on q direct reply a. to
whether his statement about the
Charleston speech was true or not
By this time the two men were with
in arms length. looking fierceIy at
each other and, no doubt. looking for
q blow
Mr. Patterson said that il he was
not allowed to explain he must deny
what Mr. Gary bad said was correct.
Mr. Gary then said "If you cay my
statement ia not correct you say
what is not so." The two men Join
cd. Patterson struck out aud claims
60 have hit fret There was not q
seconds difference in the passage of
blows. Patterson struck Gary an up
handed blow under the left eye,
which cut the skin for half On inch
long. Gary hit Patterson on the
mouth and cut the lip and struck him
under the eye 1, was not q minute
before half = dozen men were around
the two combstants {; they were up
against each other. clinched, aud
several blows were passed, but they
we're pulled apart. Gary was taken
toward tho front OF the etaud and
Patterson to the rear They said
nothing. but we're eager and watch
ing Crowds pressed up to the
stand, some yelling for one candidate
and some for another. By the aid of
two policemen. Sheriff McCravy,
Senator Ti!lmsn and Chairman Smith,
those who belonged on the stand
we're instructed to get back aud cit
down. snd those who did not belong
on the stand TO get off At this time
the candidates had mopped their
faces aud wiped the blood from their
bruises.
When quiet was restored Mr. Gary
faced the audience Somewhat dis
hevellcd and bruised. and 9uiverihg
oil over and with ciinched hands.
he spoke out, and said when
he left he decided he would
be . gentleman and give no
possible offence to auy one, aud in
turn he would not take any insult
from any one He had treated Mr.
Patterson ss gentleman and q
friend, but he bad gone too far. and
be would allow no man to Insult him
without hitting him in the mouth