The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1900-07-11
The Fourth at Red Bank.

va StuhFSody- culS 1'o' ~
porter of he Dispatch seated bin :
self in the buggy of Mr. E T.
R ucb, who kindly consented to take
the disciple of the Fourth E tate
to the scene of festivities, which
were booked for R4d Bank that day
Along the sandy aud dreary road
which leads from the town Of Lex
inston to the sequested and pretty
little factory village of Red Bank,
were to be seen fine crops OF corn.
peas and potatoes and their condi
tion was indicative of faithful and
intelligent cultivation. Not many Of
the typical Lexington country homes
could be seen on this road, but now
and then through the open space OF
country the traveller could catch 8
glimpse of cosy dwelling nestled
in bower of dark fringed shade
trees which showed where the pleas
ant home of some citizen was.
We arrived at Red Bank, now
known as Irene, right side up with
care and found quite large number
of the people of the little village
and those from the surrounding
country assembled in holiday attire,
wearing happy countenance and who
seem bent on enjoynent. After
miDglipg with the crowd with..mouth
shut, but both eyes and ears wide
open this scribe is prepared to say
that Notwithstanding the reports to
the contrary, the dispensaryites in
that section of the county are un.
like angels visit in not being few
and far between. Some were talk
ing about old war times and telling
the old, old, but ever fresh and in,
teresting, stories of their experiences
and incidents which befell them dur
ing the Civil war. These of course,
were the Veterans who had no doubt
been called together by the presence
ofone of their numbe from distance
in their midst. Others were talking
'out more recent happenings Of
m>re or less interest. The festive
candidate, however, was much in
evidence and were working like
beavers IN the interest of their Owl
candidacy.
In the little cfice CT the SAKE
Gotha Mills stood Col. Hoyt, the
candidate for Governor on the probi-
bition ticket. As I entered he was
standing in the centre of the ofire
leaning on his crutch receiving biz
war comrades, some of whom were
members of the regiment of which
be WAS Colonel His appearance
was soldierly and manly, his voice
firm and strong and impressed one
as having mission to perform and
determined to perform it
It was uufortunate, I think in
the management of the ceremonies
Of the day that the opponents o.
Col. Hoyt were not invited, for as it
was the whole thing had tie starchy-
stiffV appearance OF a preconceived
and prearranged plan to make it ap
pear that Col. Hoyt was the favorite
candidate of the ''Independent STATE
of Lexington" OF course, C3l
Hoyt is in no way responsible for
this and doubtless had the matter
been called to bis attention he would
have regretted it as much as any
one.
About II o'clock Mr. F. c. Csugh-
man, chairman for the occasion,
called the people together and the
speaking began.
There were present about 500 per-
sons most of whom were women,
children and candidates for County
Offices.
Col. Hoyt was introduced. His
speach can be very appropriately
divided. lst, an appeal to the Vet
erans; 2od, an appeal to the prohi-
bitionists; 3rd, an appeal to those
favoring local option and high license
and 4th an appeal to the dispensary-
ties.
The first division of his speech
was sketch of valor and devotion of
the Confederate Soldier. He referred
in complimentary terms of Company
F, Palmetto Sharpshooters led by
Fletcher Spanp, Lee and Quattle-
baum. After speaking along this
oe for some time, be directed his
remarks to the whii b. question and
declared that he was a prohibitionist
from principal and had been since a
boy. He believed in the principles
of local self-go7ernment. Speaking
of the dispenser he said that he
was in town where two young men
were circulating petition among
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