The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-28
BATTLE OF BALLOTS TO-DAY.
SOUTH CAROLINA's POLITICAL CAM
PAIGN WILL END.


Fight Is NOminaIIy the Dispensary
Against ProhibitiOn-It Is Really
the Administration and TilIman
Against All the Anti-Dispensary
PeopIe-Prenchers are Enlisted on
the Side of Col. HOyt. the Candi-
date for Governor on the Anti-Dis-
pensary PIatform-MHny Candi-
dates in the Counties.
Columbia, s. c.. Aug. 27.-Only one year
since 1890 has there been so much inter-
est in an election as there is in the bat
tie OF ballots to be waged in South Caro-
lima to-morrow-that was the contest for
United States senator between John Gary
Evans and Joseph II. Earle.
While the fight tomorrow is nomnally
dispensary against prohibition, it IS in
reality the dispensary. backed by all the
power of the administration and Senator
Tillman, against all anti-dispensary peo-
pie. whether they be Prohibitionists. high
license men or the element of ex-saloon-
keepers. The anti-dispensary forces are
following Col. Ja-ss a. Hoyt of Green
vile for Governor, while the other side
is represented by Gov. insolvency, Frank
B. Gary. A Howard Patterson and G.
Walt Whitman.
1t is generally conceded that but three
of these candidates have a chance of re-
ceiving the nomination. They are Col
Hoyt Gov. insolvency and Mr.. Gary. In
the first primary the vote will probably
be in the order named. None are so
hopeful as 90 expect victory tomorrow,
but the Hoyt people think they will
have a long lead over the next highest.
In the second primary TO settle the ques-
ton. the highest two will compete, and
unless the Hoyt vote is near the major
ity line to- morrow, the chances for the
dispensary man viii be decidedly the best
There are more candidates for county
offices than ever before known in the
state, and on this account as well as the
interest in the guberna torial contest. The
vote is likely to be large There are
twenty-nne candidates on the state tick
ct, and there is not a county in the state
with less than thirty asprants for honors
and emoluments. while the average is
over fifty. In Richmond there are seventy
county candidates while her neighbor,
Lexington, has eighty-fOur candidates.
On the state ticket only two men are
unoppOsed L. r. Cooper for secretary OF
state. and G. Duncan Bllinger for attor-
ney general. The latter had an opponent.
but he withdrew.
There are three lively congressional con-
tests. Joe Johnson of Laurens, is oppos
ing Congressman Wilson of Spartauburg,
and there are no odds offered on Wilson
In the Sixth District. Lieut.. Gov Scar
borough, J. E. Ellerbee and Congressman
Norton have had a hos triangular fight
and there also the issue is very uncertain
Congressman Finley is opposed by ex-
congressman Strait, whom he defeated
two years ago. 1t is thought the chances
are best for Finley.
But there is extraordinary interest in
the vote to be received tomorrow by Sen
ator IIllman, although he has no oppos-
ton. The Senator had declared and reit-
Grated on the stump that if he does not
get maJorety of the votes he will not
allow the Legislature to consider his name
Mean while there are very few, if any.
persons who believe the Senator will fail
TO get a majority. there is great uncer-
tainty in this election because of the
quiet work being done by almost every
Baptist and Methodist preacher in the
state. both for Col. Hoyt and against SEN
ator Tlllman. The strength of the church
Will be demonstra ted, as it has never been
oeiore, IN an election in this state. and
until that strength is revealed there is
an element of uncertainty in the result.
While no really open work has been done
TO get voters to scratch Tilman, 1t is be-
iieved he well run 1900 or 1900 behind
the ticket. That this falling off will reach
$1,000 or 10000 is hoped by some of his op-
ponents
Big counties in South Carolina have
heretofore made ii very difficult to receive
prompt returns on election night but the
spread OF long distance telephone systems
and epecial arrangements for rushing re-
ports from bacXwoods precincts make il
probable that the result will be known
Tomorrow night, unless the vote is very
close.