The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-25
SOUTH cAnoLINA,s cAmPAIGN.

The state campaign in South Carolina,
one Of che most interesting in that states
history, and one of those unique affairs
for which the state is famous. was con-
cluded Thursday at Columbia. and the
Democrats are now ready for the battle
of ballots at the primary on Tuesday
Aug. 2S The South Carolina campaign
consists essentially of stump debates be-
tween all the candidates within the
party. They go together from place TO
place and extol their own virtues and lay
bare their enemies errors. 1t is posi-
BILE under these circumstances 90 inject
a considerable amount of bitterness into
a campaign, and the candidates in this in
stance have not failed to do SO. Sena-
tor Tilman, who is striving for the cleo
ton of a Legislature that will return
him TO the United States Senate, was re-
sponsible for much of this, though there
We're one or two bitter encounters be-
tween candidates for Governor in which
che Senator appeared in the role of peace
maker. Senator THlman's chances for
recollection. it is claimed, are more in
doubt now than when the campaign be-
gan. His bitter antagonism of the pull
pit has arrayed the ministers of the
whole state against him. and they are
lighting him with a severity that is like
ly to prove telling when the result is
known.
The dispensary has, of course. been
The most important and interesting factor
in the fight between the candidates for
Governor and the other state offices. Gov.
McSweeney's administraton has been at
tackled on the alleged ground that he has
not enforced the dispensary law. He has
reduced the number of liquor constab1es,
but has given a careful and a quiet ad-
ministration not hunting for violations of
the law where they do not exist, and
hence has not displayed the skyrocket
qualities of some of his predecessors. AS
a candidate for election to the governor
ship he has avoided adding TO the bitter
ness of ts campaign, and there is be-
Eef in many quarters that he will be
made the party nominee. Col Hoyt, as
the representative of the prohibition ele-
ment, has made a strong fight, and has
held up his end we'll. While the prohibit
ton element is rather powerful one this
year, it does not appear that the state
is ready just yet to accept prohibition as
the proper remedy. Gary too, has made
a good fight. though he has been attacked
on the ground that too many of his fam
lily have held office, while Whitman and
Patterson have not Jagged behind in the
procession. With five gubernatorial can
didates in the field it is difficult to pre-
dict what Will be abe outcome, and so
far as is known, no prediction has been
attempted by any thoroughly unprecedented
authority The chances are, however.
that the dispensary will hold on for some
time to come
The candidates for railroad commits
sioner lieutenant governor, adjutant
general and other state Offices while they
have been following the campaign from
point to point, have been given less at
tention than Tillman and che candidates
for Governor for the reason that little
is involved in their fight outside of
tehir personal desire for election. The
liquor question has been the main issue
and on that ground the contest has been
fought out. Tillmanism in a more or less
modified form will undoubtedly prevail,
whether the Senator succeeds in being re-
elected or not.