The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-08-07
THE CAMPAIGN MEETING.
Four Candidates Only Start in the Race.

the last minute only four candidates
faced the starter, the others who have
been regarded as certain to make the
race having withdrawn. The candi-
dates now before the people are Thom-
as F. Brantley, of Orangeburg, O.
". Buchanan, OF Sumter, NJ. P.
Howell, OF Colleton and a. F. Lever
of Lexington. They were all present
and addressed the crowd in the court
house.
The meeting was called to order at
II O'Clock by County Chairman, J.
NJ. knight, who introduced Col.
Willie Jones, State Chairman who pre-
sided over the meeting and introduced
the speakers.
Col Jones stated that there were
Eve good and true men, candidates for
election to Congress from the Seventh
District and the Interests of the dis
trict would be safe no matter who
won; that he regretted that the Sew
enth had not the right to five seats in
Congress SO that all of the five gentle
men could be elected. The candidates
who had fled pledges with him were,
he stated, Hon. Thos. F. Brantley,
Judge O. W. Buchanan, Hon. NJ. z.
Howell, Hon. a. F. Lever and Hon.
E. D. Smith.
AS the first speaker he intoduced
Hon. Thos. F. Brantley, of Orange
burg. Mr. Brantley said that it gave
him great pleasure to again address
Sumter audience, to renew old friend
ships and to. perhaps, make new
friends. He then paid feeling and
candid tribute to the worth and
achievements of our late congressman,
DR.. j. VIM. Stokes. He then took up
and discussed national politics and in
a speech of nearly an hours duration
outlined his position on the issues of
the day. First and foremost he stands
upon the Kansas City platform which
he regards as the most thoroughly
democratic platform ever penned by
mortal man. He denounced the in
famous ship-subsidy scheme, and is
opposed to the control of the Philip
pines. because inconsistent with our
form of government, but favors expan-
sion when acquired territory can be
made into states and the Inhabitants
are qualified to become American citi-
zens. The Philippines do not fit into
this plan for what can we do with the
ten million kinky-headed niggers?"
He spoke of the expense Of the war
and declared that the Philippines
would never pay back what they cost.
He favors the construction of the
Nicaraguan Canal by the United
States and its fortifcation and control
by this government. as it is needed
and would pay as a business move
ment. As substitute for the ship
subsidy steal and as means OF
building up the merchant marine ne
favored the repeal of the navigation
laws.
On the tariff question be declared
more than once that he is in accord
with Senator Tillman. He favors
equal protection to all sections and all
classes, especially the cotton produc-
ers. The pension fraud was denounced
and rural delivery of mail was en-
dorsed. He also expressed the hope
that he might secure handsome
postofhce building for Sumter. In
concluding his speech he enlarged
upon his protection ideas as the tariff
could be made to apply for the benefit
OF cotton planters who are in danger
OF competition from the cheap labor Of
the East.
Judge Buchanan was the next
speaker and began he by saying that it
was with profound regret that he
heard his friend, who had just spoken,
close with an argument for protection,
system that is contrary to democrat
ic principles and utterly antagonistic
to all the traditions of the party. To
advocate such ideas was to hold out to
the people an inducement to sell their
birthright for mess Of pottage: the
same thing as TO offer free people
forty acres and a mule''-the same
old forty acres and mule" No
such doctrine is democratic, it is non
sense, nonsense.
On national issues he gave reasons
for opposing the war in the Phillip
pines and career of war and imperi-
alism in general, and pictured the ul-
innate result, for as Napoleon once
said war is hell . This republic was
never Instituted for the negro and he