The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-09-18
THE CONGRESSIONAL MASS MEETING.
Messrs. Brantley and Lever Speak in
Opera House.

Inc congressional canQlOdIeS,
Messrs. Thomas F. Brantley. of
Orangeburg, and A. F. Lever, Of Lex
intgon, had another opportunity last
night to address the voters of this city
and present their claims.
The mass meeting was held in the
Opera House and some two hundred or
more people were present. Senator
Richard I. Manning presided and in
troduced the speakers.
Mr.. Lever who spoke first discussed
national issues in a general way, out
lining his position sufficiently to show
that he is in full accord with the
Democratic platform and a firm advo-
cate of the fundamental principles of
democracy.
He analyzed the vote cast in the
first primary for the purpose of show
ing that the people who knew him
best-the people Of his native county
had given him the heartiest support
and had cast proportionally the largest
vote received in his own county by
any one of the candidates. He also
spoke of his qualifications for the Office
and asked for the support of the peo-
pie of Sumter county on his merits.
Mr.. Brantley made forcible speech
on national issues, taking up each of
the live issues of the day in turn and
discussed them from the point of view
of a Democrat who stands squarely
upon the Kansas City platform.
He took up the Berkeley county
assessment matter and gave an ex-
planation of the whole affair. AS his
cards in reference to this matter have
been published in this paper, it is no t
necessary to restate in this connec-
tion. Mr.. Brantley's explanation
since his published cards cover the
matter fully.
Mr.. Lever, at the conclusion of Mr..
Brantley's speech asked for a few
minutes time to make statement in
reference to the Berkeley matter. He
related the circumstances under which
the agreement not to pay the Berkeley
assessment was made by the five candi-
dates, stating what occurred in this
conference which was held in Lees
Vile He said that he received the let
ter from the Secretary of the Berkeley
county executive committee while in
Leesville to attend the campaign meet
ing and went at once to the hotel,
where the four other candidates were
stopping, and read them the letter
conveying the information that the
Berkeley county executive committee
had levied an assessment Of $40 upon
each candidate. He asked the others
what they proposed to do about it.
After some discussion it was agreed
that they would not pay the assess
ment because it was excessive and be-
cause the State Executive Committee
had forbidden the levying Of assess
ments by counties. It was also agreed
that if any notice at all was taken Of
the letter from the Berkeley county
committee they would write simply
refusing to pay the assessment. To
this all agreed without dissent, and
it was thought that the matter was
settled.
Mr.. Brantley here interrupted to
say that he told them he had already
written to the Berkeley committee say
ing that he would pay the assessment
if the others did.
Mr.. Lever replied that he had no
recollection of this statement having
been made by Mr.. Brantley, and if
he had made it at Leesville be,
Lever had not heard it. He was
also informed that neither Mr.. Smith
nor Mr.. Howell had any recollection
of such statement having been made
by Mr. Brantley,.
Mr.. Lever concluded his remarks
abruptly, saying that this statement by
Mr.. Brantley put new face on the
matter and he had no more to say.
The meeting was quite enthusiastic
at times and both candidates were
literally applauded.
Mr.. Lever made quite hit when he
began his speech by addressing him
self to Fellow Citizens of Sumter
and Orangeburg, - referring to the
presence of a numb ber of Mr.. Brant-
ley's Orangeburg friends who were
present, having come over to attend
the meeting.
The mass meeting was worked up by
Mr.. Brantley's friends, but it did Mr.
Lever fully as much good as it did Mr..
Brantley and he appeared to have as
many friends in the audience as MI.
Brantley.
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