The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-08-13

extension of the public school system
and the liberal support Of the State
colleges for 1T has been well said that
education proceeds downward, mean
ing by this that good colleges must be
maintained for the education of COM
petent teachers for the common schools.
He favors liberal pensions for old SOL
diers. AS to child labor he favors the
enactment of laws that will meet the
difficulties and evils shown to exist Ly
investigation. He recognizes the diff
Guilty of framing law that will meet
the conditions, but he does not believe
in leaving loop hole of escape to
worthless parents, who, by making an
affidavit, can escape the provisions of
the law. He is opposed to trusts and
will work for law for their control.
He favors a law making it misde-
meanor for any one to enter into an
unlawful combination. He would
take the trust matter out Of the civil
court and into the criminal side of the
court.
Mr.. W. G. Wells said he was can
didate on account of the solicitation Of
numerous friends. He had no record
to hold up, having worked for others
who have sought Office from 1876 to
this time. He would not attempt to
make long speech but merely outline
his position on the issues. He favored
liberal pensions for old soldiers and
the improvement Of public roads by
systematic work economically perform
Led. Trusts and all unlawful combina-
tions for the control Of trade and prices
should be put down. AS to child la
Dor he favored a full Investigation,
taking no sensational reports from in
terested parties or enthusiasts, and
then the enactment Of a law to meet
the condition. He favored education
the support of the colleges and the
development and Improvement of the
public school system.
Hon. T. B. Fraser who is a candi-
date for reelection thanked the people
for the support given him two years ago
when they selected him to represent
Sumter county in the House of Repre-
sentatives. He favors good roads but
would not bankrupt or burden the
county with debt. He fayors and will
advocate the very best public roads the
county is able to pay for. He has ad-
vocated and favors liberal pensions for
Confederate veterans. Heis friend
of public schools and has worked for
them during his term in the Legisla-
ture. He believes in the liberal sup
port of the State colleges, but one
vote of his needed explanation. At
the last session be did not vote for all
the appropriation asked for by
Winthrop College. In 1901 the trustees
asked for and received s1o, 900 more
than the previous years appropriation,
at which time they promised not to
ask for another increase. In 1902 they
came back and asked for the same $40, =
900 increase over the regular appro-
priation and sl5, COO additional.
When asked what they had done with
the money given them they said spent
it, . but gave no itemized statement.
He did not charge misrepresentation Of
finds, but there seemed to be either.
bad business management, IextEaya-
gance or an inclination to keep the
Legislature in the dark, consequently
he was opposed to giving more money
to be spent by the board Of trustees.
He would always favor giving the
State colleges all they needed, but
would never agree to be a party to
spending money blind folded.
He had favored from the first law
requiring foreign corporations to take
out charter in this State. When the
Southern Railway said that they did
not have to obey the State laws, he fa-
vored a law tosarepeai the railroads
chatter, but upon promise of the road
to obey laws had not pressed the pass
age of the charter repeal bill. He
stood for a law requiring corporations
to give the same obedience to the laws
that is required for individuals. The
trusts should be controlled and regu-
lated by both State and national laws,
and the people could always count
upon him to see that their interests.
were guarded against the exactions Of
combinations. The child labor issue
was discussed at some length, and a
statement of the conflicting reports be-
fore the Legislature made for the in
formation of the audience. There are
three parties in the Legislature ~
Those who demand a law prohibiting