The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-04-09
SPEAKER STEVENSON.
His Candidacy for attorney General,
With sketch OF his Life.

SSA1SiS<A-
Mr.. w. T. Stevenson is 10 years OF
age. He was born and reared on d
farm and worked every year from the
time he was S until he was is, when
he went to an academyat TaylorSville,
n. c., and prepared for college. lie
entered Davidson college, \. c., at the
age Of 20 and graduated at %, paying
for his own education. He then TOOK
charge of the academy at Cheraw and
began to teach and read law at the
same time. This waSin October. 1883.
In May, 1887, he was licensed to
practice law and began to practice IN
Chesterfield in July of that year. For
years past his practice has been ad-
mittedly the leading one in Chester
field county and it is considerable in
Darlington county also. He has had
many cases in the supreme court, his
firm having some cases in every volume
Of reports issued since his practice be-
gan.
In 1885 Mr.. Stevenson became a
member Of the county Democratic
executive committee. and has been
the leading spirit in it ever since, us
chairman since 1896. At present he
is a member Of the State Democratic
executive committee, representing
Chesterfield county. He has twice
been elected mayor Of his town, Che
raw, and while mayor was elected
to the legislature, in which body ne
soon became a leader OF the Judiciary
committee. He was a member OF the
committee Of the house and senate
appointed in 1897 to investigate the
sinking fund commission trouble with
the comptroller general and was the
author of the statute which has re-
cast all the law relative to 1t and un-
der which the commission has been
working smoothly ever since.
The legislative service OF Mr.. Steven
son has been distinguished in other
directions. He was the author OF the
plan whereby the money was obtained
to complete the State house without
increasing taxation, thus making pos
sible the passage Of the bill for COM
pletion. He also framed the bill to
pave the sidewalks from the State
house to GervaiS street, and thus set
the example which Columbia followed
in paving her sidewalks. He was
chairman of the committee which
Investigated the penitentiary IN
1899 and uncovered condition that
shocked the State and resulted in
making public officials more strict
in the discharge of their trusts. His
legislative service began in 1896, and
he was reelected in 1898 and again IN
1909, on the last occasion receiving all
but l75 of the votes cast in his county
primary. A year ago he was elected
speaker of the house Of representatives
on the first ballot by a clear majority
over two strong men. and his record
as speaker is before the people.
Mr.. Stevenson has represented the
State in several important suits and
is now associated with the attorney
general in the suit for $50, 900 back
taxes from the Cheraw and Darling
ton railroad. He has been employed
both for and against corporations, IS
not biased in either way and IS able,
as his associates in the house know,
to deal justly with all interests. He
comes of legal stock, being connected
by blood with many juristS. Judge a.
P. Mccormick, United States circuit
Judge, and Judge ". 6. Ewing OF
Chicago being his cousins, and Judge
James H. Bell, formerly chief justice
of Texas, was also q cousin: while
Judge Edward Harris, who died on
the supreme bench Of North Carolina.
was his uncle.
Ina business way, Mr.. Stevenson has
been successful. He organized and
has successfully operated as president
the Merchants and Farmers Bank Of
Cheraw. and he is president Of the
Chesterfield County Oil company. His
main ambition, however, is to. be
lawyer Of standing, and to his protes-
sion he gives his best efforts. He is
one Of the three members Of the eN-
ecutive committee Of the bar aSSocla-
tion of South Carolina and has lately
been designated by the Chief Justice
as special judge to hold Court at New
berry.
In religion Mr.. Stevenson is a Pres
byterian and has been an elder IN
that church for II years. He has Of
ten been member Of its SynodS and
preSbyterieS and was i member OF the
general assembly OF the southern
church at AShville in 1890 and in New
In no I,
New Orleans he was called upon to
represent the synod of South Carolina
in the matter Of.the complaint OF DR..
w. NJ. McPheeters and others against
it on questions Of church laws and
constitution and won by an almost un-
animous vote. The synod OF South
Carolina at its meeting in Florence
last wear unanimously elected him
moderator. He was the first layman
ever chosen moderator OF the synod,
and thus far the only one.
In college Mr.. Stevenson won the
Latin medal, and the debater's media!
and graduated next to the highest
man in his class.
His hardest constitutional fight IN
the legislature was over the county
of Dorchester. which he championed
as representative Of the Judiciary
committee. and carried through the
house, the supreme court Subsequent
ly sustaining the position held by
him in that contest.
In May, 1906 he was elected preSi- .
dent Of the State Democratic conven- I
tion. and has often presided over tie !
Democratic conventions Of bis county. |.
The foregoing record shows that
Mr.. Stevenson is man Of great indus .
try and energy and Of rapid success in
eyerv field of his endeav0rS. His abili- |
trac q r,arlia1nnntarian and as 4 law |