Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-06-18
THE RACE FOR SENATOR.
A Critical Review of the Prospects
of the Several Candidates.

of the Several Candidates.
The following review Of the candi-
dates in the coming primaries from the
clear headed and judicial editor of the
Laurens Advertiser is Of interest at
present:
From this, the core Of the Piedmont,
how does the race for senator look
now, as the campaign Is about to open!
Does Latimer get the jump? Or john
stone, Hemphill, Henderson, Evans or
Elliott? Let the picture be exposed not
as The Advertiser would wish 1t, but as
| It actually appears to The Advertiser
after looking over the field. We speak
mainly Of appearances in Laurens and
the Piedmont.
Mr.. Latimer seems to be the leading
candidate. Whether truly or not, he is
thought to be Senator Tillman's man.
Senator Tillman will perhaps openly
express no preference, but there must
be an impression that he has favor
lite. The impression now is that Lati-
mer is that favorite. 1t is said on the
other hand that Latimer is not strong
in his own county. Anderson was the
single county which in its convention
took grounds against the program af-
forwards adopted by the state conVen-
ton. Johnstone Is strong, undoubtedly
strong, throughout Latimer's old dis
trict. Anderson, Abbeville, Oconee,
Greenwood, Newberry and Pickens
will divide between these two; and 9TH
er candidates, among them Evans, Will
pick up the leavings. Latimer has kim
dred and strong friends in Greenville.
There are men in the race with whom
Latimer will not measure IN attain
ments or speaking power, but he has
pertinacity, dogged pertinacity, and Is
slayer. He has won a reputation for
getting things for his constituents. He
is a man of Independent means-has
been a financial success, so 1t Is said
And he Is thought to bask under Sem
ator Tillman's smile. He Is the only
farmer candidate.
George Johnstone Is man of power
one of the half dozen ablest men In
public life in the state. He has 1t IN
him to give to the campaign zest,
dash and 60 that no other candidate
can give 1t. He Is a great speaker
and marvelously resourceful. He has
devoted friends and devoted enemies
plenty of both. How he is known In
the old Third district, which he repre-
l-sented in congress one term and has
icanvassed several times, has already
been said. In Columbia, Laurens,
Greenville and Spartanburg he Is as
lawyer almost as we'll known as MEM
bers of the local bars. 1t Is possible
that Johnstone will make the pace
throughout the running and make it
so hot that it will fret every other can
didate to stay on his trail. But john
stone is not regarded as a cautious or
especially shrewd politician. He might
win in a rush or he might be distanced.
John Gary Evans is one man certain
to be a factor, to get a substantial vote
in the first primary, and In The AdVer-
tiser's opinion it Is almost equally GER
tain that he cannot be elected. He has
scattering of loyal friends in every
county, perhaps, in the state, men who
were his friends when he was leg1s-
lator and governor and whom he has
placed under obligations. In Spartan
burg, his new home, he has made him
self liked and respected. An element In
the state thinks that he deserves elec-
ton because events have vindicated his
campaign against McLaurin in 1897,
with singular accuracy-to the utter
] confusion Of the people, the politicians