The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1902-06-26
BAMBERG'S CAMPAIGN MEETING
The Candidates for State Offices Ad.
dress the Voters Here Last
Thursday


meeting was held in the court house at
eleven o'clock, and by this time number
of our friends from the country had
arrived. The house was fairly well filled,
the audience numbering about four
hundred.
County Chairman H. c. Folk called the
meeting to order, and Rev. NJ. L. Lawson,
pastor of the Bamberg Baptist church,
offered fervent prayer. Mr.. Folk then
announced the time allotted to each can
didate, the gubernatorial aspirants being
given 30minutes, ten minutes for attorney
general and superintendent of education,
and all others five minutes each.
TOKEN OF ESTEEM.
Just here Senator s. G. Mayfield walked
to the rostrum, and in brief but we'll
chosed words presented to County Chair
man Folk beautiful gold headed cane
as slight token of the high regard he
was held by the Democracy of Bamberg
county, it being gift from the party to
the only County Chairman Bamberg has
ever had. Mr.. Folk was taken completely
by surprise, but he made most eloquent
and feeling response. The reporter for
the daily papers said "his response was q
literary gem" and it was. Mr.. J. E. Nor
ment, our friend of long standing, was
the reporter for the daily press, and his
report of the meeting was an able one
and eminently fair to each candidate. He
was also very complimentary to Chair
man Folk for the able manner in which
be presided over the meeting. When the
time of speaker was up, he was prompt
" but courteously called down, and by
this wise action the meeting was not near
so long and tiresome as it would have
been had candidates been permitted to
question each other
The first speakers were the aspirants
for the position OF
ATTORNEY GENERAL,
Z. X. Gunter, Jr, and w. F. Stevenson.
Mr.. Gunter gave his record as Assistant
Attorney General, and asked for support
on his record. Spoke of Mr.. Stevenson
as corporation lawyer. Gunter made
good impression.
Stevenson opened by referring to his
efforts in the legislature in helping to
form Bamberg county. Said be had never
received a salary as a railroad attorney,
had always been paid fees. Had handled
cases for the railroads and cases against
them, was now employed by the Attorney
General to assist in suit against railroad
1t was through his efforts that the Sea-
board Air Line had been chartered as a
domestic corporation. Both Gunter and
Stevenson received applause.
SECRETARY OF STATE.
Col. J. Harvey Wilson, of Sumter, was
the first speaker for the office of Secretary
of State. He made modest, manly speech
which was we'll received, briefly recltlng
his record.
Col. J. T. Austin, of Greenville, gave
his record as public servant. Had served
his home people well and faithfully.
J. T. CAN'T, now chief clerk in the office
spoke of the duties of the office and re-
lated his services there. The income had
been largely increased, and he should
have share of the credit.
TUE SCHOOL QUESTION.
o. B. Martin, of Greenville, discussed
educational matters and wanted to be
elected State Superintendent of Educa
ton. Condemned the wholesale changlng
of school books and was literally ap,
plauded.
Jno. j. McMahan, the present incum-
bent, was not present, and Chairman Folk
read letter from him.
THE TAX DEPARTMENT.
II. Sharpe, G. L. Walker, N. W.
Brooker, and A. W. Jones, all of whom
want to be Comptroller General, present
ed their claims. All spoke pleasantly OF
their competitors, but MIR. Brooker
claimed that reforms in the office were
needed and spoke of some insurance fees
not being paid to the State treasurer
promptly.
THE "MELIsHEE."
Three candidates for Adjutant and In
spector General asked for the support of
the voters of Bamberg county: John u.
Frost, now assistant, j. G. Boyd of Green
vile, and Geo. Douglas Rouse, OF Charles
ton. Frost in modest, manly way, spoke
of his record in the office and his efforts
to build up the military arm of the
government. Col. Boyd alluded to his
military record, and Dr. Rouse asked
that Charleston be given a showing.
FOR RAILROAD COMMISSIONER.
For this office eight candidates present
ed themselves: Jas. Cansler, w. B. Evans,
3. l.. Caughman, A. c. Jepson, H. j.
Kinard, J. S. Mobley, J. c. Wilborn, and
G. Wolling. Each presented his claims
in clear, comprehensive way. This must
be the best office in the State, judging
from the number Of aspirants. Mr..
Wilborn has heretofore been nominated
without opposition, and is seeking re-
CHIEF EXECUTIVE.
The candidates for governor came next,
Col. W. J. Talbert being the first speaker.
He spoke of the high duties and grave re-
sponsibilities of the office, and deprecated
the great expense of the campaign. 1t
was getting SO poor man, no matter
what his ability, was debarred from offer
ing for public position. Spoke of his
record in congress: had saved five million
dollars in pensions alone; had been worth
his weight in gold in this matter. Was
opposed to trusts and monopolies of every
kind, but believed that labor and capital
should go hand in hand, each being de-
pendent on the other; there should be no
conflict between them. Favored an income
tax, and he paid it every year Told
several Jokes which produced laughter
and applause. :.
Jas. Il. Tillman said he hoped the audi
ence had enjoyed Talbert's jokes as much
as he used to many years ago when boy.
Talbert had held office for % years, but
this year the people would send him home
to take a rest. Talhert was here repre-
senting himself when he was drawing a
salary for representing the people in
Washington, Great issues were now
pending there and Talbert should be at
his post He was sarcastic and effective
in the arraignment of Talbert, who
seemed to vince underit, for he frequent
ly interrupted Tillman. The speaker then
made his usual explanation Of his ruling
in the Senate, reading al extract from the
journal of that body, and called on Sena-
tor Mayfield to state whether he, as presid-
ING officer, had ever been diSrespectful, to