Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1902-07-23
ocoNEE COUNTY CAMPAIGN OPENS.
First Meeting at Galway Last Thursday Quite
Large Attendance.

The first meeting of the county cam
paign for OcOnee was held at Reeder's 8
Ford, in Center Township, on Thursday
the 18th instant. Three or four hundred
voters had assembled for the purpose of
hearing the candidates upon the issues
there were present quite number of
lovely ladies from the sections of Fair
Play, South Union and Oakway, who
added very much to the interest of the
occasion.
Promptly at II O'Clock a. m. Acting
County Chairman j. w, Shelor called the
meeting to order and introduced Col.
Robt. A. Thompson, who spoke interest
ingly upon the issues of the day. He
on the part of the people. All they were
asking was most efficient government
at the least possible cost; that he had
already served them two years in the
General Assembly and during that time
he had given his very best thought and
energy to their interest. During his
term the Legislature had been called
upon to revise the county government
law. The law as passed was not tr his
liking, but the General Assembly mad
passed it and it was the law. He re-
gretted that under this law we had such
poor roads, which the county authoriti es
claimed was caused by the lack of funds.
He bad voted against the child labor
bill in the last Legislature on principle,
and If elected he would do so again. He
saw no reason for saying that the parents
were not the best judges of their chil-
dren. He felt that the time had not
come for the State to assume control of
a mans family relations. 1t was politi-
cal buncombe. If reelected he would
do his best to serve his people. DR.. e.
=. Doyle was next introduced and ad-
dressed the people in an interesting
manner. DR.. Doyle said he was before
the people on his merits; he was in favor
of good schools, good roads and good
Mr.. Lewis j. King said he was before
the people. He would not say what he
would do # elected, but when he got to
Columbia next January he would look
we'll to their interest. One of the first
things of interest to our people was the
repeal of the lien law. 1t was the worst
enemy the poor man had; it starved his
family and opened the door of the chain
gang to him: The country could not
prosper under it. He believed that the
State was top heavy with colleges. That
every boy and girl in the common schools
cost the State $4.25, while every one in
the State colleges cost the State $175. 90.
he was in favor of remedying this ine-
quality and when he got to Columbia he
would undetake the task.
Hon. VIM, M. Brown said he was here
to give an account of his stewardship.
He had cast his vote every time in favor
of lower appropriations to colleges.
They should not be allowed to gradually
increase upon the State treasury. He
had introduced and had passed bill
allowing the farmers of the State to sell
their produce in any town Of the State
without having to pay license. If re-
elected he would certainly continue his
fight for his people. He had before
been beaten by small majorities. There
ought to be good schools. He had been
engaged as promoter of country
schools for years and had with others
succeeded in building up one of the best
country schools in the county. He was
opposed to going back to the old bar
room system, but he finds that the dis
pensary is not fulfilling the promises
made by its friends. 1t was now increas-
ing the sale of whiskey instead of cur
failing its use.
All the, candidates made good speeches
and all found friends in the crowd.
Messrs. VIM. N. Graydon and Wyatt
Aiken, candidates for Congress, were
present and addressed the crowd.
After the meeting closed the ladies
spread bounteous dinner, of which all
partook. Then came the time for the
young people to occupy the floor with
music and dancing. All left, feeling that
1T was day well spent.