The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-06-25
in HISTORIC HIBERNIAN HALL,
CHARLESTON GREETS STATE
CANDIDATES.

s CANDIDATES.
The Chief Feature Was Till
mans Severe Attack Upon TIA
bert Gary and B1ease Have
Spat.
The State campaign meetings at o.
angeburg, Bamberg and Georges wer
devoid of any special interest, but th
candidates began to warm up whe
they reached Charleston, where ther
are several thousand voters who hol
registration certificates and are read
to hear the pleas of their friends from
the country. The meeting was hel,
IN the historic hall of the Hibernians
where eloquence is wont to flow, ant
for five hours on Saturday an audienc,
of several hundred sweltered in tht
heat, beginning at O'Clock in the af
ternoon and ending after 10 O'Clock al
night. The speakers were often inter
rupted, but were willing to answer
questions, and all were given apprecia.
tive applause.
The feature of the gathering was
the manner in which Lieutenant Gov.
ernor Tillman administered dose un.
to Congressman Talbert. Tillman
with skilled sarcasm and strong arraign-
ment, held up Talbert's onice-holdinp
record, giving facts and figures from a
transcript which he held in his hand.
1t was telling piece of work, most
effectively accomplished and was heard
with the greatest attention.
DIR. George Douglas Rouse received
most complimentary reception by his
friends in the audience, but Col. John
ID. Frost, at the conclusion of his
speech, was called again, amid long ap-
plause, to the front, where he made
graceful acknowledgment of such re-
ception.
Among the small army of candidates
for the office of railroad commissioner
Mr.. Hugh II. Prince captured the
crowd, though Messrs j. G. Mobley
and w. Boyd Evans both had good re-
ceptions. Mr.. Prince made a good
speech, boldly attacking the commits
sion, saying the statute laws govern
ing this body was violated every day
and adding that the penalties for these
violations, if collected, would pay an
nually The salaries of every commits
sioner. The speeches of most of the
candidates, while on the same general
lines, had some differences, modilica-
tions and additions peculiar to the en-
Chairman Thayer presented Mr.. o.
B. Martin as the first speaker, candi-
date for State Superintendent of Educa-
ton. Mr.. Martin began throwing
boquets at Charleston, great metro
polls of South Carolina," which was
kept up by each candidate. Mr. Martin
gave his reasons for desiring the Office
and was applauded when he paid tribute
to McMahan's zeal and work and also
when he said it was time for q change.
To question by Mr.. McMahan, Z" DO
you not know from Prof. Cook, of the
State board of education, that adoption
of text books was made without nv
knowledge2" Mr.. Martin replied that
he did not know how my friend or
Mr.. Cook voted, but he would not have
voted for such Wholesale ADOPTION"
To the further question from Mr.. Nc
Mahan, "Do you not know that the
Governor, in entire disregard of my
wishes, appointed this State boarl?"
Mr.. Martin replied aflirmatively. Mr..
Martin was heard with interest and
closed with applause.
Mr.. John j. McMahan was next in
troduced and was greeted with hearty
applause. Mr.. McMahan began by
saying nice things about Charleston,
to whose claims he had never been in
Iiffarnni 10
but principles and purposes of cduca
tional work. Educated thought and
sentiment, he said, made character,
manhood and womanhood. Education,
the foundation of all that makes a
State great, grand and glorious. He
would rather improve the education of
the people than anything else. There
are two classes of citizens, he said, one
who only thinks of what is popular-a
drag upon public improvement and
progress. His first and only purpose
is to try to do something for my State"
He SAID he had faith In the people,
trust in their breadth and progressive-
ness. Our public school system was
inaugurated under carpet baggers in
1868, not by the best men of our State.
Now is the time to look for improve
ment, to see necessary changes, to
honestly try to make the Office better"
He closed in the midst of sentence,
with his full share of applause.
Candidates for Office of Comptroller
General came next, Mr.. N. w. Brooker
opening. He made pretty much his
same earnest speech, charging gross
irregularities in this office, and SAID he
would quit the race before Intentionally
hurting anyone's feelings.
Mr.. A. w. Jones showed the inn
pOrtance of this work, its details ex-
tending INTO every department of ex-
ecntlve work.
Senator w. III. Sharpe made a taking
speech. He was not in anyway con.
nected with the office now, although
he soon expected to be and would adj
minister such laws as were enacted by
the Legislature.
Mr.. G. l.. Walker, modest speaker,
but forcible in sincerity Of utterance
and knowledge of his subject gave a
recital of the business affairs of q busi-
ness office. Had not, as some, master
ed the machinery of this all important
office, but was yet student in tho tax
department of South Carolina. Gap
plause.)
DR.. Zimmerman, candidate for Gov.
ernor, came next and was applauded