The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-07-22
TlLLMAN DAY IN BlsROPVILLE.
Largest Crowd in History of Town Ga
Tiers TO Hear Senator Tillman and
Congressman Lever Speak.

Bishopyaie, July 17.-one of the
largest crowds that had ever been seen
in Bishopville met here today. Ihe
attraction was something unusual,
however, and of course, a large crowd
was expected. Senator B. r. Ti1lman
and Congressman 4. F. Lever, having
both been invited by the citizens OF
the county, were the speakers OF the
day. Both of these gentlemen are
very popular in this county and 1t
seemed to give them graet pleasure
to address large crowd of enthusiastic
citizens.
There were no special features for
the day. This meeting had been ar
ranged By the citizens OF this COM
munity for the purpose OF enjoying, a
few good speeches. This spirit is only
in keeping with the thrift and enter
pise which is so evident in this town,
and. in fact, the entire county. Mr..
Ralph W. McLendon deserves great
credit for the conspicuous part he
took in getting up this, meeting for
the citizens, and inviting gentlemen
who were so well prepared to do justice
to such an occasion.
The first speaker was Hon. A. +.
Lever. Mr.. Lever has many friends
in this county and many OF them are
very enthusiastic admirers OF him,
Scarcely had his name been called
when he was introduced, when great
shouts of applause came from the vast
audience. He expressed his apprecla-
tion to the people Of this community
for the liberal support which they
had given him in the past, and said
that his constant aim and desire was
to render them some service that
would make them feel that they had
made no mistake in placing him in the
high Office to which they hao elected
him. He then commented at some
length upon national politics and closed
amid enthusiastic applause.
The next and last speaker. was Sena-
tor Tillman. 1t is needless to say
anything abous the reception Of this
great statesman, for there is no COM
manity in which he has greater
number of ardent admirers to the
number of citizens than in this section.
This was his first visit to this town
and there we're great many people
present who had never seen him. In
his usual original and characteristic
manner he preceded his regular ad-
dress with humor which caught the
attention of the entire audience. He
said that no doubt those who had never
seen him expected TO see an animal
with horns and hoofs, but these he
had left at the hotels, as he did not
expect to need them. The Senator
then got down to business, and fol
nearly two hours held the closest at
tention Of the crowd. He spoke OF
local affairs in which the whole peo-
pie Of the State feel interested, and
pointed to many grand achievements
which he had been able to accomplish
through his persistant and fearless
efforts. Then he discussed some of the
great national questions, and pointed
out some of these of the greatest
moment to the American people, now.
He did not know who was the prob
able nominee of the Democratic party
for the presidency, but said he hoped
che party would nominate a true,
genuine Democrat-one who would hold
up the Democratic banner honorably.
The meeting adjourned about l sc
O'Clock. T. E. H.