The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1903-09-03
POLITICS AMD POLITICIANS S
Into, eating Gossip and Specul alton AbOu
Candidates md Omcers.

Into, eating Gossip and Spcoul alton About
Candidates md Omoers.
Mr.. August Kohn, the Columbia
correspondent of the News and
Courier, has the following interest
ing chat about State politics and
politicians:
There 10 already q great deal Of
talk in various states about can~
0idates for state Offices, and for
months the presidential possibilr.
ties have been seriously considered.
In South Carolina, under the pri.
mary system, the election is %virtu-
ally neld in August every second
year. The result Of the system is
that there is an everlasting cam
paign going on. Since the primary
system has been in vogue candi.
dates have been grooming as soon
as one campaign closes. The last
contest in this State closed a full
year ago, and the wonder has been
that candidates did not begin their
work for the next contest week
after the second primary Of 1902.
Fortunately, there has been no
campaign this year, and politics
have been allowed to slumber for
a while. County newspapers have,
however, been writing about cundi-
dates and ISSUES, and people who
interested have been talking about
the future Of certain mon now
more or less in the public mind.
At the primary last year prac-
tically new set of State flicials
was selected. With the exception
Of Treasurer jennings all the
State house officials we're selected
for their first terms last summer,
and there seams to be an unwrit-
ten law that where office holders
attend 10 their duties they he given
a second term without opposition.
This custom seems to apply TO
practically all elective Offices, and,
therefore. the chances are favora-
bic to ut least another year of po-
htical rest. Last year Governor
Hayward had Il strong string of
opponents. He will be a candi-
date for denomination, and just
now tho outlook is that he will
have 10 opposition. There was
some talk Immediately after the
first primary OF last year that Mr..
Martin T. Ansel would be pressed
for governor at the next primary in
view Of the surprising and extra
ordinary race that he made with
the strong field in the race. He
| has stated that he will not oppose
Governor Hayward for reelection.
but he has his eye on the govern
or's chair after that.
Nothing has been heard politi-
cally from former Congressman
Talbert since the last primary.
The impression now is that if Gov
ernor Heyward's administration
continues to run as smoothly and
satisfactorily as at present, he will
have no opposition in 1904. Then
the doors will open. Mr.. Anscl is
already in the field, Mr.. Talbert is
almost certain to be, but the older
mon will have to look to their
laurels, as it is rumorcd that Speak
er Mendel T.. Smith, Of Camdon,
and Representative r. Yancy Will
liams, Of Lancaster, would make
excellent guhernatorial timber, and
the friends cf Lieutenant Governor
John II. Sloan naturally expect
him to be promoted.
With this prospect the likeli.
hood is there will not be much of
a campaign next year unless some~
thing happens and that is always
possible. Capt. jennings may
stand for reelection for State
treasurer, but he has before him
the defeat of DR.. Zimmerman, who
stood for a third term, and the
custom Of finding now men. II
there were any other Office for
which Treasurer jennings might
shift he would stand u better
chance for q third term. If he
runs there will DO opposition
There is some talk that Col. Boyd
will run against Adjutant and In
spector General Frost. Col. Boyd
opposed Gen. Frost last year and
lost, and the militia seem emf.
nently satisfied with the present
administration.
! 4