The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1903-09-03
POLITICS AND POLITICIANS S.
Intei eating Gossip and Specul ation About
Candidates nnd Officers.

Mr.. August Kohn, the Columbia
correspondent of the News and
Courier, has the following interest
ing chat about State politics and
politicians:
There is already B. great deal of
talk in various states about can~
6idates for state offices, and for
months the presidential possibih-
tics have been seriously considered.
In South Carolina, under the pri.
mary system, tho election is yirtu-
ally held 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 full
year ago, and tho wonder has been
that candidates did not begin their
work for the next contest q week
after the second prim ary of 1902.
Fortunately, there has been no
campaign this year, and politics
have been allowed to slumber for
a while. County newspapers haYe,
however, been writing about cundi-
dates and ISSUES, and people who
interested have been talking about
the future Of certain mon how
more or less in tho public mind.
At the primary last year a prac-
tically new set of State officials
was selected. With the exception
of Treasurer jennings all the
State house officials we're selected
for their first terms last summer,
and there sesms to be an unwrit.
ten law that where office holders
attend to 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 at least another year of po-
ltical rest. Last year Governor
Hayward had a strong string of
opponents. He Will be a candi-
date for denomination, and just
now the outlook is that he will
have no 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 Cow
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 l.. Smith, Of Camden,
and Representative r. Yancy Will
liams, Of Lancaster, would make
excellent gubernatorial timber, and
the friends cf Lieutenant Governor
John r, 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. If
there we're any other Office for
which Treasurer jennings might
shift he would stand better
chance for third term. If no
runs there will be 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.
One of the big fights that will
come up before the general assem-
bly, this winter will be for dlspen-
sary commissioner. 1t is under