The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-03-30
THE MASS MEETING.
The Court House Was Crowded With an
Interested Audience Of Voters.

The mass meeting which was held in
theCourt House Friday night at the call
Of the ciSy Democratic executive COM
mittee, was a great success, and the
large attendance was the best possible
evidence of the lively interest that
the citizens of Sumter take in muni-
cipal affairs. The Court House was
so crowded that few if any others
could have found seats.
The meeting was called to order
shortly after s o'clock by Chairman
Altamont Moses, of the Executive
Committee, and by vote of the crowd
be was chosen to preside.
He stated that the citizens Of Sum-
ter had been called to assemble by the
Executive Committee for the purpose
of hearing the candidates for Mayor
and Aldermen discuss the issues of
the municipal campaign, and to de-
clare their positions respecting the
policy Of the city government
He stated that under the rules of the
organization the candidates had until
6 O'Clock o. M. Saturday, to sign the
pledge and pay their assessments; that
lists would be open for the signatures
of candidates until that hour and no
longer, it having been positively de-
cided by the committee to enforce this
rule to the letter.
Mr.. W. B. Boyle, candidate for
Mayor, was the first speaker intro
duced. He spoke of his six years ser
vice as an alderman, and that be
could promise no more for the future
than his record would substantiate-
that he had performed his duty as an
alderman to the best of his ability,
honestly, faithfully and without per-
sonal bias. He believed in improve
ment and in an economical admins
tration of the city's affairs. He could
make no pledges, for he could not
foresee what conditions would arise,
and could only promise to meet the
conditions to the best of his knowl
edge. He thanked the voters for the
handsome support given him in for
mer elections when he was candidate
for alderman, saying that, this evi-
dence of their confidence in him was
gratifying and he had spared no ef-
fort to prove himself worthy.
Dr.. Geo. ". Dick, the other candi-
date for Mayor, was next introduced.
DR.. Dick, who has served two years
as a member of council, is ready
speaker, and his speech WAS the long
est of the evening. 1t was punctuated
with jokes and anecdotes and was yet
serious and forcible presentation of
his views of the needs of the city and
the duties of the Mayor to be elected.
He said that he does not consider the
sewerage question an issue, inasmuch
as the sewerage must wait on the wa
ter contract, by which the city is
bound hard and fast. He still believes
that the city should have sewerage
system as soon as it can be had with.
out burdening the city with taxes.
He spoke of our fine system of public
schools and pledged to them his en-
thusiastic support as an ex-of6cio
member of the board of education,
should he be elected. He believes in
the economical administration OF the
city finances and in systematic public
Improvements as the means CT the city
warrant expenditures therefor. He
quoted statistics showing the growth
of the city in population and in bust
ness, and referred to the steps that
have been taken 80 secure an appro-
priation for public building from
Congress. He would not make any
specific pledges because he could not
do so honestly, but would and did
promise his best efforts to give the
city an administration such as busi-
ness men would approve and support.
The candidates for aldermen were
then introduced in alphabetical order.
They one and all confined their re-
marks to a brief announcement OF
their candidacy and asked the suffrage
of the voters of Sumter, provided
they thought them the proper men for
the positions to which they aspired,
at the same time promising to dis
charge the duties incumbent upon
them to the best Of their ability.
Mr.. ". LoTing Lee, who was NOM
mated only yesterday, when introduc-
ed stated that, while he appreciated
the compliment paid him, he would
be forced to decline the nomination,
owing to the fact that his business
frequently required his absence from
the city for several weeks at time
and he would therefore be unable to
give the position the attention it
should have, and be preferred not to
undertake anything which he could
not do right.
Mr.. P. P. Finn was unexpectedly
called out of town yesterday after
noon, having to take the run of an en-
gineer who was taken sick, and conse-
quently was unable to be present.
Mr.. G.. G. Rowland sent letter
stating that be was prevented from be-
ing present by an affection in his
family His letter, which was read
by the chairman, outlined his position,
and stated that be was candidate at
the urgent solicitation Of citizens.
Mr.. J. H. Levy, whose candidacy
was announced for the first time in the
meeting was not present.
Nh. E. II. Moses was not present.
but Mr.. j. ]. Hardy explained his alb
sence by saying that he was detained
at the electric light station by an ac-
cident to one OF the boilers which he
had to repair.