The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1906-07-05

SAID TT WAS CUSTOM

For Legislators 10 Draw ray rs flealUeEs
of the Legislature and as Members
of a Committee at the Same
Time. Ragsdale Was Very
'Sacarstlc.
SThe first series Of meetings OF the
State campaign ended at Lexington
on Saturday. It was a very good meet
ing. There was much more snap and
life in the proceedings than usual. A.
o. Jones, John McMahan and B I.
Manning broke away from their, even
tsnors and made things lively. But
the sparkle Of the meeting was fur
nished in the speech Of Mr.. j. Will
lard Ragsdale, who is opposing MI.
Fraser Lyon for Attorney General.
MIR. Ragsdale arrived late and spoke
after the Gubernatorial candidates
Mr.. Lyon had spoken early and had
kept close to the usual lines of his
previous speeches. but Mr.. Ragsdale
literally Lit into Mr.. Lyon With gloves
of. he jsbbed him wherever he
thought there was an opening, and be-
sides trying force, tried to rIdicule bis
opponent. Three or four times he rose
ON his feet, and with arched fingers
pointing to his bosom, exclaimed: II
am J. Fraser. Lyon, the great pursuer
of erafters!" Then he would tiptoe
and exclaim: II am the great Fraser
Lyon" who was going to do this or
that.
1t amused the audience because 1t
was roasting the other fellow brown,
and the average crowd enjoys finish
ed roast no matter much who Is roast
ed.
LYON DENIES A REPLY.
MIR. Ragsdale wanted Mr.. Lyon to
answer him catsgorically. but Mr..
Lyon declined to do this, and begged
to reply at the conclusion Of Mr.. Bag
sdsle's speech, but Chairman Efrd
declined to make any exceptions or TO
change the original programme, and
Mr.. Lyon spoke briefly at the very
end of the meeting.
Mr.. Rsgsdale, who arrived late and
Wbo was eager for the fray. said he
rode 700 miles to be here to-day. He
seemed surprised that Mr. Lyon should
have spoken after his regular time. He
said he wanted to settle certain issues
here and now. He went on to say that
Mr.. Lvon had at previous meeting
said that certain statements he had
made we're not 30. Mr.. Lyon had, he
heard, made such statsmept after
his speech. Now he wanted to know
directly whether Mr.. Lyon had gotten
double nay while serving on the inVeS-
tipstion committee. He wanted to
know IL he had been paid as legisls.
tor and as member Of the commit
tes while it was in session during the
Legislature. Mr. Lyon asked If he
might answer in desstl from the rec.
ord. and If 30 he would gladly do 30.
Chairman Eird held that he could not
permit any extended statement MI.
Lyon refused to answer yes OF no
without an explanation, and then Mr..
Rspsdals piled into him, and said here
was q great purifier and chaser OF
graft, taking 81 day as q legislator,
and 81 a day at the same time Tor ser.
vice Oh the Investigating committee.
He said that Senator James Stack
houss, of Marion, lad told him that
MI. Lyon had said he received the ex-
ira pay.
MAKES MANY CHARGES.
AS to the itemizsd statement not
being fled. he got his information
from Mr.. Blease. II such statement
had been filed, then it was all well and
good. Then MI. Rsgsdale said Mr.. Ly-
on had been elected to the house from
Abbeyills as a diSpensary advocate,
and be wanted to know what pledge
the psople had that he would not
have o change OF heart In his pursuit
of the grafters. No man should change
his views without first consulting his
people. The Attorney General at BEST
had little to do in such cases. the
solicitors do the prosecuting, and II
Lyon will only give the evidence the
prosecution could now 60 on: He said
Lyon was simply making a grand stsno
play talking about pursulDg the graft
ers. He said Lyon was waiting TO say
-"I'n unfurl this banner. III be the
leader against graft" and incident
ally draw 81, 900 salary, which, he
said, was more than Lyon had ever
made before, for but few years ago
he was satisfied with a Senate clerk
ship at "a day. No man, he said,
ought to 90 elected who could not get
the support Of bis home people, and
he did hot think Lyon could now carry
Abbeyile. Lyon should have resigned
his place In the House If he meant to
fight the dispenssry.
He made merry OF Nh. BristoW ana
tina evidence of Mr.. Bristow and in
sisted that it was all worthless and 80
indefinite as not to bs worth penny.
He had lot of fun ridiculing Toe
Bristow evidence as q type of the
work OF the committee. He said ne
was in earnest in Offering to get OUT
Of the way for Gen. Youmsns and