The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-06-27
THE STATE CAMPAIGN.
saaNDDATEs FOR STATE OFF,
CES MAKE THEIR BOWS At
ST. GEORGE.

Democratic campaign opened mere 10
sday before a gathering Of about 40o
,narsons. about one-fourth ladies. The
campaign party was organized TINS
morning with Col. John T. Sloan as
president and Lewis w. Haskell secre-
sary. It was decided that the candl-
dates for governor and United states
Senator should speak twenty minutes
each and all others five minutes
throughout the campaign. There was
nothing sensational or even spicy IN
auy Of the, speeches today, all beng
plain statements without personal ar
vuraent or questions OF any oppon-
entss position.
After prayer by Rev. Mr.. steadman'
Chairman Dennis introduced M. +.
Ansel as a candidate for governor
rom the Piedmont section. Mr.. An
seI said he desired to be elected on
high ground only. He sood for educa-
ZION, especially through Improvement
rpS the common schools. He advo-
Gated good roads. He sai6 the great
EST tax the farmer pays is the wear
and tear on his wagons. TO stop this
The roads should me macadamized.
Mr.. Ansel said he is opposed to the
state dispensary. The people man
aged other things by counties ane
each county should nave the right 70
decide the liquor question Itself, with
out deciding for any other county.
There should be county dispensers
appointed by county boards, drawing
salary and not commissions. Other
wise there should be prohibition He
appealed for good pensions for the
old Confederate soldier.
Cole Z. Blease, candidate for COVER
nor from Newberry, spoke next. He
stood upon his platform of 1890, and
said he had never varied his course.
He declared the dispensary was the
only real issue. He favored biennial
sessions of the general assembly, fe-
yored a law prohibiting child labor in
cotton mills, favored a law limiting
labor in cotton mills to ten hours
daily and for railroad employees not
more than thirteen hours. He favor
ed liberal appropriations for Confed-
crate soldiers; liberal but not extrava-
giant appropriations for State institu-
4ions OF learning and for the free
school system. He opposed higher
education of the negro, opposed the
extra court system as practiced with
In the last two years, and exposed sx-
iravagant appropriations being made
by LEGISLATORS. He favored mar
riage restriction. law and strict en-
forcement Of the vagrancy law. If
he had his way he would wipe out
the cogored college at orangeburg.
One Of the greatest mistakes the
white people ever made was to edu-
cate the negro. tApplause.)
Discussing the dispensary, he de-
cleared county dispensaries would
multiply the alleged corruption. He
declared many present day advocates
of the state dispensary were not orig
inal dispensary men. w. G. Childs,
president of the c., n. & L. railway,
had told him that since the dispen-
saries along his road had been voted
out, the jug and case goods trade had
more than doubled the quantity Of
whiskey formerly shipped by. the
state dispensary.
Joel E. Brunson, candidate for gov
ernor from Sumter, spoke next. He
declared every one struggling to rid
the state of liquor was his brother.
He said that out every 81 spent for
liquor the state Of South Carolina
takes $500 to buy more liquor,
fhirty-two cents for roads and
bridges, thirty-two cents for street
lights and sixteen cents for educa-
rional salve to apply to the wounds in
tie hearts Of widows and orphans.
The liquor business is carried on
only by men of low morals and no
man among the candidates would al
dow his boy to handle the stuff. His
seloquent description Of the impos-
assibility Of purifying the liquor busi-
ness was attentively listened to,
Wounds and bruises and strife were
the outcome.
Voice-That's the truth; I drink
1t myself
W. A. Edwards, Of saluda, candi-
date for governor, was the next
speaker. In reply to question, he
said he was no kin to Ben Tillman,
Snt hoped he could do half the good
he had done He had never held Of