The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-09-16

vDoy ofe ogatlnG - scared men hght.
- Dseoas % Evans.
Jeha osry pvaps has been defeat
- for UaitsA States senator for q
eourth tine. His defeat II by IN
overwhelming majority. perhaps the
0rsAtsst that has ever been cast for
= candidate for q major once In the
hlseory Of the primary system In
osuth Carolina. He u defeated by q
man prevsousiy unknown In politics.
He carried only two counties Of the
- In the state. One OF these II the
county Of his residence. where his
majority 10 only 500. a. compared
vtsh s.see claimed by him and a.
compared with 1.aoo received In his
aass previous race. His defeat is
crushing. anal and conclusive.
HIS candidacy seemed unwise and
injudicsous last winter before the
dsath Of senator Latimer. who was a
candidate for reelection and In the
opinion Of most people assured Of re-
election and fully deserving OF such
-sndorsem<nt. Latimer would have
'dsfestsd him probably worse than
smith did- Smith did not announce
'ontii after LAtimer's death.
Bithsr Of the six candidates In the
racs with him with the possible ex-
sesptton OF Grace would have defeat
- him In the second primary. The
people OF south Carolina absolutely
viii not under any circumstances or
asainst any opponent elect John Gary
Dvans to once. They have four
eimes refused to make him senator.
His oaiy chance Of election was In
1see when ne ran against Earle with
powerful backing that he has never
been able to command since. He fail
- 4hen and has failed three times
since. each time BY q larger majority.
0cIAurin beat him $1,000 votes. Lat
liner beat him 1900 votes. Smith
has beat him $4,000 votes. Surely
the people will not be called on
Tor more pronounced verdict against
him.
He had In the campaign Just closed
= rsvfect and complete political or
0anisation. His opponent had none.
He had representatives In every To-
.oaissy looking after his interests and
Lad mating bureau In spartanburs
whess from Is to 90 stenogra pliers
Asd cserks were worked. and from
which the state was flooded with his
utsrstuse. bulletins. personal letters.
ssfimates and endorsements. He
hsd mailing list OF $4,000 voters.
TO send single letter to these
would cost si.5oo for stamps alone.
To snd q circular letter would cost
$50 for stamps alone.
Mr.. Evans had some strong sup
porters In the city OF SpartanburG
and was able to command a consider
able vote at most OF the mills. The
people Of this city forgot all the past
and supported him from local pride.
He has been very afrable to everybody
since ne has lived here and many Of
those formerly bitterly opposed to
him and his methods became his most
ardent supporters. In many cases
they felt that IL elected. he would be
able to do much for Spartanburg that
= senator living In another county
could not or would not do. Some
thought he would cause United
states court district to be established
with this city as It's headquarters: that
he would secure large appropriation
for a handsome court building A
Judge. district attorney. clerk. marshal
and other officers would be appointed
Tor the court. In other ways II was
thought that he would be able to help
spsrtanburg. " elected to seat in
the senate. He was the "home man"
and many cast their votes for him as
a sort OF matter OF course. Many
Others. almost as many as voted for
aim. the returns show. gave no par
sicuIar weight to these considerations
md voted for his opponent.
The result Of the election shows