The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1908-08-12
COUNTY CAMPAIGN
PARTY AT CLINTON
Thursdays Meeting Slimiy
Attended
THE "COOTER CROWD"
Aspirants for the Various County Offices
Present Their Claims and
Qualifications.

Quall11Cati0nS,
Continuing upon their itinerary after
leaving Langston church, the party of
campaigners fer office in Laurens coun-
ty held forth at Sardis, Clinton mills,
and reached Clinton town on Thursday
morning of last week. The speaking
was in grove about quarter of
mile from the station and was heard by
a crowd of voters numbering hardly
over fifty. AS usual there was little
demonstration, no applause to speak of
and seemingly there were no prefer
ences shown. However the small crowd
was very attentive one, giving each
speaker respectful nearing. A bar
becue dinner was served at 1890 and
the speaking resumed at 2 o'clock.
Some one has been unkind enough to
designate the seekers for the smaller
and less pretentious Offices as the
''cooter crowd" These candidates
seem not to mind the slur and rather
take it good-naturedly. 1t was their
lot to begin the fireworks at the Cln-
ton meeting putting forward one of
their best orators as the first speaker,
Mr. r. w. Nichols, candidate for Aud
itor. Mr.. Nichols is good talker and
entertained his hearers for the allotted
time-not, however, with silly jokes
and such like, but with facts that
go to prove that he would make good
Auditor for the county, citing his expe-
rience in the clerical work.
Mr.. Nichols was followed by Messrs.
William II. Dorroh, w. Lowndes Fer
guson and Charles w. McCravy, each
presenting his claims and asking the
suffrage of the people. Mr.. McCravy
is cripple but he declared that this
would in no wise interfere with the dis
charge of his duties, the work being
altogether in an office.
For county treasurer there are but
two aspirants, the present incumbent
Mr.. j. ID. Mock and Mr.. j. Wade An
derson. Mr.. Anderson claimed a little
favor at the hands of his people. Mr..
Mock reviewed his record as Treasurer
and his record as Confederate soldier,
asking the people to keep him in the
position as had made good officer.
The race for sheriff is very inter-
estmg one, there being much specua-
ton as to the result, especially on ac-
count of the large number of candi-
dates, there being seven in ALL Cap
tain Duckett is seeking reelection on
the ground that he has faithfully filed
the requirements of the Office and wants
it another term. Some of the others
ask for the votes of the people because
they want the office and have been
waiting for it a long time. Messrs.
Peden, Watts, Owings, Caldwell,
Wharton and Cunningham all spoke for
a few minutes urging their respective
claims. Some one in the crowd asked
Mr.. b. A. Wharton how he stood on
the whiskey question, to which he re-
Piled: 81 am glad you asked that ques-
tion, although it does not bear directly
on the race for sheriff; | am and always
have been prohibitionist, and if the
people of this county vote prohibition
and | am elected sheriff | will enforce
that law to the best of my ability as
would any law on the books" Mr.. o.
c. Cunningham is avery forceful speak
er and touches upon almost every sub
ject of interest in the campaign. He is
a dispensary man, believing that to be
the best way to handle the business; he
thinks the preachers ought not to go
out of their way to mcddle into this
matter. Mr.. Cunningham seems to re-
gard the gambling evil as greater than
the whiskey and he took occasion to de-
nounce these hotel gamblers as well as
the negro crap shooters.
For the position of Superintendent of
Education there are four seekers, Mes
srs r. W. Nash, j. C.. Burdette, Thos.
p. Byrd and Geo l.. Pitts. The first
speaker was Mr.. Pitts. who was at
home in Clinton and glad to meet his
own people. He spoke forcefully on
the needs of the schools in the county
and promised if elected, to give them
his best thought and care. Mr.. j. c..
Burdette claimed that as college man
he was fitted for the office and would
give his entire time, which he charged
MIR. Nash was not doing, There was a