The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-06-24
STATE CAMPAIGN BEGUN.
Calhoun County Voters Hear Issues
Discussed.

st. Matthews, June 17.-Calhoun
County received It's baptism OF State
politics today in the grove that sur
rounds the school house here, when
the first gun in the State campaign
was fired by the candidates for State
offices. Everything that could contri-
butte to the comfort and pleasure Of
the guests of the Baby" county had
been arranged by special committee
and not a hitch occurred in the pro-
gramme. The day was warm and
bright the recently organized Cal
houn band was on hand discoursing
sweet music, splendid dinner was
In course of preparation in the school
house, and as result crowd num-
bering about three hundred persons
was present. Most Of the business
1 houses were closed for the occasion,
which was In every way most au-
spicious one.
Those present were Gov. Ansel.
Senator Cole L. Blease. Candidate for
Governor; Liuetenant Governor T. q.
Mcleod. Secretary Of State r. M. Nc
Gown. State Treasurer Jennings, At
torney General Lyon, Comptroller
General Jones. E. c. Elmore, s. r.
Mellichamp and J. e. Swearingen, all
candidates for the office OF superin-
tendent Of education. Railroad COM
missioner Caughman and MessrS.
James Cansier. F. c. Fishburne, j. A.
summersett and H. w. Richardson.
all candidates for the position now
held by Mr.. Caughman.
Gov. Ansel Introduced.
1t was about IL o'clock when the
gavel Of Chairman Dreher fell and
he announced that the first campaign
meeting had opened. AS the hrst
speaker he presented Gov. Ansel,
whose appearance was greeted with
rousing cheer. He spoke extempo-
raneously. and as each speaker was
limited to ten minutes his remarks
were necessarily brief. He stated
that there were no issues or especial
Importance before the people in the
lcampaign, hut he expressed his views
on the liquor question and OF, the
nnanciaI condition OF the stats. In
giving his attitude on the liquor ques-
ton he said:
my position on the liquor question
Is what ! call restricted local option
that Is, local option as between coun-
ty prohibition and county dispensary.
Those counties voting to sell liquor
shall be restricted to one dispensary
In the county. and that one at the
county seat. except those counties
wherein there is a city OF more than
$4,000 population, in which counties
more than one dispensary may be es-
tablished. This Is in accordance with
| my recommendations to the general
assembly as set forth In my annual
message Of 1908. Is In the interest Of
temperance and will minimize the
sale of liquor.
with the experience that / have
had In the past two years in the pro.
posed elections that were desired in
some counties on the liquor question
am Of the opinion that 1t will be
better to enact law by which a
| county can vote on the question Of
voting In the sale of liquor as above
restricted instead Of voting II out as
now provided: that is to make all the
counties dry until a majority OF the
qualified voters Of q. county vote to
sell liquor Ia that particular county.
ani IL a majority Of the qualified
voters vote to sell that one county
dispensary then be established as
above set forth with the right to vote
tho dispensary out at a subsequent
election.
I'm no state can liquor be sold as
a matter Of right. Permission has TO
oe Obtained from the proper authO.i-
ties Ia the way provided by law. and
IL seems to me that the better plan
In this state would be to provide for
voting the sale in rather than voting
II out under the restriction above
set forth. Whatever law. however.
the general assembly in It's wisdom
may enact I shall endeavor to en-
force"
| As to the financial affairs Of the
state the governor was in favor. he
SAID. of the levying an extra two-mill
taN for the purpose Of bringing the
revenues Of the State up to the point
where 1t will not be nece ssary to bor-
row three hundred md Aftv <houso n