The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1908-08-06
SENATORIAL CANDIDATES.
THE VOTERS. OF
BAMBERG LAST SATURDAY.

ADDRESSED THE VOTERS OF
BAMBERG LAST SATURDAY.
Lively Exchange Between Grace and
Rhett-Candidates for Congress
and Solicitor Also Spoke.
The candidates for the United
States Senate spoke in Bamberg last
Saturday. The meeting was held in
the court house, beginning at II
o'clock, and was presided over by
County Chairman H. G. Folk. Rev.
T. G. Herbert offered prayer.
The court house was hot place,
but the crowd was good humored,
and heard with patience the uninter-
esting speeches of the numerous fel-
lows who want the Senatorial toga,
while they enjoyed the humor inject
ed into the meeting. There was
about four hundred people present,
among them several ladies.
JOHN GARY EVANS.
John Gary Evans was the first
speaker. He made characteristic
speech. This was the most 1mpor-
tant campaign in twenty years to
the farmers. The issue OF the imam
cial policy of the government had
been injected into the campaign.
Rhett's financial scheme was most
dangerous since the civil war. 1t
was the duty of the government not
only to coin gold and silver but to
make paper money as well, instead
of national banks being given this
power. He spoke Of the work done
by the Farmers Alliance in demand
ing more money and putting up the
price of cotton. Charged Rhett with
boiling the Democratic party, yet the
Republicans had done the very thing
Rhett said was wrong for the Demo
Gratis to do. Rhett wanted to take
away from the government the right
to issue paper money snd give 1t to
the national banks, and if this was
done when you needed money the
banks wouldn't let you have 1t. His
entire speech was an attack on Rhetts
currency plan, whooping up the Far
mers' Alliance, denouncing banks
and bankers and rich people, gener-
ally. Evans invariably said we OF
the Farmers Alliance" He seemed
to delight in the use of the term
"plutocrats.' He was coldly receiy-
ed and got little applause.
JOHN P. GRACE.
John P. Grace, of Charleston, came
forward as the next speaker, and
Holland Kennedy remarked: We
say grace just before dinner. Are
YOU going to give us a snack?"
Grace started his speech by stating
that the predatory interests OF the
country were making their last
stand in the United States Senate,
and led his hearers to believe that
the country and they too were going
to the devil If business man such
as Rhett claimed to be was sent there.
Made his usual statements as to be-
ing a Democrat and said no matter
in what part of the country he lived
he would still be Democrat. Judg-
ing from the territory covered one
would infer that he would still be a
Democrat in hell or any other place.
He made his usual attack on Rhett
and got little comfort from the audi
ence. Grace said there were but two
ideas Of government, the Jeffersonian
and Hamiltonian, and then Holland
Kennedy yelled out: "And the Rhett.
Hurrah for old Charleston and
Rhett.' Mr.. Grace's reference to
Bryan as the greatest living orator
brought forth applause, and B. F..
Folk remarked: "Some of US think
Bryan a stale egg. We set him twice
and he didn't hatch" Grace made
a neat retort by saying he thought
Bryan would hatch this time, and
there wouldn't be any thanks coming
from the hens who refused to sit in
1896. Made his usual reference
to a letter written by Rhett, say
ing in substance that he was a
Republican. Was making no per-
so1fal campaign, and called on the
audience to witness that he made
no personal remarks. Said he
was running to keep the Senatorial
toga from being packed in the ele-
plants trunk, and Kennedy hit him
again by saying: $50 you are not
running to be elected, but to try to
beat Rhett." Mr.. Grace's counte-
nance is not prepossessing, and while
few friends of the other candidates
were pleased at his attack on Rhett,
the larger part of the audience SEEM
ed disgusted with his TRADE.
COL. GEORGE TOMBSTONE.
George Johnstone, of Newberry,
said it had been his fortune through
out the campaign to speak immediate
ly after Grace, and it was unpleasant
to him and must be to the audiences
to hear the differences between the
gentlemen from Charleston discuss
ed day after day. Suggested. that the
letter spoken of be read and the
whole matter settled. AS each made
statements with so much fervor and
earnestness, was inclined to think
both were telling the truth. He
thought possibly the best thing thing
to do was to put them both in charge
of Mr.. Hepoo, as he called Mr.. Ken
nedy, and send them back to Char
lesion. The two great interests in
South Carolina are cotton producing
and cotton manufacturing, and both