Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-06-16
Mr.. Rhett For Senator.

Mr.. R. Goodwin Rhett, Mayor of
Charleston, is a candidate for United
States Senator, and will today file his
pledge with the State Democratic eX-
ecutive committee TO abide by the
rules of the party and the result OF
the primary. He has issued the tol-
lowing announcement:
ITO the Democratic voters OF South
Carolina: l have determined TO be a
candidate for United States Senator at
the approaching primary election. L
shtll tomorrow file my pledge with the
State Democratic executive committee
as required by the rules Of the party
and will abide by the result of the pri-
mary election. l respectfully Soilclt
the support of the Democratic voters
of the State.
"R GOODWIN Rhett."
While Mr.. Rhett's entrance into the
contest was not expected II mas DeeIi
known that for months he mas peeh
urged to offer as a candidate by trlehus
and admirers i'm all parts of South
Carolina. When asked yesterday as
To his platform, he said that as the
campaign on the stump would open in
a few days he would wait until then
to outline his views as to the pOlltlcal
issues of the day.
Mr.. Rhett Is we'll known Throughout
the State. He is now serving his sec
Ond four-year term as Mayor OF this
city, having been reelected last year
without opposition and with the unan-
imous endorsement of the city Demo,
cratic convention. He is in the full
vigor of manhood, somewhere in his
forties, is an attractive and forceful
speaker and a thorough student or
economic questions. The field as 1t
now stands, though some OF the gen.
tlemen have not yet fileA their pledges,
is composed of Col. George tombstone,
OF Newberry, Mr.. E. d. Smith, or
Florence county, Ex-Governor John
Gary Evans, Of Spartanburg, and Su-
perintendent of Education o. b. Mar
tin, Of Greenville. and Mr.. Rhett, eX-
Governor Hayward, on account or Ill
ness. having withdrawn. Mr. Rhett Is
the first Charleston man to offer Tor
the United States Senate since the
Democrats came into power in 1876.
The entrance of Mr. Rhett will COM
pletely readjust prognostications as t.
the result of the race, as IT Will be
generally universally conceded that
he will be an important factor in the
contest.
Mr.. Rhett is a lawyer by profession,
having received his education at the
university of Virginia, and is president
of the Peoples National Bank, one Of
the oldest national banks in the State.
He has been active in Democratic pol
itics since he attained his majority and
is universally popular with the people
of his county. There is no office In
their gift that he may not have for the
asking. Four years ago he was elect
ed delegate at large to the National
Democratic Convention, along with
Senator Tillman, Governor D. c. Hey
ward and Col. Willie Jones. Though
his business interests and official du-
ties are engrossing, he has found time
to give the closest attention to public
questions. He is a man Of commanding
presence, standing more than six feet,
and has a rare aptitude for making
friends.
Mr.. Rhett has never been actively
identified with factiOnal politics and
throughout his career has had de-
voted supporters in all factions. While
there are other able men in the race
for Senator it may be safely said that
Mr.. Rhett's entrance will contribute
generously to the intelligent discussion
on the stump of the larger questions
that affect the country, and will add
To the disposition of other candidates
to pitch the debates on a dignified
plane worthy of the prize that is
Sought.-News and Courier. June II.