The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1908-07-29

and straightforward manner that ap-
pealed to his hearers. He is opposed
to Crum or any other negro holding
Office for that matter. Was loudly
applauded at close of speech.
Mr.. E. D. Smith was introduced
amid applause. He explained why
he wrote the article in 1906 referred
to by Mr.. Martin. Reviewed the con-
ditions then and the conditions now.
Told how he had fought for the DEM
ocratic party and white supremacy.
Discussed the tariff at great length.
Jollied Rhett's idea Of business ad-
ministration-the country has enough
business men now, robbing the people.
He was applauded several times.
Hon. John Gary Evans followed
Smith. He told how he had fought
with others Is and 20 years ago for
what Smith is fighting for now. He
arraigned Rhett's currency platform.
He scored the press of the State for
notreporting the meetings-all igned
up for one man. Money and trusts
on one side and the people on the
other. Discussed money question.
Said uhat our taSif was q process of
stealing from the American producer,
especially the southern farmer. Was
sapplauded as>he sat- down. ,.I..,.:i
Mr.. j. P. Grace began his address
by referring pleasantly to Lexington
county. He then referred to the
statement of Mr.. Rhett that the day
of oratory is past. Mr.. Rhett says,
that he is in favor of equal rights to
all and special privileges to none. He
jumped on the newspapers and de-
clared that they only published gar
bled reports of the meetings. He de-
voted most Of his time to Mr.. Rhett.
Is not assailing him personally, but
Rhett uses half his time assailing him.
Said Rhett was an eleventh hour
democrat. That Rhett bolted the
Bryan ticket in 1S96-refused to vote
at all. Mr.. Grace was applauded sew
eral times during his speech.
Col. George Johnstone was the last
speaker. he was introduced amid
applause. :, Indeed, he received an
ovation, the like Of which has never
been accorded candidate for the
United States Senate in this county.
His every utterance was the cause Of
an outburst Of applause, and when
his time was up the crowd would not
let him stop. Col. Johnstone re-
viewed his record, and pleasantly
paid his respects to the two candi-
dates from Charleston. He then
turned his guns on Mr.. Rhett's cur
rency platform with telling effect, de-
claring it to be undemocratic. In re-
ply to Mayor Rhett's declaration in
favor of white supremacy, he stated
that there were today, under his ad-
minisuration as Mayor of Charleston,
negro policemen, and that one of
them had arrested white woman.
Mr.. Rhett interrupted him to say that
he did not have the power under the
law to remove policemen from Office
except on evidences of misconduct.
Col. Johnstone replied by saying that
as Mayor of Charleston he ought to
have the law changed. This brought
forth an outburst of applause. Col.
Johnstone vigorously assailed E. D.
Smith for dragging the cotton associ-
alton into politics to elevate himself
in public Office. He stated that Mr..
Smith had urged that no officer of the
cotton association ought ever enter
politics, and that he himself would
not do so. Yet he was appealing to
that influence to elect him. This
thrust brought forth peals of applause
and several men from the audience,
who were Farmers Union men, yelled
that Smith could not get there by
their vote. lCols Johnstone closed
amid vociferous applause, and as
he took his seat large part of the
audience came forward to shake his
hand. ."