The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-11-13
MANY CANDIDATES WILLING
Prominent Citizens Who Are Not
Averse to Holding Office.


OF the political outlook in South Car
oiina as it as developed at the political
conferences and log-rolling caucus
held during fair week:
A deal of political talk and log-rol-
ling there was here in the hotel lob
bies and on the streets fair week as is
usual with this annual gathering of
prominent men. from all parts of the
State. The week is looked forward
70 as furnishing an opportunity for
framing up State political deals of
all kinds and the politicians and
statesmen are always on hand to pro-
tect themselves and get their ears to
the ground. And this year immedi-
ately preceding an election year the
interest was greater and the work
harder, although so far as could be
learned there were no definite frame
ups for any particular office.
The greatest activity and the larg-
est volume Of talk had reference to
the gubernatorial candidates. The
week appears to have developed one
entirely new entry and to have made
| definite the candidates. Of several
others. There appears to be now sew
en- definite possible candidates who
VIII enter the race for governor next
summer. Thes are Richard I. Man
ming of Sumter. Lieut.. Gov. Thomas
G. Mcleod, Of Bishopville, c. c..
| Featherstone Of Laurens, John G..
Richards, Of Kershaw, F. H. Hyatt, Of
Columbia. Cole L. Blease, of New
berry. and Attorney General J. Fraser
Lyon. of Abbeville.
| All Of these were here fair week
mixing with their friends and talking
about the prospects, as were the two
United States senator's, three con-
gressmen and a score or more lesser
lights in the States political firma-
ment.
| or these seven, it is curious to note,
five are Methodists: Messrs. Blease,
Mcleod, Featherstone, Hyatt and Ly-
on. Mr.. Manning is an Episcopalian
and Mr.. Richards Presbyterian. OF
the seven named Messrs. Manning,
Mcleod Featherstone and Blease
definitely announced that they would
be in the race.
None seemed disposed to finally
outline his platform, but from this
distance it looks as if all will advo-
cate prohibition except Mr.. Blease,
who will run on the same mixed liu-
uor platform as he ran on when Gov
ernor Ansel beat him 10000 votes in
the gubernatorial race last time. But
it is understood Mr.. Blease will make
State finances the chief plank in his
platform.
There are dim outlines of a possi-
bic interesting rivalry between Mes
srs. Lyon and Manning, the indica-
tions pointing to efforts on the part OF
many Of Mr.. Lyons strongest friends
to sidetrack him for the present in ia
vor of Mr.. Manning on the score that
| Mr.. Lyon has not yet completed his
work in the graft cases. These argue
that it would be best to save Mr.. ly-
G. to run against Senator Tillman.
which certainly provides an interest
| 20
cal enemies, Senator Tillman having
at'en pied to defeat the attorney gen
era on account of certain features of
the first graft investigations. But MI.
Lyon says when he gets ready to run
for governor he will do so without
consulting these so-called friends His
work with the dispensary investiga-
tions has aroused strong antipathy in
various parts of the State. His friends
point out that he is practically sure
to get results in the graft prosecu-
tions at Chester, and in plenty Of time
to enter the race for governor.
The leading prohibition candidate
| appears TO be Mr.. FeatherStone.
Mr.. Richards is yet undecided as to
how he will vote next spring in the
| legislature on liquor or whether he
will enter the race for governor. He
expresses the firm conviction, how
ever, that the legislature will pass a
Statewide prohibition act.
| Mr.. Hyatt will run on a business
mans platform. He has for several
years been president of the State
good roads association and through
| his work with the cotton association
is in close touch with the farmers. He
also has about 10000 Mutual Life
policy holders over the State and a
hundred or so agents, many Of whom
will naturally work for him.