The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-02-16
POLITICAL p0r IS BuBBL|NG,
NEWS AND GOSSIP ABOUT THE
CAMPAIGN THIS SUMMER.
Whiskey Question, Will, as Usual,
Play an Important Part in the
Gubernatorial Race, 1t is Expected
New House and a Half New SEN
ute Will Constitute the Next Legis.
lature.

Columbia, Feb. Tn the closing
days Of the General Assembly the DO
litical pot bubbles a little more than
ever. AS the summer time draweth
nearer and nearer those whose ewes
are centred upon Gubernatorial hon
ors are watching the turn of political
events, and are framing their plat
forms and basing their hopes there
on
II there Is one man in South Caro-
lima who can tell today with any de-
gree of certainty who the next gov
ernor of the State will be, he de-
serves to be ranked with the prophets
Of old. Even more 80 than in the
days when there were grave political
issues before the people, Is the task
of picking the winner" difficult.
1t must always have something of
whiskey in 1t. this South Carolina
platform. For generations this ques-
ton has vexed South Carolinians.
Yet fresh in the minds of politicians
and others Is the State dispensary
fight, then the establishment of the
county dispensary system after the
old State dispensary had passed away.
Then came this new wave-prohibi-
ton. Although no governor has gone
into office upon the pillows of that
heavy seat so appears to bet
has been platform more than once.
And again 1t will be.
During the approaching campaign,
in so far as whiskey and alleged alb
stenance from 1t are concerned, there
will be three platforms supporting
candidates as follows, as the situa-
tion appears today:
I. A prohibition candidate.
2. A local option candidate.
8. A high license candidate.
Just at this stage Of the game those
whose caps will fit the above bid fair
to be: c. G. Featherstone, prohibition
candidate (announced) r. I. Man
ming, local option: T. G. Mcleod, high
license.
In addition to these three upon spe-
cific platforms, Cole L. Blease, of
Newberry, will be in the race with
his usual vigor, F. H. Hyatt, of CO.
lumbia, has also been mentioned by
his friends for the race. However,
only two men have come out official
ly and they are: Cole Blease and c.
c. Featherstone. John G.. Richards,
OF Kershaw. has also been urged to
run. but 80 far there has been no
definite announcement from him as
to whether or not he wuld be in the
race. ]. Fraser Lyon. attorney gen.
eral, had pressure brought to bear
that he run, but 1t is stated by his
friends that he will not be In the
race.
In this interesting lineup Of pos
sibilities for the Gubernatorial battle
there ought to be some Developments
OF more than usual import. The prob
| ability Of the withdrawal Of at least
one of the above named candidates
II not two or three, will only add to
the stiffness of the conflict in the
summer days when the running will
be the hardest.
nfvy
ried opinions as to the race And II
Is In the county papers that very Of
ten can be found the so called "voice
of the people,"
The Times and Democrat of Or
| angeburg says:
"The race for governor this year
will be between Featherstone and
Manning. The latter will win, be-
cause the prohibition wave Is subsid-
ing. Featherstone has waited too
long. He could have beaten Cover
nor Ansel in the last election when
the people were wild on prohibition,
but they have cooled off now and will
vote for Mr.. Manning. Paste this in
your hat, and see how near we have
come to guessing the next governors
name"
The above is just one Of the many
expressions that have been made on
the political situation. Some of the
county papers are supporting the pro-
hibition candidate, and some Of them
are noncommittal, and others, while
supporting no particular candidate,
are advocating a business admins
tration.-News and Courier.