The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-08-03
" Err s T.. WEDNESDAY. AUGUST 8 1910

AiiNo'oS idteT Evans re-entered the
stage and quietly took a seat; LYON
sat In the right wing.
The loud cheers for Ragsdalc were
In appreciation of his calm, collected
and determined manner of handling
the situation. Many believed that he
prevented a serious encounter; wheth
er this or not, he won the warm COM
mendation Of the entire audience by
his actions. Many of the candidates
who followed complimented him, and
the county for having selected such a.
chairman.
The meeting today was held in the
opera House, presided over by the
hon. j. Willard Ragsdale and opened
with prayer by the Rev. Will B. Oliv-
er, of the First Baptist Church. When
the speaking began there were but
hundred people present, but the
number swelled to four hundred be-
fore Attorney General Lyon conclud-
ed. Featuring the occasion was the
Lyon-Evans episode, a challenge to
the editor of the State by Cole L.
Blease, candidate for Governor, the
ovations accorded Thos. G.. Mcleod.
Attorney General Lyon and James e.
Ellerbe, the enthusiastic reception
given Charles A. Smith in his home
county, and the bestowal Of bouuets
ON three candidates who have hither-
to- not been thus favored, Blease,
Mahon and Duvall. o. c. Scarborough
was loudly applauded and proved the
favorite among the candidates for
railroad commissioner.
After the Lyon Evans incident the
remainder Of the meeting was rather
tame and apparently of no great in
terest to the people. When the can
didates for Governor spoke, the au-
dience had thinned out perceptibly.
All the candidates except Hampton
| were present.
The sturdy Florentines heard John
T. Duncan "for his cause" but alb.
solutely refused to applaud him. One
might easily have heard a pin drop
when the candidate from Columbia
concluded. Duncan agrees with DR..
Daniel, about the wickedness Of the
State Capital. and is glad to find him
self "in such good company"
Blease Issues Challenge.
Mayor Blease wants a debate be-
tween himself and the editor of the
Columbia State, or at least with the
author of that editorial squib in Sat-
urday's issue Of that paper, in ref
erence to that utterance Mr.. Blease
said:
Il notice in the editorial column of
the State newspaper of this day, We
shall in day or two have something
to say in regard to the candidacy of
Candidate Blease that will not be re-
garded as Endorsement
II believe that the people of South
Carolina are in favor of fair play, and
1 now request and invite the man
who wrote that article to come on
the rostrum at Columbia at the State
campaign meeting next Saturday, Aug
ust 6, and have his something to say
in regard to the candidacy of Candi-
date Blease to my face, where I can
and will have the opportunity to
make reply; and if he declines this,
then I demand that he name a time
and place where he will agree to meet
me face to face and make his state
ments."
Following this Mr.. Blease made a
strong plea for economy in the States
affairs, particularly in the higher edu-
cationa institutions. He says Fur
man, Wofford, Erskine and Newberry
are running on one-third the money
given State institutions, and are send
ing out just as brainy men and ac-
complishing just as much good.
Messrs. Hyatt and Richards made
their usual speeches, each receiving
applause, being several times inter-
rupted Herewith. 1t was an obvious
fact that there were some strong
Statewide prohibitionists in the au-
dience, as we'll as local optionists; the
latter, however, were in the majority.
Mcleod was easily the favorite, but
as to who came out second best, it
Is debatable, all, except Duncan, being
warmly applauded.
E. w. Duvall, for Lieutenant Gov
ernor, made his best speech today,
and was loudly cheered. Mr.. Smith
spoke but a few moments.
Col. w. w. Moore seemed to be the
favorite among the candidates for
Adjutant General