The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-08-02
WHO CAN DEFEAT BLEASE?
Manning and Mcleod Regarded Az
Successful Opponents.

Florence, July 25.--With election
time still one year distant, people In
certain sections of the State, possibly
In all sections. for that matter, ar.
already discussing possibilities" CT
to be more accurate. they have con-
tinued to discuss them ever since tn.
last election. But It may he said
with truth that in tins part OF Soutl,
Carolina interest Is very deep, ami
the shaping up Is already taking
place-that Is. In the minds OF
the people. for the attitud" OF
the possibilities Is not yet known. Un.
like office-seekers In Georgia those
who are willing to serve the
South Carolina public are somewhat
bashful about declaring their inten-
tions so long beforehand. But the
people generally do not object to THIS
disposition. as Shey are spared much
that makes Georgia politics objec
tionable.
Still. the people are discussing mat
ters even without the consent of
those who will In good time appear
: on the hustings with remedies for
all public Ills. 1t may be stated
without fear Of contradiction that the
all-absorbing question wL;ch Is re.
ceiving most attention just now In this
| section Is who can defeat Blease for
governor The friends Of the pres
, ent occupant ot tSa, posi,iou as wsil
, as those who oppose him are asking
/ the question. Only It Is asked from
, a different angle.
II Is needless to state that lines
are very clearly drawn. Supporters
OF the present administration con-
stitute one political party just now:
those who oppose II from the other.
Just as surely as every effort will be
put forth for the reelection Of Gov
ernor Blease should he offer, will
every possible means be used by the
opposition to defeat him. 1t Is true
that no inconsiderable number are
OF the opinion that he will not again
offer for the governorship. and some
very. plausible reasons for such a
course are announced-those reasons
OF course. not coming from head
quarters. but finding their origin In
the minds Of a specializing people
The writer has met no one thus far
who believes that Blease will not
have strenuous opposition.
The question was asked bore
What pubic act of the governors
lays him open to the most effect; ,,
attack" In answer to this a rep
resentative citizen declared that Gov
: ernor Blease's position In the school
book purchase was the most vuiner.
able of his public acts. Another
avowed that the pardon of Wash
Hunter. a former client of the gov.
ernor's was open to the most effect
I've attack. Still another declared
that the governors pardon record ir
rs entirety was a point on which
he will be effectively opposed. giving
as his reason that the people re.
sented such general interference with
the work of the courts. People pa,
taxes to run the courts for their owr
A., protection" said he. land when the
finding Of these courts are so raod.
T., lily set aside. they see where their
taxes are going. and that is a sen.
sitive point with the people of the
state. especially since Governo,
Blease's Platform paid such especia
attention to the saving OF taxes tc
the people"
4 Who Will run against Bleas,
should he again offer for the COVER
norship That question passes be-
yond the discussions In which tn,
/ people alone are concerned. for ther,
enters the element Of the reluctan
4 candidate. 1t Is needless to say, how
ever. that here In the Pee Dee tn,
people are talking Of two possibilities
II. i. Manning and r. G. Mcleod
Their discussions are. In truth, con
fined to the two. both Of whom ar,
well known and popular throughou
eastern South Carolina. and the pre-
vailing opinion I'm this part OF tn,
state Is that either OF the two coul,
make very strong race, and the ma
jority who have discussed the mat
ter In the presence Of the writer de
clare that either can defeat him. ]
should be remembered that Bleas,
did not draw any great strength II
this section Of the state. Florenc,