The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-07-13

HeW toOtn. Ana there was consider
able stir, much noise and copious
weeping in the process. Which is to
say that the infant county, Jasper
had her first State campaign meeting
today; that the natives We're some
what Hurried over the event; that
there was a due amount of yelling,
and that the heavens wept through
out the proceedings. Cutting teeth
is painful process, but Jasper has
cut few already so that the ordeal
today was passed with reasonable for
urude and satisfactory results. There
was no feature to the meeting, ex-
cept possibly the fact that this was un-
QuestiOnaby a Blease crowd. An un-
pleasant feature was the thorough
soaking that almost everybody got;
for the meeting was held in a little
| batch Of woods, and the rain; it did
rain until the last speaker was con-
Guiding. Then it very CONSIDERABLY
stopped. Governor Blease said he was
glad it rained, his remark did not
meet universal approval. He thought
it was a good baptism for the infant
colnty, especially as it was being bap-
tized with water that fell on the just
only. OF course, there were some
here who believe what the Bible says
about rain failing in the just and
the unjust alike.
| Be that as it may, the speakers
stood in a soaking rain and told the
people Of their virtues. The people
stood beneath weeping oaks and lis
tened. Strange TO say that about half
We're more pretty white frocks ruined
today than Aunt Dinah can press out
again in month. One of the pleas
ures of the day was to have the dam
on a mans hat brim overflow and a
half-hour's collection of rain drops
precipitated inside ones collar. 1t
was a glorious day.
| There were possibly two hundred
patriotic souls who braved the days
inclemency.
Jasper is young yet and has no
Court house; not even Jail. Verify
a Jail would have been Il comfort to-
day-anywhere to hold the meeting.
They talked about gathering in the
| school house, but that was not fea-
l.-il 4,
such furry that almost everybody
was befuddled about the place of
meeting. one pitiful sight today was
that of four newspaper reporters and
two candidates, rain bedraggled and
in unholy mood. searching the town
of Ridgeland and securing the woods
Whereabouts for political meeting
they heard was about to he perpetrat-
ed. After Il time success crowned
their mighty efforts. and after a still
greater time the fresh water meeting
opened, County Chairman w. \.
Sauls holding the gavel.
The candidates were in lovely hui
NOR leaving Beaufort early this
morning. but that was all spoiled by
a three.hour's wait in Yemassee. the
train for Ridgeland being two hours
and half late, arriving here at 11.15.
II the candidates had been able to
agree on shortening thcir speeches a
little, and if the meeting could have
been called promptly, the entire party
would have been able to leave here
today. But-no use. Some are here
Tor the night; some are sWeetly re-
posing in dear old Hampton; some are
swearing at everything in sight.
Clouds, rain, wet clothes. mud and
| political heat are not conducive to IA
good disposition.
KS suggested, Jasper turned out
l5lease audience today. However.
Judge Jones was listened to with
marked attention, and his arguments
! were put forward with force. COY
"rnor Bloase got the yclls: his mig
ger platforms were crowded with
r"ot"rs the talk about social equality
"vokins l"udeSt cheering. But even i'm
! this tn" applause was not 50 spuntau-
oous The most ardent partisan can't
really turn himself loose on day
like this.
1t Was noticeable that Governor
i'l"aSr DEVOTED more time today to