The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-08-10


ably numbered three hundred To four
hundred. not all being from the i'm
mediate vicinity. for there were sew
eral from this city. others from
Mayesville and vicinity. others from
Lynchburg and adjacent sectors OF
Lee county and stlll others from Clar-
endon county. The meeting was, in
the main. orderly and all the candi-
dates were given a respectful hearing
three or four selt-elected champions
OF Blease who persisted In asking the
candidates how they stood on the
race for Governor. one answer not
appearing to satisfy them. A ma
jority OF the crowd listened atten-
lively to what the candidates had TO
say and appeared anxious to get at
the facts and to obtain information
that would enable them to form an
Intelligent and unprejudiced opinion
as TO the merits OF the candidates.
The real feature of the meeting
the one that came as surprise and
that excited the most interest and
comment. was a speech delivered by
Mr.. ID. NJ. Green. of Shiloh. after all
the candidates had spoken. and the
reply made by Senator j. III. Clifton,
who was given an opportunity to de-
fend himself and other members Of
the Legislature. the dispepsary in
vestigating committee in particular.
against the very severe attack made
upon their record by Mr.. Green.
Mr.. Green. who is one Of the lead
ing citizens of the Shiloh section, is
q zealous and uncompromising par
tisan Of Gov. Blease. and ne attacked
the Legislature as a whole, the dis
pensary investigating committee and
all others who have not supported
Gov. Blease In the past or are not now
supporting him. He denounced Judge
Jones In scathing terms, character
ing him as the tool OF the corpor-
ations and the enemy of the poor
man. He followed closely In the
footsteps of Blease himself, in de-
nouncing the legislature and all 9TH
ers who differed with him. In behalf
Of Blease he claimed that he was the
poor mans friend, that he had saved
s6s.00o to the taxpayers by vetoing
the extravagant appropriations of the
legislature. that Blease was on the
Lords side and that all who wanted
to be on the Lords side should sup
port him. The speech was frequently
interspersed with quotations from the
Bible and scriptural illusions. and
Mr.. Green showed himself 10 be in
tensely In earnest and excited.
Senator Clifton In reply said that
he had attended the meeting as a
spectator and had no intention of
making a speech, but that as his rec
ord had been attacked. his acts critl-
cised and his motives as a public SER
want questioned he felt II his dusy TO
state the facts. as no better defence
could be made than bare recital OF
the facts. He spoke forcibly and di-
rect from the shoulder. Beginning
with the election of Gov. Blease. he
said that he had known Gov. Blease
for upwards Of twenty years and had
been associated with him in the
House and Senate. While never a
eoon companion or follower of
Blease their intercourse had been
friendly and pleasant and when Blease
was elected he entertained no anita
gonism. political or otherwise. against
him. and was prepared "a give him as
Governor al possible cooperation I'm
all measures he might advocate for
the good of the State. But Blease IN
stead OF measuring up To his oppor-
tunity To be the Governor Of the State.
had in his very first message to the
Legislature used such violent. abusive
and prOfane language that IL was an
insult To- any body Of men. not To say
the legislative branch of the state
Government Mr.. Clifton then re-
viewed the record Of the Governor IN
connection with the demand ne had
made for an investigation of the dis.
pensary commission. Blease making
charges of graft. and corvpption
against the old commission that ne
never had the manhood or decency
10 even try To prove. lie explained
how III" Legislature had passed the
bill asked for by Blease. how he We
toed a. how IL was passed over his
veto and the committee appointed To