The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-08-14

MI. K. ID. Epps said he had no
hobbies to advocate and if ba was
. the legislature would not be
WORKING Tor some pet measure. Men
are needed in the legislature WHO
know no friends and fear no foes in
'"e performance Of their duty. He
would make. but one pladge-to per
FORM his 3Mty as his conscience and
]udgment dictated to oe To the bast
interests OF the people Of Sumter
county aod the State He explained
MS Views on the schoel question and
specialized education fitted 10 the
heeos ot the time. He also outlined
MS Views as 70 the cotton warehouse
DILL Hailroad fares and the duty of
legislators to see shat the rights of
the individual are safeguarded and
ina. the rights of corporations are
not infringed.
Mr.. j. X. MeElveen outlined his
platform practically as he did at
Shiloh He favors good roads but is
opposed to bond issues for road pur
poses' pre1Enrlng to go along as we
nave In the past, especially since Su-
peWisor Pitts is doing such good
WORK In building good roads with the
means on hand. He devoted more
time to advocating the enactment of
law giving magistrates jurisdiction
IN cases up to $3.50, as means of
eNpedlting litigation and saving the
county thousands of dollars annual
ly.
Mr.. w. p. Smith announced his
candidacy in practically the same
terms as at Shiloh, and pledged him.
self to do his duty as he saw it, with
fairness and justice to ALL
Mr.. K. L. Belser began his speech
by saying that in giving an account
ot MS work in the legislature he
would first take up the criticism that
all members had been subjected to on
account of their conflict with Gov.
Biease. The issue was not raised bv
the legislature, but by Blease. He
had antagonized and insulted the
legislature al the very outset before
he mad any reason for believing tnat
TIE legislature was for or against
him. He had attempted to override
the legislature and to rule the State
/ of lou.
tempt Of the constitution. Blease had
made the issue and the legislature
had met it as was to have been ex-
pected of ldw-ah.uing aud sol4.r.-
specting rel esenta,lVvs ~ the peoDIy
by refusing ," "uN 90 nina in rl> .ta-
Il less career and oy upholdirt III
laws and the constitution Of -Ac STATE.
Notwithstanding the antagonism that
Blease had shown toward the legis-
ature he (Belser) had not been gov
erned by prejudice in his course. He
had regard for the merits Of the mea-
Sures as they came up and never ia
vored or opposed a bill because it was
N'N cNotCU VI oPPOScu lie
had voted in the legislature as he
thought best regardless of Blease, but
ne resented the course Blease had
adopted and all other self-respecting
members had resented his abusive
messages and his denunciation of the
legislators as liars and towards.
Knowing Blease's record he believed
him to be unfit to hold the office of
Governor and was therefore opposed
TO his reelection. He then discussed
some Of the more flagrant acts of the
Governor especially his vetoes of
bills that We're for the benefit of the
whole people. He also related how
he had opposed the enactment of the
law chartering and granting extraor-
; dinary privileges to the interurban
road in the Piedmont. He had the
bill amended in some particulars, but
failed to have it amended as it
should have been. He then went to
Gov. Blease in person and pointed
out the Objectionable features in the
bill. whereby valuable rights Of the
state were given to this corporation:
Gov. Blease had promised to look into
L with critical care, but had after
first saying he would veto the bill,
had for some unexplained cause
signed it. (This is the bill that Gov
Blease signed in compliance with the
opportunities of his friend sam
Nlchols.) Mr. Belser gave an eX-
haustive analysis of the state finances
showing that the money derived from
taxes has not been squandered and