The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-08-24
the CAMPAIGN ENDS.
JONES SPEAKS FOR LAW AND OR.
DER-BLEASE STANDS BY HIS
FRIENDS.
tremendous Crowd Assembled i'm
Greenville But Good Order Was
Enforced and All The Candidates
Were Given Il Respectful Hearing.

Greenvilie, Aug. 22.-Piedmont
counties to the number of a dozen
yielded an audience of 4,5OO for The
State campaign meeting held in CITY
Park, Greencville, today. This was
the fcrty-fourth and last official
meeting of biennial canvass unpar-
alleled within score Of years for
spirit and interest.
Elaborate police dispositions fore-
stalled execution of any will or pur-
opse which might have been enter
tanned to create disorders. The only
disturbance was fist fight between
spectators. which was quelled in its
incipiency without interfering appre
ciably with the programme.
Expected predictions of victory
were made by both Of the candidates
for governor, in whose contest the
chief interest of the campaign centres.
but between their respective profess
sions of confidence appeared the diff
terence which exists in character and
temperament between Ira B. Jones
and Cole l.. Blease. Whereas Judge
Jones was content to- express deep and
serene satisfaction at his assured ex-
pectation of victory, without attempt
ing extended or absurdly specific pre-
fn he
protested his belief in his reelection
SO fulsomely and extravagantly. with
so much Of studied emphasis and re-
iteration. that he conveyed to observ-
ers trained in Interpretation Of his
moods strong impression of panic
and OF sullen misgiving as to the ou.-
come. He sees the handwriting on
the WALL" Judge Jones declared: and
visitors from other places
who heard him agreed that the COVER
nor did indeed have the manner of
one who has seen dismaying visions:
this, too. in spite of all the moral
support afforded him by the presence
OF faithful hackers gathered from all
the State to make a last strong show
ing in his behalf.
Characteristic also of the two men,
in their widely different ideas of pub
lie policy, were the addresses they
delivered today as their last formal
messages TO the people whose suf-
frages they have sought in this, cam
paign. Gov. Blease only rang the
changes anew on the sort Of appeal
which he has relied on. throughout
the IL years Of his participation in
State politics. RancOrous and vindic-
tive in spirit. Incorporate in manner,
his address was directed to the pas
sions OF his hearers rather than to j
their reason. though he was astute
enough TO refrain for once from such
threats as he indulged himself in at
Charleston and Camden against citi-
zens who might have the temerity to
vote against him. "Niggers'' and news
his familiar doctrine Of lynch law
in certain cases. He reaffirmed his
spOils p0licy-"I stand by my friends"
and again committed himself to the
granting OF executive clemency, with
out reservation as to the merits of the
case, whenever petitions presented
bore signatures which in his opinion
We're sufficiently representative of To-
cal sentiment He closed with the !
prediction that he would carry the
by {; majority of from 5000
to 10000 votes.
Aspects of the meeting which Were
what reporters call features" were
the attendance, the largest of the
in point of numbers and
of territory represented; the volume
and general distribution of the ap-
plause given to Judge Jones and to
j. Fraser Lyon attorney general; the
failure of Blease to apply to Messrs.
King and watson in their presence the
epithets "hObOes" and "drunka-ds"
which he has elsewhere employed in
referring to them-his failure. in fact
to mention at all the incident at the
governors mansion in which they fig
ured; the demonstration evoked by
Mr.. Lyons deefnse of Martin +.
Ansel. ex-governor, against the indi-
rect charge of falsehoOd made by Is.
B. Evans; the failure of the Bease
forces, widely recruited as they wer-A.
To make convincing demonstration Of
superior strength, numerically, in the
crowd: the tenor of the addresses de-
livered by Blease and Jones, the one
SaVOring Of the practical" politician.