The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1912-06-27
THE STATE
CAMPAIGN
First Meening Tame but a
:. they Progress they Warm up

ulCy AAOSaSoo tihS,
AT Sumter on the 18th, two
thousand or upwards of citizens
gathered from four or five coun.
ties, stood about on the green
fronting of Sumter's sllS.OW
court house, perched in windows
of the court room above, and
heard the II candidates for con-
tested Offices address them from
the portico. A notable cordial
greeting was given Judge Jones,
but it was a demonstrative
crowd. Probably the lack OF
what sports writers call 'sging,
err was due to the fact that
the leading candidates for gov
ernor, instead of engaging in a
those later!-devoted the most
of their time to the reading OF
formal typed statements outlin'
ing their respective platforms,
Fair order was kept, though the
,crowding of the portico made ii
difficult for reporters and others
there to follow the speeches.
John H. Clifton, county chair
man, was the presiding officer.
Candidates for governor are
allowed As minutes each, candi-
dates for attorney general Is
minutes each, candidates for
State treasurer ten minutes
each, candidates for railroad
commissioner Is minutes each,
and candidates for uncontested
offices five minutes each if they
elect to speak at all.
Gov. Blease read nearly all Of
his remarks from a typed state
ment. He said at the outset
that although it had been pre-
dicted bis administration would
check the prosperity of the State
the report of the secretary of
state showed during that period
an unprecedented progress in
the organization Of new con-
Germs, and only yesterday four
notes of the State for 100000
each were placed at 3 per cent,
an interest rate as low if not
she lowest ever obtained by the
State, except under my admin
istration last year.
The governors statement re-
viewed his platform and inaug-
ulal address of two years ago,
summarized recommendations
made by him to the general as
sembly, discussed those adopted
and those disregarded by the
legislators, briefly mentioned
his vetoes and his pardon record
and in general set up the claim
that his administration had
been economical, impartial and
constructive. Declarations We're
repeated, with which his previ-
Gus campaigns have fanliliariz-
ed the people. regarding negro
secret orders, and alleged textile
trust, a suppostitious odd ring,
dominated by newspapers and
corporations. and alleged con-
spiracy of newspapers against
him. It was charged thai mon
ey was being freely expended
in the interest of Judge Jones,
though the governor said he re-
Trained from charging this to
Judge Jones himself.
judge Jones took the often
sive promptly. He would be
glad to keep this campaign on a
high plane, he said. He deprec-
ated the methods of the govern
or. Down with demagogu-
ery!" he explained. He reprov-
ed the stirring up of race pre-
judice and the antagonizing of
workingmen in the mills against
workingmen in the stores and
on the farms. Shame" he
cried, shame on such contempt
ible politics. Charges made
against him by the governor, in
terms and by implication, were
discussed seriatim. The gov
ernor, Judge Jones said, did not
think a governor entitled to a
second term when he opposed
Gov. Ansel. Judge Jones flatly
denied that money was being
freely used in his interest. If
anybody has given me cent of
money to run this campaign. |
haven't heard of it. Discuss
ing the matter Of CORPORA
tson backing, Judge Jonss said
he was not aware he had the
support of any corporations, but
was certain he had the active