Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1912-08-21

The State campaign meeting in
Walhalla was opened promptly at 10
o'clock Tuesday morning, the Rev.
w. r.. Duncan, of the Methodist
church, invoking blessing on the
events Of the day, and appealing for
Divine guidance that the people
might hear all the speakers with but
one aim in view, that they might be
guided Alright In the casting ofFtheir
and on the side Of civic righteousness
and morality.
About Two Thousand Present.
There were about two thousand
people present to hear the candi-
dates, and all were in good humor.
Excellent order was maintained
throughout the meeting until Judge
Jones, who, according to the rules
adopted by the candidates, was en-
titled to a reply to a personal attack
and statements by Governor Blease,
endeavored to make the categorical
reply permitted. Then few in
front Of the stand began to shout,
I'VE don't want to hear itb,S$' He's
said enough" etc., etc Chairman
Jas. NJ. Moss tried to quiet the
shouters, and Judge Jones was final
ly permitted, handicapped by few
who would listen to no appeals for
quiet, to make his denials Of the
statements of the Governor Aside
from this the meeting was an ideal
one. .g 81 .a .tHI5'I
ID. w. McLaurin,
candidate for State Treasurer, was
the first speaker. Mr.. McLaurin is
a Confederate veteran and gave a,
resume OF his war record, stating
that he had never faltered where
duty called during the years Of the,
bloody struggle, and after the war,
he had returned to his State to-
serve it as best he could. He was
close, he said, to M.5C. Butler, Mart
war and intimately associated with
them in public affairs after the;
struggle at arms, assisting them in
the. work of reconstructing the State
government and establishing white
rule. This, however, he said, had
nothing to do with the office State
Treasurer, but was mentioned Incl,
dental llS&t ttlea Il neQples smig ghta Know
that he was man upon whom they
might depend to give faithful and
efficient service. Had served as
legislator, and while in that body
had always cast his vote conscien-
tiOusly and on the side Of right as
he saw it. Was a strong advocate
of higher education, as proven by his
fights in the Legislature for Glenn
son College and Winthrop College
for Women. He said that there has
been but one State Treasurer since
the war who was not q Confederate
veteran, and he hoped that Oconee
would not go back on the Confede-
rate soldier now.
s. II. Carter
was the second speaker, and he made
good impression upon the audi
ence. He said he had no personal
war record, as he was not in the
war, as was evidenced by his age
He was no politician, he said having
made the first political speech of his
life when he entered this campaign
He had been too busy attending to
his duties in the State Treasurer's
office, in which he is now the chief
clerk, having risen from the lowest
clerkship to the one next in author
ity to the State Treasurer, to which
position he now hoped to be advanc-
ed. He spoke of the duties and re-
sponsibilities Of the office, and warn
ed the people against the danger Of
putting into the imp portant office new
men, unfamiliar with the work. He
said that he had proven himself COM
petent in the State Treasurer's office,
and that Mr.. McLaurin had proven
himself competent in the capacity Of
land agent in the Office Of the Sink
Ing Fund Commission. Why not, he
asked, place me where ! can best
serve the people of the State and
leave Mr.. McLaurin in his present
,.sX Ia, + ,In.. ~
to do good work? There was dan
he did not say that troubles and en-
tanglements would ensue If Mr.. Nc
Laurin should be elected still he
warned against this danger. The
varied and intricate duties of the
office called for the attention of
trained men at the head, and his
work had been such as to peculiarly
fit him to be State Treasurer.
Col. j. II. Wharton
was the next speaker. he being the
first among the candidates for Rail
road Commit issioner. 1t was an in
spring scene, he began, to come to
Oconee and speak at the very foot Of
the mountains and close at the side Of
one of the oldest churches in the
State est. Johns Lutheram, and he
could readily see why an Oconee au-
dience could be the best audience
in the State. The environment was
calculated to make the crowd and
the candidates feel good and be good
He said that during the six years
he had been on the Railroad Com
mission he had cndeavored to serve
the interests Of the public and at
the same time to be just to the rail-
roads. He was thoroughly familiar
not only with the duties and powers
of the commission, but equally so