The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-05-04
SURVEY OF THE FIELD.
Political Situation Four Months Be-
fore the Primary.

Iore tie PRIMARY.
The voters Of South Carolina will
be called on this year, writes the Co-
lumbia correspondent Of the News
and Courier, to name their choice
from United States senator to the
smallest precinct officer and hence the
primary on the fourth Tuesday in
August will be an important day in
political circles in South Carolina.
Added to the absorbing interest in the
Seate campaign is the fact that
United States senator to succeed
Senator Tillman is to be selected and
also the fact that this is presidential
year. the year when the president Of
the United States is to be picked. The
voters of the Palmetto State will de-
vote more than usual attention to the
qualifications Of the candidates this
year.
United States Senator b. r. Tillman
is Offering for reelection to the seat
which lie has held for three terms
and he is being opposed by w. Jasper
Talbert Of Edgefield, a former cor
gresham and former Tillmanite
y. r. Dial, of Laurens, cotton mill
man. lawyer and banker, is also a
candidate for Senator Tiilman's seat
and the Laurens man is making a
vigorous campaign. He is reported to
be considering opening headquarters
In Columbia in the interest Of his
race. Mr.. Talbert is likewise making
vigorous campaign and Senator Till
man is confident that he will beat the
combined field on the first ballot.
Mr.. Tillman will be a figure Of in
terest in the. campaign this summer.
not only in South Carolina. but
| throughout the nation.
And there is the race between Ira
b. Jones and Cole L. Blease for gov
| ernor, which is the one around which
interest centres. Governor Blease is
rounding out his first term in the
executive chair and is asking for two
| more years. Judge Ira b. Jones. for.
| merly chief justice of the supreme
| court is in the field for the governor
ship, assailing "Bleaseism," stating
| that if elected he will be the COVER
nor of all the people. and condemning
| the pardoning record and other on
| cial acts Of Governor Blease. Be-
tween these two the contest lies and
the most astute politicians admit that
the contest is close. "Bleaseism" is
the issue and on this the fight will 10
made. One other candidate. John
Duncan. Of Columbia. has also al
nounced that he will be in the race
| for the gOvernOrshp.
Next TO the governorship in interest
| is the fight for the office of attor-
| ney general. The Hon. j. Fraser
Lyon, who has filed the Office So salts
factorily since 1907, is a candidate for
| re- election and is being opposed by
! Hub" Evans, of Newberly, and Thos
| II. Peoples, Of Barnwell. Gen. Lyon
was first elected on the anti -dispen-
| sary platform and he has done signal
| service in the prosecution growing out
of the old dispensary case and in the
! recovering of the oVercharges from
| the liquor houses. Interest in this
race is second only to that for COVER
nor.
| For comptroller general the incum-
bent, Mr.. a. w. Jones. is so far unop-
posed for reelection. Rumor has
stated on several occasions that Capt.
Ed Bacon. Of Spartanburg. who ran
for comptroller general on the Inde-
pendent ticket i'm 1890, would enter
the lists against Mr.. Jones. but So far
he hasn't announced. Whether any
other candidate will come forward to
| oppose Gen. Jones is not apparent #
present.
For state treasurer. Nr. <. r. car