The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-08-03
MANY HEAR CANDIDATES.
CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR AND
OCNCIIME1N MADE SPEECHES
AT COURT HOUSE.
Half-Minute Talks by Candidates for
COuncilmcn-MayOr Jennings Made
Outline of What He Had Done
During His Administration and Mr..
Wright Made Statement of Hi,
Platform.

'ONN'S "a VIC Nils VI pullltcI anu JULIET
citizens present Monday night at the
court house to hear the speeches of
the candidates for Councilmen and
Mayor. The speeches were generally
very short, except that Of Mayor Jen-
nings who outlined what had been
done during his administration and
what he would do if he was re-elect-
ed mayor.
The chief interest in the speaking
was in the race between Mr.. Jennings
nd Mr.. Wright for mayor and these
were To have had a chance to answer
any statements made by the other,
iut no reply was made by Mr.. Jen-
nings. he seemingly being satisfied to
allow all statements made by Mr..
Wright to go unchallenged. On the
other hand Mr.. Wright did not ques-
ton any of the statements made by
Mr.. Jennings in his speech.
The meeting was presided ever by
Mr.. r. j. Bland who in a few words
stated the object Of the meeting. which
was held according to a custom of
many years standing. Mr.. Booth was
the first speaker.
He stated that the town was on trial
with the whole country as jury, and
he would like to be one Of those on
the council to start out the new form
or city government. He said that he
had promised to do his best for the
town and his duty as he shaw it when
he ran for alderman before and he
had done this. He would continue to
do this II he was reelected.
Mr.. j. w. McKeiver stated that he
had attended every council meeting
except two, when he was prevented
on account Of sickness or death. He
was one of the first to advocate the
commission form of city government
with city manager and he would
like to start out this ideal form of city
government. He said that good men
needed for the council, but If he were
not elected two good men would be
the councilmen anyway.
Mr.. G. G. Rowland read a statement
OF his platform. He thought that
FUNDS ought to be expended as they
came to hand and that all unnecessary
eNpe nditurcs should be ,ut out and .
IoGrt2ilment made in e,ery depart
vi hnr
impairing the efficiency. He was I'm
iaNor o. seeing that every employee
did his duty and that everything pos
sible be done 20 improve the city.
Mayor l.. ID. Jennings then made
his speech. He entered politics two
years and a-half ago. In his plat
form had been the promise to run out
every blind tiger or to try to do so
All tigers had not been run out, but
II he was reelected he would continue
MS prosecutions of them. as he had
done heretofore.
lie had been in favor Of having a
Permanent pavement for Main street
A
ed. The town had been bonded and
the pavement laid. the people could
see whether 1t was an Improvement or
not. He had promised to eaualize
taxes. In his effort along this line ne
added much taxable property to the
ttX books. He had promised to have
a new hotel built. The hotel he had
secured the premise Of fell through
but there were two hotels now in
course of erection.
He then went into details concern
ing the financial situation when he
look charge and what had been done
with the funds on hand and which had
come in since. He stated that the
old council had turned over practical
~ S2',o0o to them. but at the same
time it had turned in practically Sill
600 liabilities above this sum which
had been turned i'm. In speaking of
the expenses nc named the fire house.
hrt engine, paving Of sidewalks. and
ne chief expenditure, the sewerage
system, which he stated was the fault
oi the engineer who had built it and
not the fault of any Of the members
Of council.
Tie said that he had caused an in
= vestigation Of merchants books in
making their returns for licenses and
that by having all return their actual
sales instead Of their comparative
sales as had been done formerly. prac-
tlcally $4,000 had been added to the
city's income from merchants licenses
without raising the license at al. IL,