The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-08-07
COUNTY FAIR-OCTOEHR 16 u Is -
Candidates for u. S. Senate
and Congress Address Voters

A crowd varying at times from 100 to II!
Abbeville County voters listened attentive
ly to the candidates for United States Sen
ator and Congressman from the Third
Congressional District in the court house
last Thursday. The meeting was presid
ed over by Hon. W. N. Graydon, county
chairman. Perfect order prevailed
throughout the speeches and every speak.
or appeared to have the undivided atten-
ton of his hearers.
| A feature of the meeting was the ova-
tion accorded Hon. Wyatt Aiken, who for
ten years has represented the Third dis
trict in Congress. Citizens of Abbevile
attested their appreciation Of the worth OF
their fellow-townsman as citizen and as
an able and efficient representative in the
national House of Representatives.
The first speaker OF the day was Hon.
Jasper Talbert, of Edgefeld, candidate
for the United States Senate. Mr.. TIL
bert is an able speaker and good story
teller and he commanded the respectful at
tention OF all present. Outlining his plat
form, he declared himself in favor Of Fed
eral pensions for Confederate veterans, to
whom he paid an eloquent tribute. He
believed that the Democratic party would
be successful this winter ona prog ressive
platform and with truly progressive
candidate. Mr.. Talbert favored the inia-
tive, referendum and recall, except as to
the judiciary. The people have right to
Il direct voice in their own affairs. The
initiative and referendum would enable
the people to control the trusts more than
any other measure. The speaker said he
| favored enforcement Of the child labor
laws and better safety appliances for
working people. He referred to his SER
vices as soldier, as citizen in the cam
paign offs, in the Legislature, as super
intentent Of the penitentiary and as Con-
gressman. He thought It time for Sena-
tor Tillman to retire, and, while he had
the kindest feelings for. the Senator, he
did not believe he was the only ,Carolinian
who could capably represent the State.
Col. Talbert closed amid applause.
Hon. N. B. Dial, OF Laurens, candidate
+, for the United States Senate, was the next
speaker. Mr.. Dial said there were many
things no had rather do than talk, and
that his strong point was work. He re-
ferred to the fact that he has many friends
in Abbeville, and spoke feelingly of the
warm friendship which had existed be-
tween himself and the late Chief Justice
MCGOWAN. Mr.. Dial Ispoke of the work
which he had accomplished for the ma
terial upbuilding Of South Carolina, in the
building of oil and cotton mills, the estab-
lishment Of warehouses for the storing OF
cotton, the securing OF loans for the peo.
pie Of his county at a low rate OF interest
and on long time. He believed In the ma
terial reduction Of the tariff, and claimed
that the removal Of the duty on mill ma
chinery would enable the South to build
mills at a reduced cost OF practically 40
per cent. Favored the'purging Of the PEN
sion rolls and the reduction OF the expen-
ditures for this purpose. Economy not
only in public but / n private, was his mot
to. Believed that the government, in
stead OF building battleships, should sign
peace treatiesland keep the expenditures
for war purposes within limits consistent
only with the safety Of the country. Mr..
Dial believed that the Panama canal
would prove a great benefit to the people
OF the.South, who sshould prepare them
selves to reap the advantages which would
follow the opening of that great highway.
He declaredlthat our banking and curren-
cy laws were archaic and needed remedial
legislation to make them serve the best
interests OF the country. He thought the
time had come to send to Congresslyoung
and aggressive men. He admired Senator
Tillman but believed that he had been
sufficiently honored and that it was time
for himsto retire. The senatorship had
for 80 years been held In Edgefield and he
believed it should go to the upper part Of
the state. He.felt shurl that the Demo
cratic party would be successful at the
coming election and South Carolina would
need young and active man to see that
she received her dues at the hands of the
national government. Mr.. Dial's speech
was we'll received, and he closed amid ap-
plause.
Mr.. Marcus c. Long, candidate for Con-
gress from the Third district said he did
not expect anything from Abbeville, and
would not be disappointed no matter what
Abbevile did. He had always been a
warm personal and political friend Of Mr.
Aiken and felt somewhat aggrieved at a
remark made by Mr.. Aiken at Greenwood
the day before. (Mr Aiken later explain
ed that his remarks had no reference to
Mr.. Long) Mr.. Long resented what he
termed Col. Talbert's Quitting in" on the
congressional race and was somewhat
caustic in his remarks about the Colonel
saying the corpse Of Tillman would have
more weight in the Senate than so Tai
berts." His platform included the repeal
OF the Fourteenth and Fifteenth amend.
ments, comforting citizenship upon the
negro. He was opposed to Bristou
amendment to the bill providing for di
rect election OF Senators, believing that II
would place supervision of election in the
hands OF the national government. MIR
Longs address was spicy at times ant
afforded some amusement to the audience
Replying to Mr.. Long, Col. Talbert sale
that TIE fear Of neprO domin ation M lonp