The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-01-04

IN South Carolina who imagine thai
the coming session of the general as.
sembly is goinE to be love feast ar,
sadly mistaken.
Everyone remembers the storm,
scenes of the last session. Thos,
scenes will be duplicated. very prob.
ably. at the coming session. The is.
sue Is going to be Bleaseism and both
sides will fsht for every inch OF
ground. There will be haggling bluff
ing and browbeatlng. and quite a lit
tie OF II. r.IE --..-
Those who represent the admins
ration realize that they are in hope
less minority and every means known
VIII be used to gain power. however
little that power may be.
IL is said that the governors an
nual message will be even more bitter
than his first message to the house
and senate. That message will yer,
likely start the hostilities.
In the senate there is a two-thirds
majority of members who do not favor
the policies OF the governor. In the
house 'he opinion is widely divergent
as to the relative strength of the two
sides. Some claim that at least
seventy-eisht OF the 124 members OF
the house are opposed to the governor
The governors friends claim at least
half OF the members However. that
WI be decided when the first vote is
taken.
This much Is known. the Blease men
In the house are trying to blum MeM
del l.. smith. who Is assured of cleo
ton as speaker, into appointing Geo.
R. Rembert as chairman OF the power
fui ways and means committee. 1t is
believed that Speaker Smith will re-
fuse to be bluffed and that DR..
George Dick. the ranking member will
secure the appointment.
The general assembly will be called
10 order on January Ia. and is sup
posed to run forty working days. 1t
may run longer. as was the case last
year.
Whooping and shouting politicians
in South Carolina have always been.
and they viii always bc. opposed 20
compulsory education. II IS known
that q compulsory education measure
viii be introduced at this session by
Senator Hall. OF Cherokee County.
The measure will undoubtedly be
warmly discussed. for South Carolina
leg lators are fond OF talking, but IL
VIII never be passed However,
should the measure finally be adopted.
the governor has stated that he will
veto any measure of that nature. This
Is perfectly In keeping with the chief
executive for he belongs to the class of
politicians who fight 1t. The people
OF the state are beginning TO realize
the need OF compulsory education and
the friends OF the measure will make
strong and determined fight.
There Is some talk just now CON
cernius whiskey legislation. 1t is said
that sn attempt may be made to Sc
cure high license for the State. This
Il all talk. very probably. for the
whisky issue secyns to be dead in
South Carolina.
The mileage book problem will in
all probability be brought back for
discussion as the next session. 1t is
expected that the governor will i'm his
message To the general assembly
recommend the adoption of "a measure
providing for "A two-cent rate for pas
sengers.
The Legislature will be called upon
To flll two vacancies on the circuit
bench, elect superintendent and
three mm5ers Of the board Of diec-
tO5s Of the state peniientiary.
one o. the vacancies on the bench
was caused by the resignation of
Judge Robert H. Cop,s al Orangeburg.
several weeks ago. lie was elected
srom thC nrst circuit. Il. ~. HHdcbrand
of Orangcbu. and NJ - Connor. of
81. Matthews. both well known attor-
neys, have nccn mnuoncd tor the
place. The term ot Judge Thomas =
Seusc 20 spartanburg. Will expire
soon. So FAR is known he will not
have any opposition. capt. -. L
Griffith, who has made such ct-
pablc official will ask FOR reelection as
superintendent of the state pcuit,n-
tiafy. IT. VIII Doe opposed hy sheriff
Hunter. of Eamb,rg aud sheriff Long
of Union. Edwin t.. Eonktcr ana W.
= Hoffman have been mentioned as
candidates f,r place on the board