The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-11-19
SMITH DEN|Ee COMBINATION.
SAYS HE DID NOT FORM LEAGUE
WITH BLEASE AND JOHN
q. RICHARDS.
Was not Even Invited to Blease Fol-
lowers Banquet During Fair Week
Richards and Blease Maintain ST.
lence Concerning Beard Article
Richards Tillman's Choice.

Columbia, Nov. 13.-While both
Major John G. Richards and Governor
biease are maintaining an attitude Of
silence with regard to the Beard ar
ticle recently published in which it
was stated that there was some sort
OF understanding between Messrs.
Smith and Richards and some of the
Blease leaders, Lieut.. Governor Chas.
A. Smith, Of Timmonsville, one Of
those mentioned by the Beard article,
late today gave out a statement deny
ing any part in any agreement, saying
he was not invited to any conference
here Fair Week and emphatically
standing out against swinging onto
any mans coat tail.
Mr.. Smiths statement follows:
Il read the article in the Orange
burg Times and Democrat today for
the first time. 1t is not my purpose
to conduct my campaign along the
lines therein indicated. AS to the
Beard article in the Columbia Rec
ord, it was good story from the
newspaper standpoint but there was
nothing in it save the irresponsible
gossip Of an unnamed politician, re-
quiring no statement from me. 1t
may not be out of place, however, to
say that have received no invitation
-
politicians or set Of politicians at the
State Fair or elsewhere and therefore
could not have declined with regrets
There is nothing hidden or foxy in
my position. / am an announced cam
didate for governor Of South Carolina.
This is an honorable ambition. The
office is the one that means most to
the people of the State and should
be subservient to no other. I am in
combination with no man or set of
men and seek only the best interests
of the people and Of the State. have
changed in no view Of things political
since my campaign three years ago
when my fellow citizens heard and
approved me.
Il am not, nor ever have been,
fastened to any mans coattail and
seek the support Of every voter re-
gardless of his political Affiliations
past or present. hope to appeal to
reason and not prejudice. When 1
face the people shall declare myself
freely on all vital issues"
The Beard article, portions of which
were recently published in The Item
and other papers gave the impression
that John G. Richards and Mr.. Smith
were playing" for the Biease sup
port. So far as Mr.. Smiths position
is concerned his statement given above
makes it quite clear that he was not
'in" on any sort Of combination. and
that he was not even invited to the
Blease conference here Fair week.
The Orangeburg Times and DEM
! ocrat, regarded as a strong supporter
of Senator Tiilman, was especially
pointed in it's references to Mr.. John
G. Richards who is being looked upon
in many quarters-whether he knows
this or not--as Senator Tillman's
candidate. The Orangeburg Times
and Democrat calls upon candidates to
stand from under" so to speak and
indicates that none can run with the
fox and the hounds at the same time
next summer.
Mr.. Richards said today that he had
no comment to make on the political
situation at this time.