The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-07-25

State CAMPAIGN SUMMARY.
PAST WEEK HAS BEEN PEACE.
FUL WITH CANDIDATES.
Exception to This at Aiken, Where
Statement OF Richards brings Forth
Strong Demonstration of Faction
aliSm.
Columbia State.

NOiuHlDla state.
Murmurs from the section Of the
State that was traversed last week
Dy candidates for State offices fell
but once out of the category OF peace,
harmony and cordial relationship as
Tar as the gubernatOrial campaign is
concerned. With the exception of the
Aiken meeting last Tuesday the cam
didates showed a tendency to contine
their prOddinS at the records of their
rivals within the bounds of good na-
ture. At Aiken, however, the partisan
audience, with the factions about
equally represented, could not refrain
from cheers that had an Ominous
tone. Pandemonium broke loose when
John G. Richards, candidate for gov
ernor, read list Of questions for
newspapers and II. ID. Smith, candi-
date for reelection as United States
senator, to answer. One faction re-
Scntcd the accusations and differences
and the other was just as determined
to hear them.
The five meetings have moro def
nitely defined the main issues of the
campaign. The questions of enforce
mant Of law and the use Of the par
doning power have arisen to prime
consideration, along with the issue of
compulsory education, which, Of
course, is more debatablc ground. In
every instance during the past week
when there were statements against
the abuse OF the pardOning power and
In favor of the enforcement OF the
laws of the State the audience cheer
ed. In this respect Mendcl l.. Smith
and Richard |. Manning have won es-
pecial prominence. On tho LIQUOR
question Charles A. Smith is in favor
Of Statewide prohibition, while the
snthers who have expressed themselves
remain for local option, either be-
cause Of personal preference or be-
cause the voters four years $50
voiced their opinion against prohibit
ton, and the time, it is thought, is not
ripe for change.
OF the things that happcncl out
side Of the regular schedule of the
campaign the statement of II. c. Folk,
chairman of the meeting at Bamberg,
furnished food for reelection. Mr..
Folk bitterly denounced the governor
for his behavior at the senatorial cam
paign meeting there and the silence
with which it was heard and the ap-
plausc that greeted it's conclusion were
strong arguments that the audience
concurred.
In the race for lieutenant governor
the questions and answers are bccom-
ing heated in the attacks of James T.
Hunter and y. Frank Kelley upon
each other. Being members Of the
legislature and adhercnts of different
factions, they arc taking each other
to task for their votes on bills, most
notable the Fortncr bill to prohibit
white people from teaching cegroes
and vice versa. Andrew j. Bethea has
prOdded at the records of his oppo-
nonts while William NJ Hamer seems
content to wage his own campaign.
The meeting at Bambcrg in the
race for adjutant gcnral marked tho
crest Of feling between the candi-
dates w. w. Moore, incumbent and
NJ. G.. Willis
The other races are also assuming
very interesting features though there
is still q tendency for each man tC
speak for himself and leave his COM
pctitOrS alone.