The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-07-08
THE SENATORIAL COMBAT.

ohosor SHitn appears 10 be strong
with many voters and Is cordially re-
ceived at every campaign meeting. He
seems to be having easy sailing, fol-
Jennings and Pollock are keeping
Biease so busy lodging his own rec
ord that no has not dared to attack
Smiths personal and official record
since the opening meeting.
AT st. Matthews Blease had the first
speech and he opened fire on Smith by
rehashing some old. threadhare
charges that have no relation to the
present campaign and which, besides,
were explained and disproved six
years ago. Smith called him down
good and hard. on tho spot, and since
thcn Bease has had little to say to or
about Smith.
AT every meeting. from the first,
Jennings and Pollock have made the
pace and both Smith and Blease have
been trailing along. doing their best to
keep In the running and share in the
interest created by the other two.
As the campaign has progressed 1t
has become more and more evident
that Smith has a solid and substantial
following that will stick to him de-
spite the grilling criticism that his
senatorial record is receiving from
( Jennings and Pollock. This criticism,
however. Is legitimate and Is what a
candidate seeking reelection should
expect and be prepared to meet; and
smith seems to be holding his own
fairly well. His work for farm dem
onstration, cotton STANDARDIZATION and
for the suppression OF cotton future
gambling is q matter Of record and of
such widespread notoriety that more
than off-hand criticism from the
stump will be required to eradicate
the general impression that Smith has
really accomplished good work for
the benefit and betterment of the
farming interests Of the South.
There is. however. another angle
from which tho senatorial race must
bc viewed In order that q correct idea
OF tho situation may be obtained.
biease Is making the campaign for
the senate as tho leader OF a faction,
tho head OF political machine that
has dominated tho Democratic party
~ South Carolina for the past four
years-and on his record as the
despotic ovcr-lord OF this faction. who
has used tho prorogatives of O consti-
tutional Office to reward his followers
and punish his opponents. he seeks
the senatorship. counting on the blind
and zealous support OF all of thosa
who have received favors, direct anG
Indirect. from his hands. lie for
gets. however. that, as senator. ne
cannot distribute favors and benefits
with the same munilcent disregard
OF law and proprioty that has marked
MS career as governor. lie will not
be able to appoint dispensary con-
Stables. supervisors OF registration.
rural policemen, State detectives.
commissioners OF erection and other
minor officials to be paid from the
public treasury. nor to pardon crimi-
nails. Of high and low degree. who
have relatives and friends with votes
and influence. The cohesive power
that has held the Blease machine
together will be gone the moment he
vacates the governors office, and tho
rank and nle OF the machine men,
bcrship know this as we'll as Blcasc
himself. The bencGciaries of the ma .
chine have received already all the
largess that Blease can bestow, and
the remembrance OF past and gone
benefits fades quickly and is never az
strong an incentive OF present and
future loyalty as IL the hope of re-
wards to come. Blease's strength Is
not as great now as II was two years
ago. and his record OF lawless par
tiality to his supporters and unreas-
oning animosity toward all other citi-
zcns OF the state whose chief magis-
tratc he has been IL the cause of his
diminished influence.
His record as governor Is the key
note OF his campaign for the senate
and on this record ne must stand OF
fall This bcing admitted by all. his
supporters as well as his opponents
a Is incumbent upon the men who
oppose him to analyzc and spread be-
fore tho voters of the state that rec
ord. Senator Smith. the logical can
didate for the senate. since he has
held that Office for six years and has