The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-06-20

/ sOssScsy uThty SIC
and the Loyal Support of the Dem
ocratic Platform and the Wilson
Administrator.
This Is a new role for me. For the
first time In my life, am appearing
before the people Of the State OF
South Carolina for one of the high.
est offices within their gift. 1t is nee.
essary for me to briefly introduce my.
self, at this the first campaign meet.
Ing; still. I do so with degree Of hes
itancy. as 1t Is hard for me to say
anything about myself, as I prefer
for others to do this for me. How.
ever. I deem it necessary to briefly
give q personal history Of myself,
while l know that there are but two
qualifications required of any male
citizen Of South Carolina, to run for
this office, to wit: To have attained
the age Of thirty years, and to be a
citizen of the State for two years. /
am more than thirty years of age, and
have been a citizen Of this State for
q little more than forty.three years,
because it was in Sumter county,
South Carolina, where I first saw
the light of day. and unless / lose
my mind, will continue to live in old
South Carolina. While she at times
may be wrong. the ship of State in my
opinion, will soon right herself, and
again float upon the clear waters of
true democracy.
Parentage.
My parents, grandparents, and
great grand parents. and as far back
as I have any information, were citi-
Gems Of this State. My father enter
ed the Civil War at it's beginning and
continued until its end. He returned
home. with everything practically
gone. and again began his farming
operations and continued to farm un-
til a few years prior to his death.
Both he and my mother passed away
In July and August. 1912. respective
ly.
Early History.
/ was born on the farm; I follow.
ed the plow from the time I was
large enough to do so. and continued.
for about ten years. I lived on the
farm until 1898. have continued to
farm from the time I was old enough
until the present day. I held the of
Ace Of Magistrate In the country for
about four years. being appointed
when / was about twenty-five years
Of age; was married the first time in
April, 1896. i read law at home on
the farm. passed the bar examina-
ton In May 1896. commenced the &C.
tive practice Of law In 1897, and have
continued to do SO until the present
time. but all the while continued my
farming operations. so that am, and
have always been vitality concerned in
the welfare for the farming interest,
both from a personal standpoint. and
because realize that it Is the most
important industry of our State.
Commission Form of Government.
In 1910 was elected Mayor of the
City of Sumter Gone Of the best and
livest small cities on the glObe) Dur
Ing this administration. we conceiv.
ed the idea and belief that we could
formulate a better form of govern
ment for our city than we then had.
We took the proper steps to have the
issue Of commission form of govern
ment. with or without City Manager,
submitted to the people. Personally.
favored and openly advocated the
commission form with the Manager
plan. My views were adopted. and
a commission form of government,
with City Manager, went into opera
tion on the 18th day Of August, 1912.
1 was reelected Mayor under the
new form Of government in August,
1912. and am still holding this office.
I am satisfied today. IL the question
was submitted to the people as to
whether or not they would continue
this form Of government. that the OPP
position could not muster up a cor
poral guard who would be in favor
Of going back tn the old cumbersome
antiquated system.
1 have said more than I feel like
saying In regard to myself. but can.
dor compels me to say just little
more. As stated above. when the wal
closed and my father returned. al
OF his slaves having been set free
the country practically In bankruptcy
life had to be started over anew. MY
father knew very little about manag.