The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-01-21
w. p. BEARD SEES SPOOKS.

w. p. BEARD SEES SPOOKS.
In a lengthy article that appeared
lin the Anderson Daily Intelligencer
lof the 10Th instant, w. P. Beard in
Idulges in some predictions based on
Ibis extensive travels through the
Estate, anent the coming contest for a
Iseat in the United States Senate.
AS might be expected his forecasts
Jail point to the triumph of Blease
land McLaurin. He is known to be
$50 jealous in behalf of both these
gentlemen that the fact alone makes
lit necessary to take his utterances
with a grain of salt, rock salt, in
|grains not smaller than it is quarried
from the mines.
Mr.. Beard does travel over the
Estate extensively, and it might al
most be said continuously, and no
one need write him down as an in
competent when it comes to news
gathering, but being a known parti-
ian, would he likely hear both sides
of partizan politics or if he OCCASION
ally heard something adverse to his
views, would he likely remember to
make it public.
But this is not the feature of Mr..
Boards article to which the Press
and Banner would enter demurrer,
as the lawyers say. Senator Smith
may be holding his own against Gov
ernor Blease or Governor Blease may
be not only holding his own but ac-
tually breaking into the Smith camp.
These are matters.of speculation pure
md simple, and a be determined
only by the primary. The question
is: Why has Mr.. Beard on vague
rumor proclaimed a possible frame
up between the several candidates for
Marshal, in the event that action
should be delayed on the appoint
nent Of Marshal, or rather Marshals,
until after the election? Granting
for sake of argument that Senator
Smith would gain little by having
four men all the while or the anX-
ious bench, with d%isquieting rumors
afloat that the other fellow had the
prom. Sc of the plum, does Mr.. Beard
believe for one moment that any one
of the several candidates would en-
ter into a combination with his 0ppo-
nents? The candidates may become
sick of political torpor, but they will
not deliberately commit political sui
eide. What could they possibly gain
by such a course? All of them are
constitutionally anti-Blease, except
Sheriff Lyon, and it is a we'll known
fact that whatever he might do he
will not support Governor Blease.
If all four of them should turn on
Senator Smith they would be dis
credited at the outset on the ground
Fof disappointment.
The Press and Banner can not
speak with any degree of certainty
of what the friends of other candi-
dates are saying but it ventured the
assertion that no such statements as
he attributes to friends of Mr.. Lyon
were from responsible persons or per
sons authorized in any manner to
speak for Mr.. Lyon. The fact Is,
Mr.. Beard knows that Mr.. Lyon is
open and fearless in maintaining a
position, once he has taken his stand;
he knows that Mr.. Lyon is in close
touch with the forces that elected
Governor Blease, and reading be-
tween the lines Of Mr.. Boards arti-
Gle, it is pretty evident that his pur-
pose was to queer Lyon toward
if he could not. drive him to
support McLaurin anil Blease.
AS to "Senator Tillman's leaky
barrel by way of Spartauburg," re-
ferred to by Mr.. Beard as the proba-
! BILE source of the information that no
appointment of Marshals will be
made until after the election, in the
Interest of Senator Smith; it is folly
to suppose that Senator Smith be-
lieves this plan to be for his best in
terest, and it is still greater folly to
suppose that Senator TiIlman would
lend himself to a scheme TO with
hold these fat. Federal plums from
tie Democrats, when the way is alb
solutely open for their giving.
No, MI. Beard, if you have not al
lowed your imagination to work
Overtime on vague rumors, you GER
tainly have not drawn reasonable
conclusions from your premises
StotoI