The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-07-04
WHILE HE CRITICISED JOHN
RICHARDS RECORD AT
HIS HOME
A NOISY MEETING
Mendel L. Smith Came squarely
Out Against Blease In Meet
ing at tiis Home Town

Camden, Jnly 3-COntinued inter-
rup:ions by members Of the audience,
with the most pronounced exhibitions
OF factionalisfn of the campaign,
marked the meeting here today Of can
didates for state Offices. From the
crowd OF probably 1900 restless yot-
ers of Kershaw county, the home of
John C. KiGhards and Mendel L.
Smith, candidates for governor. at
frequent intervals throughout the
meeting came, e,Sheers for BIease. Rich
ards. b. FranE Kelley. candidates for
lieutenant goYarnor, Mendal L, Smith
and others. When n boy OF about
fifteen years. Ilhmed Workman, threw
partly flledsSlass OF water on Char
les Carroll Siflsms. candidate for gov
ernor. the dlsturher reached its
The boy is,aFllative by marriage TO
). q. Richards. one of .Simms oppon-
ents. whom Stlnms was severely criti-
cising at the time Of the occurrence
With the watel slowly trickling down
his back, Simfns pleaded for better
treatment and received an ovation
from the crowas which expressed in
ldignation In LLOYD cat-calls and cheers
The boy vas quickly escorted from
the stand in public park, where the
meeting was iii5progress.
! ,sAgn5nst BIease
The disoFderf Increased when Simms
| began a sewers arraignment of GER
tain opponentE after declaring his
aHliation for Governor Blease. :. "A
Guersa - ffls sGertaih acts of Men,
de. y. Smith In the state democratic
convention Of 1912 drew In reply
| Smiths declaration Of political cnmity
20 Governor Blease, expressing for
the first time his factional' affiliation
William G. lrby, candidate for gov
crnor, asked an explanation OF Smiths
action in breaking an engagement at
| Richmond after he had stated that an
! alternate delegate would represent
him at the convention. charging that
1t Cooked like Smith was playing
both Sides"
With Irby's permission. Smith
stated that he had heard the report
| that he favored Blease in the lattera
efforts to secure election as delegate
{sto the National Democratic conven-
lion and he (Smith) had cancelled the
engagement at Richmond to fight
Blease's effort. This explanation and
tacit declaration brought evidences OF
political cleavage to the surface.
While the crowd maintained a con-
tinual disturbance, Charles A, Smith,
also a candidate for governor, began
his address only to be repeatedly in
terrupted by a Confederate Veteran,
who demanded that Smith promise to
| secure better treatment for the veter-
| ans at the Columbia Confederate
home. where he said he had formerly
| lived. Charles A. Smith refused to
listen to the appeal and made no
answer.
The aged veterans plea was heark-
| ened to by LOwdens ]. Browning, who
denounced the manner in which the
! old soldiers are clothed and cared for
at that institution.
When the native candidates for gov
ernor. Richards and Mendel Smith.
began their one-minute speeches. long
continued applause greeted them.
They gave their time to their oppon-
ents. merely making their announce
ments
| Pleas by Richard I. Manning for the
elimination OF factionRlism and dis
order. and for conservative, construc-
tive legislation were without result.
for the height of disorder was reached
within few minutes when Mr. Simms
spoke.
Charles A. Smith appealed for the
unification of the people and urged
them to work together for construc-
tive measures to benefit the various
interests of the citizenry.
The advocacy here OF compulsory
education by John G.. .Clinkscales was
received without the customary ap-
plaure, though the diminishing crowd
quietly listened to his argument for
a statewide law,
Lawlessness in Columbia and in
,, Charleston was denounced by Robt.
"A. Cooper. candidate for governor.
who emphatically urged rigid enforce
ment of the laws.
Indications of possibly warm"
meeting came early In the meeting
when Jas. A. Summerset. candidate
for comptroller. general. opposing
Comptroller Genl. Jones for re-elec-
tion, became involved with his op-
ponent in a wordy war.
After Summerset had severely crfti-
,sised his opponents official acts Jones
inquired "who pays your campaign
expenses?" Summerset answered II
do" Jones replied. II don't believe
it."