The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-08-19

all the wealth, power and trickcry OF
the financial oligarchy can't STOP"
John q. Richards said that The
state has been unfair to him. lie said
that the paper was trying to maze
him appear as u man who trims to
every breeze. 'On the question of
liquor" he said. Il will subscrvc my
opinion To the opinion of the people.
would undertake to carry out your
DEGREES even IL it were contrary to
the dictates of my own conscience"
He charged that Mr.. Sims mis-
represented him grossly when he
stated that Mr.. richards had tried to-
repeal the lien law. Il am poor
man. he continued, land / am maxi
ing my campaignt on borrowed mon
ey. l am backed by the farmers
union, of which / have been a MEM
Der for many years"
He upheld his work in establish
ing the immigration bureau saying
that IL was of great benefit to the
farmers as out of 1t grew the present
department of agriculture, commerce
and industries.
Il say to you that any man or set
OF men who say that ! swing from
one side to another for political pref
erment says something that is abso-
lutely false. want my opponents and
critics to give me credit for honesty
of purpose
lie went on to say that the people
have right to know how guberna-
torial candidate stands in politics, as
the governor Is the head of the State
Democracy.
|. Mr. Richards has kicked up Il
dust" said Charles Carroll Simms,
''and blurred the issues. His actions
speak louder than works. The rec
ords show that nc introduced meas
urcs to repeal the lien law" He
went on to speak of his work in pre-
sentlng the bill permitting chattel
mortgages.
Mr.. Simms said that Gov. Bleasc
after his first election announced his
candidacy for the United States sem
ate. lie again asked that Mr.. Rich
ards declare himself on his 1912 vote.
81 want to assert" said Mr.. Rich
ards. that though i would be proud
to be kin to senator Tillman. 1 am
not kin To him. Nor am 1 kin to Mr..
Gonzales" This was brought out by
IL statement from Mr.. Sims that he
had heard that Mr.. Richards was re-
lated to Mr. Tillman. He proceeded
to attack Mr.. Richards on his "rc-
cent conversion to Bleaseism" and his
various political friendship.
Charles A. Smith spoke at length
in favor Of a 2-cent passenger rate
on railroads. saying that they had
made large profits. lie advocated u
system of rural credits.
while l was mayor Of my own
town." said Mr.. Smith, "thc blind
tigers did not flourish there" Then
he told of his stand I'm favor of q
strict enforcement OF the laws He
went on to say that he favored sub
mit:ing to the people the question of
prohibition. He called attention to
the advance in education through
love and not through legislative en-
actment.
Mendal l.. Smith condemned tho
Aiken plan of elimination and the
undercurrents that resulted from the
movement. He repeated that he had
not voted for Bleasc and had held
his office as speaker of the house
above partisan politics He outlined
his stand in favor Of local option.
compulsory education. good roads
and the enforcement of laws. His OPP
position to the abuse Of the pardon
ing power was applauded.
Lowndes j. browning attacked the
elimination schemes. lie challenged
MIR. Manning to show one single vote
ne had cast in the interest of the
people and against the interest of
the capitalists during his II years
In the general assembly. lie discuss
ed his tax reforms and his system
of rural credit. pointing out the large
percentage of negro land owners. He
urged that the citizens vote as true
sons of south Carolina and 10y aside
factionalism. He was given two
bouquets.
Ignorance" said John G. clink-
scales, has cost the state of South
carolina more than all other things
put together" lie protested against
the report that people have been put