The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-08-15

Nsmbert on Tuesday was a very or
dsriy and interesting one. There was
en- audience OF more than two hun
orsd persons. about half of whom
were ladies and children. In the hand
come school building when the candi-
ostss commenced to speak. This aud
tsncs was increased to about four
hundred 1t one time during the day
although many left after dinner and
the audience for the speakers after
dinner Was not nearly 30 large as I,
vas In the morning.
The audience was very enthusiastic
and all Of the candidates had many
frisnds present. " applause indicated
number Of friends Of the speak
err In the audience. W.. ]. Scale, u
native Of Providence section and
candidate for coroner. received an
ovation when he came In late. and
the race between the candidates for
magistrate seems to be- eliciting more
interest than any Of the county races
In that locality.
The candidates for the most part
went over the same speeches which
they have made at other point In
the campaign. There was some heat
shown by the candidates for superin-
ssndent OF education. each Of whom
asksd the voters to take stock OF the
two candidates and vote for the best
man. Msssrs. Epps and Clifton again
took mp their time In attacking each
others records and explaining their
own. whore Il had been attacked, Mr..
Epps bringing up Mr.. Ciiftons recor,,
on the anti-rsce track gambling bill.
There was not as much interest
shown by the audience In the speech.
- Of these two candidates as there
has been shown at other places. Mr.
n. b. Belser warned the cotton rails.
srs OF the menace to them Of tht
present war and advised them Of the
steps being taken by the government
to Aid them In this crisis. He rec,
commended diversified farming and
agricultural industries as the oni,
remedy for the farmer in case the
war continued indefinitely.
The meeting was called to order
In the school house by Hon. j. f.
DaPre Of Pisgah. who presided. intro.
ducing the candidates as their turn.
came.
Judge Of Probate T. f. Richard
son came In late on the train. making
his rs,,al announcement. as did Messr.
II. E. Wilder. auditor and b. c. Wal.
lace. treasurer. unopposed candidates
y. M. Pitts. candidate for reelection
a. supervisor. stressed the importanc,
to the county Of the economical anu
succsssful handling Of the county
money by the board Of commission
srs. all going through his office. He
told Of what had been done while H.
was I'm the Office. stating that the
county stili was run on a cash basis.
He referred to n statement made by
Mr.. w. 3. Thompson at the Priva-
tser meeting In which ne alleged that
hr. Thompson had stated that the
roads Of Clare ndon and Lee counties
we're better than tho roads OF sumter
county. although thoGs counties did
not have as much money to expeud
on the roads. Mr.. Pitts denied that
this statement was a fact. saying that
u was charge Of his incompetence
He demanded that MIR. Thompson
prove his statement and give him a
chance to answer. or retract the state
msnt.
Mr.. l.. u. White. candidate for su-
pervisor. made his usual request for
the suffrage of the voters. promising
faithful and efficient service. IL elect
"a.
Mr.. w. q. Thompson. a candidate
Tor the same office. In reply To Mr..
Pitts statement. admitted that he had
made the statement. but stated that
he thought that Mr.. Pits should dis-
prove the statement. He was willin.
for q delegation of three good men,
preferably one a White man. one a
THOMPSON man and one Pitts man,
to visit the Clarendon county roads
and then. IL they did hot find them
better. he would make suitable apol-
ogies for his statement. He had no
pet roads OF section and would give
faithful service. " elected.
superintendent Of Education ]. H.
Haynsworth stressed the necessity OF
on education. stating that education-
al progress was necessarily slow. lie