The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-06-24
The SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN.
SMITH AND RIE>sE ENGAl:E IN
ACRID PASSAGE OF WORDS
At Sr. MATTHEW'S. '.
Jennings and Pollock Also Outline
Their Platforms. and Promise some
thing Intcrcsting-Scnator Explains
HIS Record.

st. Matthews. June 17.-A tilt be-
tween the governor and Senator smith
which for the moment threatend Sc
r'ous complications. marked this the
opening day Of the senatorial cam
P'Lsn.
The governor was the first speaker.
,snd was reading from his 10000 word
manuscript certain attacks on Scna-
tor Smith concerning federal ap-
pointmcnts. The frs, break came
when Blease made charge that
senator Smith had secured the ap-
pointment of Capt. w. II. Gonzales
ss minister to Cuba. Senator Smith
rose In his chair and replied:
Governor. now let US keep the
record straight. want II dis
tinctly understood that I was no more
responsible for the appointment of
Mr.. Gonzales to Cuba than was Cole
L. Blease." The governor made no
response.
wv iotcE TIC SDcuheT re.
fcrred to the appointment Of James l..
Sims Of Orangeburg as United States
marshal-''a man who had once ed
tied q negro newspaper" Senator
Smith again leaped to his feet. and
said that Mr.. Sims was senator b. r.
Thlman's appointment. and that he
and hA a1nn0
governor then searched through his
bulk Of documentary evidence" and
produced a letter. said to have been
writ. to w. ]. Shelton Of Colonial
Heights. Columbia. In which Senator
Tillman said: Senator Smith and I
have agreed upon tho appointment
Of Sims" Senator Smith then ad-
vanced to the front Of the stage, and
facing the governor. replied: "No man
In the image of God can call me a
liar. I have told you that Sims was
Tillman's appointment. that we
agreed that he should appoint Sims
and w. q. Thurmond. and that
should have Francis Weston and d.
w. Crouch" Al this point DR.. Dreher
county chairman. stepped between.
and Senator Smith took his seat. Gov.
Blease's only reply was. that II 1t was
lie Ben Tillman told II. Senator
Smith then told the audience that the
letter meant only that the two had
agreed not to fight each others ap-
pointments when these came up for
confirmation In the senate. but there
was little chance to hear what was
being said and Senator Smith was
urged TO take his seat.
The governor made his character
istic attacks on the newspapers, said
that the State convention was pack
cd" as the county convention had been
packed. held up to scorn and ridicuie
the leaders OF this convention; charged
that the new primary regulations
were only clever device to disfran-
chise the poor man. and dwelt at
length on "Haskellism." Senator
Smith was charged with doing moth
Ing but drawing his salary. "E. d..
Smith got astride a bale Of cotton
six years ago and rode into the United
States senate. and what has he done
have not seen any bill introduced
by him. He is credited as being the
author OF the Smith-Lever bill, which
was introduced by Hoke Smith Of
Georgia. Senator Smith is on the i'm
migration committee. What has ne
done To restrict immigration? He Is
on the drainage committee. Here ne
could have rendered the State excep-
uonal service. Yet know nothing"
Before the governor had finished
reading. the time limit OF one hour
had expired. The chairman OF the
meeting granted an extension of five
minutes as reimbursement for the
time lost during the Interruptions. The
governor closed by defending his par
don record. lie said that he was
not yet through, that ne intended to
pardon one when he got to Column
bia tonight. and that his enemies
couldn't help themselves.
l.. ID. Jennings OF Sumter who I.
for the first time seeking the suffrage
Of the citizenship OF South Carolina.
was next introduced. Mr.. JENNINGS.
too. IL farmer. running about 70
plows and placing more than l,4OO
acres OF cotton. he said This can
didate elected much applause In his
Democratic convention. which passed
the new primary regulations. "Thc
charge has been made" ne said. that