The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-07-25
Must Centralize the Anti-Blease
Forces to Elect a Governor
StCll n STEP HAS BECOME
VICTORY OF AN ANTIBILA
CoKDNG TO LEADERS OF TlIIS FA(NON-MANNING
(By j. a. DAILY in Columbia Record,
July 20)

(By j. a. DAILY in Columbia Record,
July 90
That Capitalization Of the anti-ad-
ministratiOn forces on some one anti
BleaSe candidate for governor has
become imperative in order to assure
the ultimate election of an anti Blease
governor was a development Of last
week in the campaign for State Of
fees contained in statements of sew
eral anti-administration candidates re-
garded as leaders of that faction.
Without reserve it was admitted by
one candidate of this faction that such
a coalition is necessary to prevent
two Blease candidates for governor
entering the second primary.
The claim that he is the logical can
didate around whom the combined
forces opposing the administration
should gather has been individually
advanced by several candidates for
governor. Considerable doubt is,
however, expressed that such an
agreement can be perfected.
Blease supporting candidates for
governor continue to assert that two
Of them will make the second race un-
less the anti-administration forces
combine and center their strength on
one candidate.
In discussing the probability of
such a coalition, anti-administration
candidates pointed out that thoughts
of the formation Of such a combination
can not be taken as an admission Of
particular strength Of the administra-
ton forces. They admit the Blease
faction has a strong minority, which,
it is believed, will be principally di-
vided between John G. Richards, of
the leading Blease supporter in the
race for governor, and William c.
Irby, Jr., Of Laurens. and Charles Car
roll Simms, Of Barnwell.
While this unknown vote Of the ad-
mittedly solid Blease faction will be
divided between these three Blease
candidates. the antl-administration
supporters in the race for governor
admit that their factions vote will
be divided between at least seven can
dida,es. Arguing in this manner they
declare that coalition Of the strength
Of the several anti-administration can.
didates is necessary to insure sue.
cess for their faction.
Developments Of the past scvera
weeks in the State campaigns have in
dicated that John G.. Clinkscales, OF
Spartanburg, candidate for governor
whose strength lies principally in hi:
stand for compulsory State wide edu
cation. has been placed in a faction
by himself. The more or less milo
attacks directed at Clinkscales by
both anti-administratiOn and admins
tration candidates for governor are
generally taken as Indicating an in.
crease in strength.
These attacks on Clinkscales from
his several opponents would possibly
Indicate that he has, in way. been
'outlawed' from the strict anti-ad.
ministration faction on account of his
comparatively radical view he holds
on account of the compulsory educa-
ton question. This issue it is felt
by some of the anti-administration
supporters, would make Clinkscales O
weak candidate should he enter the
second primary.
| In opposition to this tendency of
the Clinkscales advocacy Of the state
wide compulsory education issue there
is known to be developing among
some Of the anti-administration sup
porters movement seeking to center
on Richard 1. Manning, of Sumter, the
support Of the anti-administration
men, whom, they argue, would be a
| strong candidate in the second prl-
mary because Of his advocacy Of local
option compulsory education, which,
they say, would make Manning a de-
sirable candidate in counties where
compulsory education is strongly
supported and unobjectionable in
counties where compulsory education
is diSapprOVCd