The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-02-03
GOSSIP
HEARD IN CAPITAL
Blease Forces Quite Active is
General Belief.
THE GOVERNORS SMOKER.
strong indications of Plans to Con-
troll the Next General
Assembly.

Columbia Special to Charleston
New and Courier Feb. 1.-Indications
are plentiful that the followers of the
Administration are planning to captu-
re the next General Assembly, and
with this end in view are holding
conferences daily with the Blease lead
ers from every part Of the State who
are constantly in Columbia during the
session Of the Legislature. The COM
paetness of the organization is begin
ni1g to attract attention in political
circles.
There is quite a feeling around the
Capital that the Blease followers I'm
the General Assembly have a definite
organization with " chairman, and
that regular meetings are held in
which matters before the Legislature
re discussed and the political outlook
throughout the State generally gone
over In some quarters it is whispered
that the organization has headouar-
ters in suite of rooms in one of the
buildings in Columbia but no state
ment has been made regarding this
matter. In fact, the scope of the un-
dertaking is just beginning to leak
out little.
THE GOVERNORS SMOKER.
Governor Blease not very many
nights ago gave a smoker to his poll
tical followers in the GeneraIy AS
sembly, and it is said that matters
concerning legislation and organiza-
ton were discussed. Reports OF that
meeting are that attention was given
to the need Of building up and Gtreng-
thening the administration forces
throughout the State, and the necess-
ity for capturing the next Democra-
TIC state Convention and the primary
etecton machinery impressed on the
readers who gathered around the
conference table.
or course, the followers in the Ad-
ministration circles are counting large
ly on the strength of Governor Blease
In his race for the United States Sem
ate. Then up in Congressman John
sons district Sam j. Nichols. prob
ably the best known OF the Blease
lieutenants, is running for Congress
Right over the adjoining district.
that OF Congressman Aiken, Assis-
tant Attorney General Fred II. Do
minick is seeking election to Cong
ress. Mr.. Dominick has for years been
the law partner of Governor Blease
and was his campaign manager in
both OF his races for Governor.
In the 5th district Representative
Sapp, of Lancaster County a promi-
nent leader of the Blease forces in the
present General Assembly, is running
against Congressman Finley. Whe-
ther any of the other Congressmen
Will be opposed by any of the Blease
followers is not known. But the size
or the ticket will be large.
There is talk that DR.. Oln Saw
yer, who went down in defeat in the
Jones wave in Georgetown County in
1912, is about to be run in for COVER
nor. 1t has been generally understood
that Mr.. Charles Carroll Simms. of
Blease votes, but 1t is said that there
Bdease votes, but it is sair that there
is disposition, especially among the
extremes OF the faction, to groom
DR.. Sawyer, who did so much war
talk" at the Blease conference during
Fair week.
There is talk OF candidates in op-
position to some of the state house
officials, though all in all, the organ
ization, IL 1t exists, has cut out quite
an ambitious program.