The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-07-29
CANDIDATES FOR
SENATE ARE BUSY
THE WouLD.eE SENATORS HOLD
FIVE MEETINGS IN PIED
MONT SECTION.
LITTLE SQUALLY AT TIMES
This Section of State Is Alive With
Cotton Mills and Farmers and 10
Real battle-ground Of the Race.

SSIISu u ohd U o"S
Real battle-ground Of the Race.
|, Columbia - The past week in
the senatorial race has been one Of
many features, features which have at
times looked a little squally, for both
the candidates offering for this high
office and for the voters who have
heard them. There were only five
meetings held, and these were. in the
Piedmont section Of the state where
the majority of the voters live and
| which is considered by all as the real
battle ground of the race for the sen
ate. This section Of the state Is live
with cotton mills and some Of the
best farmers of the entire state live
these. In the past few years It's COM
plexion as a voting body presents
many interesting phases. In the race
for the goyernorship two years ago,
Governor Blease, now a candidate for
United States senator, carried Ander-
son, Spartanburg, Pickens and made
a close run in Greenville and carried
Abbeville by a small majority. On
the other hand, the present senator,
E. D. Smith, candidate for reelection,
carried all Of these counties by sub
etantial majorities. The other two
candidates for the Office, Messrs. W.
P. Pollock and l.. D. Jennings, not
having before this entered state poll
ties their strength Is predetermined.
There is much speculation as to the
result Of the past week on the COM
plexion of the campaign, as each
meeting was featured by attacks upon
the governors. record by w. P. Pol
lock and L. D. Jennings and by at
tacks upon the record Of E. D. Smith
by the governor, as well as the de-
tense of his record by the encumbent.
All of the candidates received their
need of applause, and the friends OF
each in the various counties visited
were read to acclaim and proclaim
their loyalty to his candidate.
At Abbeville Governor Blease used
thirty Of the forty-ive minutes allow
ed him in explaining the status OF the
now well-known Richey case, although
he stated at the outset that he was
not explaining or a%pologising for any
OF his acts during his administration.
The Richey case WIS one where the
governor had been accused Of pardon
Ing a man who had been convicted OF
assaulting his adopted ~fourteen-year-
old daughter, and the governor read
from the stand many volumtnous doc
uments In regard to 1t. He stated
that Richey had not been pardoned,
but that he was out on a bond Of $5,-
600; that he had issued the papers In
this case upon the recommendation OF
the prison superintendent and the tes-
timony Of two reputable physicians
who had been delegated by him to
make an examination. These physi-
clans were DR.. A. B. Knowlton, re-
Gently deceased, and DR.. ]. H. McIn-
tosh, both of Columbia. He stated
that these physicians had stated that
Richey was a paralytic, and that free
| dom would aid in his restoration to
health. Abbeville county Is the home
Of Richey, and this Is the reason as
signed by the governor in explaining
the status Of the case. The meeting
was devoid Of other features, with the
exception of the presence Of the cotton
bill as the emblem Of the Smith
forces. It Is estimated by E. H. Aull,
editor OF the Newberry Herald and
News, that the meeting was anti
Blease in sentiment.
w. P. Pollock and L. D. Jennings
both made impressions at the Able
vile meeting, and were received by
the crowd with cheers. They made
their usual attack upon Senator
Smith and Governor Blease: Mr..
Pollock stating that the record Of
Senator Smith was TOO poor and that
Of Governor Blease too bad to stand
upon. Pollock exhibited an election
ticket Of 1880 upon which the name Of
J.. P. Gibson, one Of tn colonies on
the staff Of the governor appeared
alongside that of negroes who ran on
the republican ticket that year. He
stated that the governor appointed
James Sottile, an Italian Of Charles
ton, on his staff, and that the latter
had not even gotten out naturaliza-
ton papers, being at the time Of the
appointment a citizen of Italy. He
criticized the pardon record Of the
governor, and took Senator Smith to
task for his inactivity at Washington.
He stated that Senator Smith nor any
one else could raise the price of cot
ton. as claimed by the senator.
Senator Smith spoke of his record
in the senate, telling of the work &C.
complished by him on the immigration
committee Of which he is the chair
man. His efforts towards the inter-
ests of the farming class were dwelt
upon at length, and he said that he
had been accused Of being a man Of
only one idea, and he thanked God
for that fact. He said that all of lis
time. energy and talents had been in
the interest Of the farmer, and that
he would continue to exert his in
huence in that direction. He spoke
Of his labols in behalf Of the currency