The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-08-19

statement was "a malicious lie, and l
dare any man to repeat 1t before my
face" This statement was greeted
with applause and someone In the au-
dience cried ''Hurrah. that's the way
to talk" He said that some questions
could not be answered Eyes or mo"
and the Fortner bill was one of them,
giving his reasons for not voting on
the bill. as heretofore. He said this
bill had been "pussy-fOoted" through
the senate and there was no record as
to how Senator Clifton had voted on
II. lie again charged that Clifton
had opposed the anti-race track gamb-
ling bill and had voted against 1t and
secured an amendment postpon'ng the
time for 1t to become effective. He
did not believe that this represented
the will Of the people whom he repre-
sented.
He referred to the State park being
400 to 500 acres and not 80 acres as
Clifton had stated. He charged that
Clifton had voted $500 for a steam
heating plant In the State College at
Orangeburg so that Cuffee might
comb his hair by steam heat" ap-
plr use and laughter greeting this
statement. He said $500 a year would
have been saved II the bill to rent to
the state offices in the Union National
Banle had been passed.
He vented to know why Mr.. Cliff
ton had voted against paying the
stenographers who took testimony in
the investigation of the State Insane
Asylum and asked Mr.. Clifton to ex-
plain his reasons. In closing he said
that he had always stood for law
enforcement and asked that any re-
ports which were being circulated be
brought to him. SO that he might
have a chance to answer them.
| Mr.. Clifton stated that Mr.. Epps was
indeed q strange kind of politician,
II he entered a race for office and
cid not expect to be bothered by such
reports. but he denied that any or
these reports had ever emanated from
him. nor could Mr.. Epps trace any
Of them to him.
| He belittled the work of Mr.. Epps
In the house. making light of the i'm
portance Of the bills Mr.. Epps had
introduced and worked for. He did
not call Mr.. Epps to account for
not voting. but for asking to be ex-
cused from voting. He had never ask
cd house to excuse him from vot-
Ing and IL Mr.. Epps or anyone else
could show where he had he would
withdraw from the race. He said
that he had never been to the coun-
try club except one time. when he
was Invited to barbecue and Mr..
Epps was present at this time also.
He had not then gone into the club
room proper.
He referred to report which he
said had been spread around Dalzell
that he had made statements re-
hecting on the integrity Of citizens of
the community He most emphatical-
ly denied that report and he wanted
everybody to know that he denied It.
He read statement from L. d.
Jennings. who was opposing him in
this race. he said. In which Mr.. Jen-
inings stated that he was with Mr..
Clifton at the time he was alleged to
have made the statement and that
ne (Jennings) would have heard it
had II been made. and that Mr.. Cliff
ton had made no such statement, At
this point there was applause and
someone called out "Hurrah for
Clifton"
He most emphatically denied Mr..
Epps' statement that he had voted
against the anti-race track gambling
bill and said that he would with
draw from the race. II Mr.. Epps
could prove that ne had. He voted
against an amendment to the bill, as
mad Senator Carlisle. the author, and
numerous other senators.
Hs stated that the legislature had
no legal authoritysfor voting to rent
offices In the city for State officers
and he would vote against such a bill
every time. In referring to this he
expressed an opinion that he would
be reelected. He explained his vote
Tor the steam heating plant for the
negro college. saying that the COM
'nittee which had investigated the
matter had recommended the appro-
priation. as the college would 20 to
pieces without 1t. He again referred
10 MIR. Epps' course on the Fortner
HI