The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-08-07
GEN. MOORE STRIKES
CAPT. M. c. WILLIS
Spirited Fist Fight Between
Candidates.
MEETING AT YORKVILLE.
General Moore Was Arrested But
Later Released on Bond
Large Crowd Present.


Large Crowd Present.
Yorkville Special to Columbia Rec
ord, Aug. "a brief and spirited
fist fight between w. w. Moore. can
didate for reelection as adjutant
general, and his opponent, NJ. c..
Willis, was the feature of the meet
ing for candidates for state officers
here today. The encounter came
during Captain Willis speech after
he had denounced as false the state
ment OF General Moore made at sew
eral previous meetings that the local
military company OF which Captain
VILLAS is an officer was one of the
poorest in the state.
ANY man that questions my in
tegrity tells as black a falsehood as
ever emanated from the pits of hell"
said Captain Willis after he ha /
been cheered by the crowd as a ma
tive son.
General Moore rushed from the
back of the st ge shouting, Are you
referring 10 me, SIT
'I am, sir" replied Captain Will
lis
With these words General Moore
hit his opponent squarely in the face.
The blow was returned and the fight
ensued. The crowd rushed i'm and
separated the combatants. Several
people tried to get over the back of
the stage to get at General Moore
yelling various threats at him. After
several minutes the stage was clear
ed and Captain Willis continued his
speech. He read an affidavit from
Bert Smith, captain of the First Regi-
ment, declaring that General Moore
had said to him after inspecting the
company a year ago that ii was
one OF the best in the state"
General Moore in his speech apollo
gized for the encounter and took
Captain Willis to ask for making
his charge and bringing a conflict in
his home town surrounded by his
friends and kinsmen
Considerable disorder prevailed
during General Moore's speech.
Captain Willis twice appealed to the
crowd to give General Moore re-
spectful hearing. General Moore
was arrested by the two authorities
Immediately after the trouble, but
was released on bond.
Most of York county emptied It.
self into Yorkville today and all
Yorkville poured itselw out in the
grove to hear the candidates. After
a week OF comparative calm !he
office-seekers warmed up today and
the audience warmed VI, with them.
Several automobiles decorated
with large banner ensigned with
"Witherspoon for Railroad Commits
sioner and Willis for Adjutant Gen
eral." paraded around the town
Both OF these native sons received
ovations. The meeting was called to
order at 1915 a. m, by Acting Coun-
ty Chairman Thomas f. Mellow.
The Tirzah band furnished brief
concert while the crowd was gather
ing. The candidates for railroad
commissioner and comptroller gen.
eral made their routine speeches.
KELLEY -BETHEA PERSONAL l.
TIES.
b. Frank Kelley and Andrew )
Bethea, candidates for lieutenant
governor, grew unusually personal
iu their remarks about each other to-
day. Mr.. Bethea challenged Fir
Kelley to denounce the pardon record
fthe present governor and especial.
ly the pardon of r. Burnett Caugh.
man OF Lee county in the obtaining
OF which, he said, Mr. Kelley had q
fiand.
Mr.. Kelley called Mr.. Bethea a
"kid-slippered dude" and declared
that he would pay no attention ''tC
mosquitoes and June flies"
The chairman appealed TO Mr.. Kel
ley to refrain from personalities.
The candidates for attorney gen
eral, a. G. Brice and Thomas II. Zee
pies, furnished no new features.
ID Amended Reserve Act.