The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-06-20

DlDATtsS AND THE AUDIENC
The interest of the people in poll
tics as an abstract matter and In the
mere pMctical side issue-the am
hilton. and aspirations of the candi-
dates for oMce-is one of the fixed
and certain elements in American life.
and they can always be counted on to
attend a political meeting in force
and give the candidates a moro or
less patient hearing while they explain
their Views on political issues and
urge the claims for preferment that
they believe that they possess In a
greater measure than their oppon-
enta The State campaign meeting
and the first meeting Of the forty
four that trail their weary way across
and up and down the State is an old
stoTy to Sumter, but there has not
failed to be a large crowd present in
all the years since the custom of hav-
ing . Statewide campaign became
nxed. and today when the campaign
OF 1914 opened in the Court House at
IL CLOCK the crowd was present and
there was as much interest and sup
pressed excitement as usual. When
the meeting was called to order the
ue0,>rt room was filed with Q crowd
Numbering at least six hundfed nnd
rapidly increased while the candidates
for Lieutenant Governor We're speak
Ing until every available seat was fill
ed and the aisies. bar and lobby un-
comfortably crowded. with others still
on the outside seeking admission. A
conserve tive estimate places the num-
ber present at twelve to fourteen hum
dred. When the candidates for Lieu
tenant Governor had spoken the
chairman was requested to adjourn
the meeting to the Court House
grounds In order to give all an oppor-
tunity to hear the speakers and ma
jority OF tho crowd appearing to ap-
provo Of the move. the meeting mi
grated to the front portico where
the speech-making was continued for
q time. but here the noise was so
great that ho one could hear satisfac-
torily and II was decided to return to
the court room. where the speech
making was concluded.
The meeting was called to order by
County Chairman John III. Clifton,
who announced that the candidates
had met and arranged programme
and allotted the time that each of
the candidates is to have at this and
subsequent meetings.
The first candidates to speak were
the aspirants for tho office of Lieu
tenant Governor. Mr.. Andrew j.
Bethea. OF Columbia. making the
opening address. He briefly sketch
ed his career and gavc the facts that
no believes should convince the peo-
pie that he Is qualified to fiji the
once and TO discharge It's duties cred
itably. Iie stated emphaticaiiy that
he was no coat-tail swinger and was
running on his own merits.
Mr.. w. M. Hamer,, of Dillon. a sue
cessful farmer and business man made
his initial bow as a candidate for pub
lie Office and made n straightforward
plea for the confidence and votes Of
the people.
MFR. ]. A. Hunter. OF Bamberg. a
member of the Legislature from his
county for several years and a sue
cess as a merchant and i'm several
other lines of business asked the Of
fec OF Lieutenant Governor because
he felt confident that ne would dis
charge the duties of the Office i'm a
manner crcditablc to- the state and to
himself.
Mr.. u. Frank Kelly. OF Bishopvillc.
last OF the candidates for Lieutenant
Governor to speak. was given quito
n fiattering reception when nc was in
troduced. He said lie felt at home
and appreciated the reception given
him by the people Of Sumter among
whom he had spent nine of the best
years OF his life. He reminded his
audience Of tho struggles that ne had
endured as n boy and young man To
obtain an education and get "a foot
hold on tho roadway Of life. He said
he felt confident. as n result Of his
travels over tho state. that hc would
he the next Lieutenant Governor Of
the state, and pledged the people the