The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1914-06-25
FIRST CAMPAIGN MEETINGS
State Candidates
Spoke at Sumter

Sumter, S. c., June 17.-En.
forcement Of the law and IN
creased educational facilities
were the issues developed by the
candidates for governor here to-
day in the initial meeting Of fathe
county to county canvass Of the
candidates for State officers
which met with the enthuastit
support of the majority of the
audience of 1.200 people who
crowded the court house and
utilized every inch of available
standing room. Judging from
applause which met the senti.
ments expressed by Jno. G.
CIinkscales and R. A. Cooper
when they termed this the para
mount issue.
Richard I. Manning was given
an ovation by the people, this
being his home. He did not
make a regular speech but gave
his time to the other candidates.
Chas. A. Smith came out fol-
state wide prohibition, and John
G.. Clinkscales besides advocat:
ing stripes for blind tigers and
pistol "toters'' said if elected
governor he would do all in his
power to break up race track
gambling in Charleston and sup
press the blind tigers in Colum-
bia. r. A. Cooper also denounc.
ed the race track gambling and
stressed the need Of enforcement
of the law. John &. Richards
came out fiat footedlv against
compulsory education and stat.
ed that he was not a coat tail
swinger.
Charles Carroll Simms. de-
nounced the personal enrolment
required of voters under the new
rules as outrageous and as an
attempt to disfranchise the poor
man.
W. C. Irby. Jr., hayed North,
ern control Of cotton mills and
banks and advocated regulation
of cotton mill mergers.
Lowndes j. Browning advo-
Gated State aid to assist tenant
white farmers in buying and
owning their own farms.
Mende1 L. Smith drew ap-
plause which We'd with that for
Clinkscales and Cooper when he
vigorously protested against in
discriminate use Of the pardon
inc power and announced him
self in favor of local option COM
pulsory education. ,
John 7. Duncan denounced
what he calls the System. !"
J. B. Adger Mutually was not
present. Clinkscales and Coop
er drew tremendous applause
when they denounced lawless-
ness and said the crying need in
South Carolina is enforcement
of law. Several Of the candl.
dates took filings at coat tail
swingers,'' much to the delight
of the crowd which cheered
every such reference. The meet
inc opened this morning at 10. As
in the court house, previously
the candidates at a meeting de-
cided to limit the governors te
fourteen minutes and all others
to seven. it being decided that
the governors should come last
each day, the system of rotation
being followed.
R. I. Manning was elected
chairman of the candidates with
L. J. Browning as secretary and
B. Frank Kelley as assistant
secretary. The candidates for
lieutenant governor, four in
number. lead off with Andrew
J. Bethea as the first on the pro-
gramme.
It is evident from the meeting
here today that the campaign
will be conducted on a high
plane, free from bitterness and
personal abuse, and that the peo-
ple will demand a discussion of
issues. Much interest wasmanl-
tested in the various speakers
and the things for which they
stand, the candidates speak at
Manning tomorrow.
Four candidates for Lieuten-
ant Governor A. j. Bethea, W: ::
M. Hamer, B. Frank Kelley and
J. A. Hunter were the first
speakers. E. J. Watson. COM
missioner of agriculture, r. M.
McCown. secretary of state, ).
e. Swearingen, state superinten-.
dent of education, made brief
speeches, Adiutant General W.
W. Moore for reelection made
a ringing speech telling of how
ne had run his office with an
eye single to duty and worked
for the upbuilding of the nation
al guard.
NJ. G. Willis for adjutant gen
eral, presented his claims for the
office. Comptroller General A.
W. Jones and his opponent Jas.
A. Summersett, spoke while the
audience were gathered on the
green, both discussing tax re-
form. There were six candl-
Gates for railroad commissioner.