The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-07-08
MANNING MADE
ExTEMP0RATE talk
Liberal Applause Given Speaker
On Splendid Grafton That
Was Rendered
Special to The Intelligencer.

Special to The Intelligencer.
Belton, July 6.-Hon Richard I.
Manning, who is making the race for
governor, and who is conceded to be
one Of the leading candidates in the
race, spent today in Bolton, having
come from Spartanburg to meet the
voters of Belton and vicinity. Mr..
Manning has many strong friends here
and spent the day very pleasantly
meeting them and making new ones.
During the evening conference was
held here with a number of the strong
personal and political friends of Mr..
Manning. These are quite enthusi-
astic over the outlook and are predict
ing big vote in Anderson county for
their favorite.
Yielding to requests of the crowd,
Mr.. Manning delivered strong ad-
!dress late in the afternoon. There
were present $50 voters besides many
ladies and children. For an hour the
speaker held the undivided attention
of his audience, being accorded a gen.
curious amount of applause. The in
PRODUCTION was made by Prof. j. = B.
Watkins, who paid hight tribute to
the worth of the candidate. 80,
Asked Harmony. =
Mr.. Manning began his address with
a plea for harmony in the state. He
decried the appeals to prejudice and
and passion, and hopes the voters will
cast their ballots for the men they
believe fittest to fill the office ( for
which they are aspiring. He discuss
ed the issues of the campaign and an
nounced his stand on the many inter-
esting questions being discussed over
the state Just now.
The speaker was especially bitter
in his denunciation of the violation
of law in allowing the race track
gamblers to hold their carnival Of
crime in South, Carolina, although
therecis law on the statute book pro-
,hibiting such meets to be held. He
said if he were elected governor he
would issue an order only once, and
if it were not obeyed the official head
Of the person who refused would fall.
Speaking of the pardoning power
Of the governor, Mr.. Manning said that
if he were elected that + he would
doubtless grant some pardons, but
that they would be from meritorious
reasons, and based on evidence that
there had been a grave miscarriage
Of justice. He did not believe in the
wholesale use of the pardoning power,
thus setting aside the verdicts Of ju-
ries and destroying the efficiency Of
the courts. He would know no friend
or foe In the discharge of his duties
as governor, including the pardoning
Of persons convicted of crime.
Compulsory Edeucation
He discussed at some length his
views Of the compulsory educational
matter now being made an issue Of
the campaign. Mr.. Manning's position
is favoring a local option compulsory
law, that is letting each school dis
trict or county decide the matter of
having compulsory education or not.
He argued that the entire state is not
yet ready for the use of this law, and
that If it were forced on 1t by legis-
lative enforcement it would result in
as great farce as would the passage
Of a. prohibition law in Charleston. No
betterfuse could be made of the ex-
penditure Of money than for educa-
ton, and education will not come
cheap. He stated that State Superin-
tendent of Education Swearingen said
that If compulsory law were enacted
now that the school facilities would
not accommodate the children that
would be forced into school, and, it
would result in overcrowding teachers
thus destroying the efficiency of their
teaching. Z.
The speaker stated that a business
administration of affairs is needed.
and referred to the fact that the pres
ent governor Is at 1oggerheads with all
the departments, and that 1t is cost
Ing the state at least $25,000 on ac-
c99nt Of, the failure to arrange the
pAt$er Of the refund of the state debt.
The reception given Mr.. Manning
was very cordial and he was several
times applauded. Many comments
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