The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-07-15

liar nor in any other way attempt
cd to resent their strong dcnunciat ton
or his official record. This is a new
Kind of fighting for Bleasc, who
attacks Smith, but never his other
two opponents. Smith attacks no.
body. but confines himself to telling
the voters what he has done in the
senate and hopes to do there if re-
elected.
This might be shrewd politics by
both Blcase and Smith. IL Jennings
and Pollock were weaker men. 1t
seems that Blcaso and Smith figured
that the real race at tic start was
between them and they could keep it
that way by ignoring the other two
contestants.
N Jennings ard Pollock wore
weaker men such scheme might
work, 1t might result In a choice Of
either Smith or Blease in the first
primary. or ensIre the second race
being between them.
But Jennings and Pollock arc not
ordinary men and are not conducting
an ordinary campaign. Their speeches
arc strong and direct. Even IL an
swcred they would be to some cx-
tent elective. Such speeches ignored
however. are more effective, be-
cause the failure to answer leads to
strong suspicion of inability to an
swcr
The situation In the senatorial race
has undoubtedly changed since It's
opening. At that time nobody really
believed the entrance of Jennings
and Pollock would materially change
things. 1t was then thought possible
for Blease or Smith to win out on
the first ballot, but probably neither
Blease nor Smith believes such an
outcome possible now. The conviction
Is steadily growing and fast bccom-
ing Statewide that the senatorial
nominee will not be chosen in the
first primary. When this conviction
first began to make itself felt, there
was little doubt that q second race,
II one should become necessary,
would be between Blease and Smith.
However. not few are beginning
to believe that the aggressive, un-
answered fight Of Jennings and Pol
lock Is having an effect that it is de-
taching voters from both Blease
and Smith.
At the outset there were not "a
few voters opposed to both Bleaso
and Smith. who welcomed the en-
trance Of other candidates as giving
them an opportunity to vote against
both Blease and Smith. If the fight
by Jennings and Pollock on both
Smith and Blcase has materially in
creased this number and this entire
support should be concentrated UPON
either Jennings or Pollock, it may be
sufficient to put tho one so conferred
upon In second race with either
Blease OF Smith.
The convictiOn Is growing among
those opposed to both Blease and
Smith that their votes are insuni-
cient II divided to make a second
race between Jennings and Pollock
or to put either of them I'm second
race with one of the other two con-
testants. AZ this conviction gains
strength. 1t may result in a concen-
tration of support by opponents of
both Blease and Smith upon either
jennings or Pollock. as one of the
latter two develops q strength which
would lead to the belief that he
rather than the other. has the best
chance Of getting In the second race.
The indirect effect Of the fight
made by Jennings and Pollock has
probably bcen greater on Smith than
the direct effect has been upon Blease
though 1t has undoubtedly taken some
votes from both. Many people, espec-
tally farmers. who voted for Blease
two years ago. preferred Smith for
the senate, some because they thought
him better equipped for service in
Washington than the governor and
others because they thought he had
done we'll enough to deserve the en-
dorsement of second term.
Not a few voters. however. do not
believe, Ii the race had been be-
tween Smith and Blcase alone and
Smith under such circumstances had
made the kind Of campaign he is
making. that Smith could have been
reelected. They say that the chance
OF defeating Blcase Is due to the
fight jennings and Pollock have made
and that the reward for that fight
should be support OF whichever Of
the two seems stronger 10y an ele-
ment of citizenship that considered
the defeat Of Blcasc of prime i'm