The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-06-27
SENATORS At WATERFORD,
GOVERNOR DENIES RUMOR OF;
SUPPORT by Mill. PRESi-
DENTS.
Smith I'm Good Form-Jcnnings and
Pollock Tackle Governor.

WATERFORD, June 22.--About eight
hundred citizens heard the candidates
for the United States senate speak
here today, the meeting opening the
second week Of the campaign.
The train from Charleston, bearing
the four aspirants for SENATORIAL hon
ors, was delayed several hours by
wreck near Adams Run, and it was
nearly l o'clock when the speaking
began, the crowd having waited
since about 10 o'clock in the grove
near the centre of town, where the
meeting was held.
M. p. Howell, Esq, county chair
man, presided. Although a number
OF questions were fired at the candi-
dates the audience preserved the
best of order.
GOV. Blease denied a rumOr he said
was being circulated that Lewis w.
Parker and other cotton mill men
were supporting him, saying Mr. Par
ker was one who was ready to con-
tribute to Senator Smiths campaign
FUND. The governor declared he
would be nominated in the first pri-
mary. Gov. Blease left here this af-
ternoon for Columbia, and will go to
FlOrence tomorrow afternoon to
speak at the State Firemen's Conven-
ton. He will rcjoin the campaign
party at Barnwell Friday.
Mayor J.. d. Jennings undertook to
explain the new enrolment rules and
show that no such injustice had been
done the poor and illiterate citizens as
charged by the governor. Mr.. Jen-
nings also discussed the governors
pardon record.
Mr.. w. F. Pollock also tackled the
governors pardon record again and
touched up the executive in other
ways.
Senator Smiths best speech of the
campaign so far was made today. The
senator showed considerable fire and
seemed to be in his old form of six
years ago.
Flowers were in evidence again to-
day, Senator Smith receiving two
bouquets and Gov. Blease one.
Gov. Blease was the first speak
er. In denying that the cotton mill
men were supporting him, he declar-
ed Lewis w. Parker one of his bitter
est enemies, who before the dispen-
sary investigation committee attempt
ed to blacEen my character" He said
he warned his friends when here be-
fore about attending club meetings
and conventions. And see what has
been the result Of your inactivity"
referring to the control Of the State
convention by the Anti-Blease forces
and changes in the primary rules to
keep thousands Of his friends from
voting. He declared it had been
boasted on the streets Of Columbia
that $1,000 or 10000 Blease voters
had been disfranchised, and that one
must go before a "1Iaskellite, Samps
Popeite or Deasite" who would say
whether a name should remain on
tho roll.
That negroes were used in Newber-
ry to carry clubs against him, was
charged by the governor, who also
stated that good men who can't write
must make their marks, witnessed by
"half-Haskellites, negro-appealing
Republicans, before they can vote"
The governor claimed that two years
ago from $1,000 to $4,000 votes were
stolen from him.
He denied he was to blame for the
withdrawal Of the encampment invi-
tation to the South Carolina militia,
and quoted from a communication
from the Secretary of War to the ef-
feet that the invitation was with
drawn because more than one hun
dred thousand dollars worth Of mill
tary stores guns, etc, the property OF
the federal government, and distrib-
uted to this States troops, was un-
accounted FOR, and that until this
shortage was explained tho South
Carolina National Guard could not at
tend the cncampment. He said he
had one miX-up with the war de-
partment and beat them out; that
he had no apologies to make for any
thing he had ever done. land those
that don't like it can't help it,"
lie said some OF the State candi-
dates are dodging the Blcasc issue,
but that when they get in the Pied
mont they will have to tell where they
stand. When the governor declared
he would he elected in the first pri-
mary, that he had $1,000 to $4,000
majority two years ago, land whose
going to take them from mc?"