The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1915-07-21

half filled the court house Saturday,
the candidates for the seat in the nat
ional house Of representatives recent
ly vacated by Judge JOS. II. Johnson
were heard with interest in spite Of
the very oppressive atmospheric condi-
tons. B. A. Morgan and S. j. Nichols
had the advantage over the remaining
candidates, boing the first on the pro-
gram and speaking before the auditors
had become restless. They spoke in
the following order: b. A. Morgan, S.
j. Nichols, Ira G. Blac1wood, WV.
Johnson, r. j. Can't and A. Fl. Miller.
The last speakers had the weather and
the dinner hour to combat Mr..
A. Fl. Miller, not beginning his
address until after one o'clock BY
that time the crowd had dwindled con-
siderably.
The candidates spoke the night be-
fore at the Watts Mills and the follow
ing night at the Laurens Cot
ton Mill. At both places the candi-
dates without exception received
cordial reception. S. j. Nichols seem
ed to have the edge on all OF his op-
poncnts at these two meetings, his
story Of his working in the cotton
mills when boy to get spending
money and Of his playing on the mill
giving place to the discussion o:
some Of the planks in his platform dis
cusScd at other meetings.
The six candidates covered the coun-
ing ncld. All OF the meetings were
fairly we'll attended, the smallest
crowd being at Hickory Tavern. In
every place they were courtcously re-
turned by the candidates, the speeches
being noticcably free from persona!
or factional feeling. indeed, the OBJ
servation has boon that the six candi-
dates arc very friendly toward each
other and have been capital comrades
SO fpr.
-$s3 b. A.. Morgan.
&. q. Morgan was the first speaker
at the I.aurcns meeting. Mr.. Morgan
declared that he had no promises to
make but that if elected hn Will be
guided wholly by th", 4-osates Of his
conscience. He udVOcatcd increasing
the national guard and paying the mi
litia for actual time at drills, favored
Government ownership Of ships, Il
ware house syStcf rural credits, re-
turn OF the illegal taxcs levied upon
the ySouth's cotton after the Civil war
and It's distribution among the old sol
diers.
s. j. Nichols.
Mr.. Nichols again went into his plan
for government loans to farmers at
8 per cent interest advocated govern
mcnt ownership of ships, federal aid
for good roads, taking the irrigation
projects OF the west as a precedent
FIc advocated rural credit system
where the government would guar
antee farm mortgages. Mr.. Nichols
opposes the plan contemplated by Mr..
Burlcson by which the rural free de-
livery service would be put on con-
tract basis charging that this would
pave the way for negro invasion OF
this field now occupied almost entire
" by white men. He referred to his
several terms as county and city al
torney at Spartanburg under several
different administrations.
Ira c. 1'lackW0Od.
Mr.. Blackwood "clinched" his claim
TO the pcnnant for the best orator in
the bunch. He predicted pen,
sions for Confederate soldiers from the
federal treasury. He expanded on his
idea Of government regulation Of rail
road rates to prevent the present dis
{crimination between the cities and
towns, pointing out the tendency which
this produces to centralize the wealth
and population of the country in large
cities. He reiterated his advocacy OF
rural credits, again outlined his plan
for locating feheral sanitariums all
over the corntryB@herein needy people
might be treated. Mr.. lBlackwood gave
q short history Of his life. stating that