The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-08-05

Il Ivoteu against separation Of the races
In railway COACHES. when he wanted
THEM separated OH the chain gangs
lie stNed that he had cleaned out the
Jalis aad chain gangs for nothing. He
STATED that despite the efforts to trail
'ldown those whom he had liberated
only three of them had ever been
iound committing any wrongs since
fttiey were liberated. t! tce ,,.n.
He stated that his defeat for the
United States senate was the best
thing that had ever happened to him.
us Eddie Smith had promised the
farmers fifteen cent cotton. and he
asked any who had gotten it to hold
up their hands, but no hands went up.
He said that If the hard times had
come after he had been elected, he
would have been blamed for 1t. Eddie
smith was elected and could explain
why the hard times and no fifteen
cent cotton had been sold. He criti-
oised the governor for giving DR.. Fred
z. Williams more salary than that al
lowed by law, saying that If he was
Tor law enforcement, then he ought to
take out indictment proceedings
against himself and DR.. Williams both.
as both had broken the law, the one
Dy giving and the other by receiving
the additional salary. He thought the
railroad freight rates were unjust and
stated that the people on the farms
had to pay them in the end. He stood
Tor the State warehouse system as the
best law ever enacted for the people
of the State. He was for six per cent.
interest. He favored rural credits, as
It gave the farmer a chance to buy
his own home. He criticised the leg
islature which had been elected during
his previous administrations, by saying
that they would not do what he want
ed them to. He favored biennial ses-
sions. There was one matter, he stat,
cd, which he had mentioned at other
places, which, at the request of a.
friend, he would not mention here,
and nc asked the crowd to say wheth-
Or he+should discuss 1t or not. There
were several cries Of Let 1t pass
and one of 'pet's hear It," and the,
speaker stated that he would abide by.
The will Of the majority and let the
matter pass up. He Just wanted to,
let tho people know he was not afraid
TO discuss It.
Blease left the stand as soon as he.
finished his speech.
.R. A. Cooper of Laurens was the
next speaker. Mr.. Cooper is a splen-
did orator and he made good Inn,
ibresston on the audience. even with.
these whose minds were made up and,
10 not intend to vote for him. He.
900 was given z careful hearing. al,
sshoush among those hack OF the.
stand. negroes for tNe most part, there
MAS considerable hum OF talking. He
stated that he would not assail the
character OF any man, as he did not
want to secure any Office in that way.
He wanted 1t in an honorable way or
not at all. not by the shortcomings OF
others at any rate. He stated that he
had entered the race of his own vo-
lition. That any man had the right
10 offer for Office, as any man had the
right TO vote for whom he chose:
when he exercised the right Of suf-,
rage. II elected he would be the
governor of all of the people, or not
1t all. ne declared, statement which
slitited applause. He stated that as
governor ne would see that the laws
Of the State, as enacted by the law
making body. were his only guide and
that they would be enforced for the
best interest OF the State. He would
not disturb the findings or a Jury with
out good cause. as the pardoning pow
(er was given. only to correct mistake
md to prevent an injustice.
He was In favor of raising the stand,
ard of the public schools to the work
done during the first two years at col
lege. as ninety per cent of the white
people OF the State never secured any
|ednoatiOn outside of the public schools.
He was not in favor Of reducing taxes.
but OF expending the public money So
that the State got dollars worth for
every hundred cents spent. The pros
|'perity of the State depends upon her
agriculture, he said. the tenant farm
ers should therefore be put In a posi-
ton whore they could own their own
homes. Only three per cent Of ths
farmer boys in the State could attend
Clemson College. he stated, although
he was not oriticising Clemson College.
He was In favor of State colleges, the