Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1916-06-28

II am the greatest Of my line" Time
was called on Mr.. Cansler after his
full allotment had been taken up in a
jocular vein, and he broke Off in the
middle of sentence, apparently re-
luctant to give place to the other
candidates. whom he greeted with a
smile as he went to the rear.
Albert S. Fant, of Anderson, was
the next speaker. He Is q young man
of good presence, and stated that
this was the first time that he had
ever asked for public office. He gave
full information as to the personnel
of the present Commission, showing
that they were all from the lower
and central portions of the State He
Is the only candidate from the Pied
mont section and felt that this part
Of the State is entitled to representa-
tion IN the body. He would, he said,
bring with him into the office, if
elected, ability, honesty and an earn
est desire to serve the interests of the
people of the whole State. He is
running, he said, on his own merits
and not on the demerits Of his oppo-
nents. Thirteen years ago he had
left the plow handles without dol
lar to enter business in other lines.
and comes now to ask the support of
the people, bringing with him a rec
ord showing not .iy measure of
success, but having the highest en-
dorsement and commentator from
his employers.
G. McDuffie Hampton, who is seek
Ing reelection to the office Of Rail-
road Commissioners, was the next
speaker He was glad, he said, to
get back into the hill country Of
South Carolina, with which he had
been long familiar by reason Of hav-
ing resided in the mountains for
many summers. He had learned to
know and to love the good people of
the hills, ethan whom there are no
better under the SUM-" He felt that
he had done his duty In the position
lie held and hoped for the support of
tie people Of Oconee. He felt that he
had special qualifications for the du-
ties Of the office, being by profession
a civil engineer, and having found
ample scope for the exercise of his
practical knowledge in this line since
becoming member of the Railroad
Commission. He referred to the
changes demanded of the railways OF
this State in regard to replacing
wooden bridges and trestles with
substantial masonry work, and stated
that the freight rates now obtaining
III this State were the best that our
people had ever enjoyed.
w. II. Kelley based his appeal to
the people Of South Carolina for their
votes strictly upon his merits. He
was a business man and sought the
Office Of Railroad Commissioner be-
cause he believed that he could serve
tho people with ability. He thought
he knew the needs Of the people, and
would pledge his best efforts in their
behalf If chosen to take a seat in the
body.
John II. Duncan
was the first speaker on the list OF
candidates for Governor. He struck
out right from the shoulder" tack
ling almost everything and every
body. He is a firm believer in the
State warehouse system, which, how
ever, he said must be kept out of
politics. What we most need, he
said, is national warehouse system
with the Federal government back
OF 1t, and he advocates man in the
Presidents cabinet to have charge of
marketing, warehousing and foreign
selling Of all surplus crops. He want
ed this country to be able to DISPOSE
Of her products without first having
to consult John Bull. He knocked
the gallon-a-month law and paid his
respects to the press OF the State.
Duncan doesn't think much Of Mr..
Cooper, he said, as che has already
betrayed the Bleaseites and the Con-
servatives, and is now making his
death-bed repentance campaign" But
he's too late. he asserted. If elected,
he (Duncan) promised to be Cover
nor Of all the people.
Governor II. !. Manning
would have been tho next speaker.
but he was unavoidably absent, hay
ing been called to Columbia on Off
cial business IN connection with the