The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-01-29
sIlole FIGHT on WERNER BILL
OCONEE SENATOR PUSHES MEAS.
RE WHICH Is VIGOROUSLY
OPPOSED.
fsesadents Of Dcnon,inational Colleges
n Columbia 10 Urge Passage of Anti
Tuition and Schoaarship Bill-Lttlc
Opposition 10 McLaurin, Who Was
Easily Re.clcctcd.

Columbia, Jan. 27.-The election of
John L. McLaurin as warehouse COM
missioner to succeed himself yester-
day by the general assembly by a ma
5ority Of 20 votes over the combined
votes polled for r. M. Cary of Pick
ems and John ]. McMahan of Column
bis is taken In political circles here rs
proof beyond question OF the admin
istration. whose followers control the
general assembly overwhelmingly,
being the administration of all the
people. In strong contrast to past ad-
ministrations which coined the slogan
Of standing by my friends" Efforts
to draw factional lines failed and
some Of the strongest workers for the
rs-esection Of Senator McLaurin are
the strongest personal and political
friends Of Gov. Manning.
Il was the determination of the
general assembly to elect a ware
house commissioner on his merits and
this. u the reason why Senator Nc
LAurin was again chosen to head the
systsm He was placed in nomina-
tion for reelection by Representative
y. w. LsGrand. Of Marlboro county.
. strong -Bisaseite. and his
nomination wai, seconded by Senator
J. Arthur Banlss OF Calhoun county.
another strong anti -Blesse man and a
warm personal and political friend of
Gov. Manning.
The Sumter county delegation voted
- follows: For McLa,rin. Senator
Epps. Representative Noise and San
ders; for McMahan. Representative
Belser.
The presence Of committee of
presidents Of denominational colleges
In Columbia this week to watch the
nsht which Ia being made In the sem
ate TO abolish free tuition and schol-
arships In the State colleges has fam
ned the interest In this much disput-
Cd and vexatious problem to fever
heat throughout the State. Members
OF the committee here are President
Davidson Douglas OF the Presbyterian
College at Clinton. President H. N.
syndsr Of wofford College at Spartan
burg, and President J. 8. Moffatt of
Erskine College at Due West; Presi-
dent y Henry Harms OF Newberry
College is anotisr mernber of this
committee. but is absent in Chicago
on business. TIE presidents OF the
State colleges, T.. b. Johnson OF Win
throp. w. M. Riggs Of Clemson and
w. 8. Currell Of the University OF
South Carolina. conferred on this
matter. but declined to make public.
any conclusions. DR.. johnson was In
Columbia yesterday and Mr.. Riggs has
been here several times since the
general assembly convened.
The denominational colleges declare
that unless the general assembly does
something to remove the unfair COM
petition which they. are up against by
the reason OF the abuse in free tuition
and scholarships they are going to
take the fight before the people of
the State In the election next sum-
mer. A suggestion that the State Gre
ate several scholarships and let the
winner elect what college, denomina-
tionai or State. to attend Is not being
received with ary degree of support
by the State institutions.
Meanwhile Senator Werner of
Oconee ~ redoubling his efforts to get
through his bill abolishing free tut
tion and scholarships He has made
several vigorous assaults on the pres
snt system and each time returns to
the attack with renewed energy and
undaunted by the blows from the op-
position. who strenuously oppose the
bill. A great food Of oratory has
been unloosened by this measure and
crowded galleries have followed the
speeches Of the senator's with great
interest. All admit that abuses have
crept into the present system and that
some tightening up is needed. but the
opponents OF the Werner bill declare
II would be a step backward to pass
his measure. Opposition to the vern-
~ bill is being led by Senator Alan
Johnstone Of Newberry and Senator
q. X. Laney Of Chesterfield.
Senator Werner is being seconded by
Senator BUCK OF Horny. Senator Car
Isle Of spartanburg. Senator Will
hams Of Aiken and others. All of the
senator's have not yet spoken. Sena-
tor Padgett OF Coileton and Senator