The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-08-12
SUMTER, 8. G. SATURDAY, AUGUST 1s 1915
STATE CAMPAIGN MEETING.
FLORENCE VOTERS TURN OCI
FREELY-NO GREAT EN-
THUSIASNI.
Slight Inclination to Play FayOritcs--
Three OF the Candidates Given
Flowers.

Flowers.
Florence, Aug. S.--Farm lands sof
the Pee Dee are as soggy as riYcr
swamps and as plOws must stand idly
by voters of Florence county turnel
aside from contemplation of csop
losses to the diversion of hearing the
candidates of the State campaign par
ty. AS many as 1000 voters attended,
the meeting with little show of en-
thusiasin and slight inclination to play
favorites. Gov. Manning. r. A. Coop
er and Cole L. Blease each received q
large bunch of flowers. :
In arguments the candidates struck
! their customary stride, following
closely the season old ingredients, In
compOunding body polite health pre-
scriptions. The administration of Gov.
Manning was a favored target for pot
shooting. Cole l.. Blease again char
acterizing 1t as the most lawless and
extravagant since 1876.
/ Mr.. Blease was the first speaker and
Immediately launched into bitter at
tack upon Gov. Manning, charging
that his farewell speech as con-
mander-in-chief of the two regiments
of the National Guard when they we're
about to start for the border Was
political rather than inspired by
patriotism or duty. The governor
would have been howled down at the
camp, the speaker said, IL Col. Springs
hadn't threatened courtmartial in ad-
vance. From the 1000 boys gone TO
the border Mr.. Blease expects two
thirds as many votes. provided these
are mot purloined by the officers
he said. He had come directly from
the Piedmont and from information
garnered there he predicted there
would be no second race IF the Fee
Dee gives me the votes it has n The
past"
i II. A., Cooper made hts usual spes3h,
RledgipgS t,nRayt emf 9xeem4Hk. -
flaws and pr6n6iainE Is Sc the "a lsf hot
Of all the people. Amy man who goes
into Office to be the governor of his
friends only and to punish his enc
mics Is not fit to hold Office" the Lau-
rens county candidate told the peo-
pie. Criminals, he declared, would
serve their sentences. He could not
promise tax reduction, but would at
tempt to give 100 cents for the dollar.
The only inspiring element j. M.
DesChamps has discovered in the cam
paign is the rag chewing" feature, he
said. He has contemplated the estab-
lishment of paper manufacturing
plant. and he would engage the can
didates for the fine art of munching
the rags for the paper tissue. IF you
don't believe South Carolina has been
held up to ridicule, sneered at, cussed
and scoffed at, go 1000 miles beyond
your border and find out what the
other fellow says" Enough seeds OF
anarchy. he said, had been sown in
South Carolina to require so years of
craftsmanship to eliminate.
John T., Duncan spoke next.
GOV. Manning was the last speaker,
out the crowd had waited patiently in
a sweltering sun to hear him, and
many crowed into the court house
entrance to speak to him when he
had finished
he had kept his promises Of two
years ago, he told the people. He re-
viewed the acts of his administration
relative to the enforcement of law,
the passage of progressive legislation
and OF efforts and results to give an
economical administration. The over
shadowing issue in this campaign was
law enforcement. Progress had been
maze In this direction and he reviewed
the Charleston situation, where from
a state Of brazen violation of law q
strong sentiment for enforcement has
crystalized. No true bills were re-
turned and no conviction had for
hquor selling prior to his administra-
tion, he said. His instructions to his
cohstaples were to raid the gambling
dens andi blind tiger joints three times
daily and once every hour If necessary.
by this relentless practice liquor SELL
ing had been robbed of it's profits, for
rent signs were up ut some of the
stands and the good people were sus-
tanning him. "They Kissed me i'm Char
ieston the other day, and they had q
cause the governor concluded. Just
50 long as he Is governor, he pledged,
they VIII continue to have cause to
hiss