The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1916-07-12
Bob cooper.

The appearance OF Solicitor BOD
Cooper here Tuesday as candidate
for Governor of South Carolina
moves The Index again to say some
thing about the race for Governor
this year.
Bob Cooper is as we'll known per-
sonally in this county as the Editor
of The Index or any other man al
most in the county. Those who do
know him, know that he has been a
fair, a fearless and an able prose-
cutting officer as solicitor of this, the
Eighth Judicial Circuit. There is
nothing in his whole long term of
service in the least way, shape or
form, discreditable to him. On the
contrary his record is highly credit
able. Another official who served
seven years with him told the writer
few days ago that he had never
known a. small or unfair or unscru-
pulous thing done by Bob Cooper in
that whole time. He did not believe
he could be untruthful. y
With this, one feels fully justified
in supporting him for this high office.
He is entitled, as is every son Of the
State, to offer for Governor. He did
not, however, intend some months
ago to offer for this Office this year.
We know that. Such pressure was
brought to bear upon him, however,
from every section of the State, that
he could not resist the call. The de-
mands were from some Of the ablest,
best and most conservative men in
the State. These men had looked at
the political situation in South Caro-
lima in 1916 from every angle and it
was their deliberate opinion that
Cooper should offer for Governor
and when this demand became 80
WIDESPREAD and so insistent Cooper
finally consented.
So much for that. It is as far as
we can 60 in that phase of the mat
ter. We do make this plain, frank
and honest statement as we have
made it once before as to his entry
into the race. We make it now as
we did the first time without any
consultation with Cooper and with
out even obtaining his consent.
Having entered the campaign ne
had to outline policy. 1t is to offer
! for this Office on his own merits. He
has stuck to it. It has made him
friends and is making him friends.
He is making no attacks. He has the
ability to serve as Governor. He has
certain definite ideas as to what is
needed in South Carolina. These
things he is advocating, but he is not
making personal, attacks on any can
didate. It is welcome and refresh
ing note in South Carolina politics.
He is a plain man of the people.
He got his first learning with his
back to the fireplace studying by
pine-knot fire. He ploughed his ia
theirs small fields with a Blue Back
speller in his hip pocket, taking. it
out at rows ends to learn word or
two. Surely such ambition, such de-
termination in the fact of such
handicaps and obstacles as ne suffer-
ed is worthy of mention and praise.
A man like this knows the pepole,
the real people. He wants to be of
help. He knows that axes are high
and getting higher. He wants to 40
something to reduce them and yet ne
is honest enough not to rant on the
stump that he is going to do it, be-
cause he must have the help of the
Legislature. 1t is a safer chance to
depend on a man like Cooper's doing
this than on some one who has never
known the hardships of poverty as
he has. m
He is firm. He has character. There
is nothing wishy-washy about him.
There is no double-dealing, no turn
coat streak in him. He is safe to
trust and will be faithful to any
trust.
The Index takes pride in support
ing an able, clean, fair, square man
like Bob Cooper for Governor. First
of all for these reasons and second
for the reason that we do not want