The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1916-08-09
JOE SPARKS-HE GUESSES.
Anderson Daily Mail.

ANDERSON .Dally mali.
Joe Sparks, Of the Columbia State
and Columbia correspondent for a
string of newspapers published in
other cities is a good fellow and is a
good newspaper man. But when he
/ gets to writing about railroad excur-
sions that were never run, telling how
many passengers were aboard and
how the excursionists spent the day
in Columbia and at Camp Moore, and
writing about political forecasts, he
is faulty. In fact, he is a miserably
poor newspaper man then.
It will be recalled that an excur-
sion was planned to be run from An
derson to Columbia one Sunday
, soon after the soldiers went in Camp
to Styx. The excursion was called off
because the federal government or
dered that all surplus train equip
ment be held subject to orders of
that government.
Joe Sparks didn't pay any atten-
ton to the change of program, but
went right ahead and sent out stories
to his newspapers telling of the ar
rival of 400 or more excursionists in
COLUMBIA and of their visit to- Camp
Moore.
In some of the Sunday newspapers
Joe Sparks had another Especial"
story-all about the race for govern
or. He analyzed the vote county by
county, and after summing up these
analysis he declared that Cooper is
out of the race and that the second
race will be between Blease and Man.
ming. He has eliminated the Lau-
rens man, pure and simple
AS an illustration of his analysis
of the various counties, here is what
he says of Anderson county:
s'In Anderson county it is generally
believed that Blease will get NJ la
jority of approximately 800 votes
over Manning and Cooper, with Man.
ming second choice and Cooper thitd.
And in Greenwood: "In Greeh-
wood county Manning will probably
lead with Blease and Cooper running
a close race for second place, the bets
being placed on Cooper"
Here is how Sparks "dopes" the
vote in Greneville:
"The indications point to a small
plurality for Manning ovef Cooper
in Greenville county, with Blease a
close third" .,/'". '... r..
And in Spartanburg. ~.
'It is generally conceded that Man
ming will get approximately 35 to 40
per centum of the vote of Spartan
burg county, Cooper practically the
same as Blease a poor third"
Look what Sparks says aobut
Oconee county:
Gin Oconee county Manning will
lead Blease, with Cooper third ac-
cording to the most conservative es-
timators." .., ~..
And in Pickens County,:
sTt is believed that there is toss
UP btween Manning and Blease for
first place in Pickens county, while
Cooper will run third" ..-.
Every man living in Anderson
county knows that Friend Sparks has
shot wide of the mark when he fig
ures that Cooper will run third in
Anderson county. Manning, himself,
has said that he hopes to get more
than 1,100-the vote he received in
the first primary two years ago-but
he is doubtful about it. His support
ers here are hoping that he may get
1900 votes, and they are not the
least bit sanguine about it. AS a
matter of fact, Cooper will lead Man.
ming in Anderson county by 1000
votes-and may be more.
The Manning newspapers realize
that their only hope Of re-electing
their man is to eliminate Cooper, and
they are doing everything in their
power to bring this about, They are
even resorting to unfair means by
circulating false reports. This fore
case of Sparks is an illustration. IN
fairness to the Columbia State, we
want to say that The State did not
publish Sparks forecast. That news
paper knows conditions to be other
than his forecast. :-.'.''. .'-'
The idea is to get the Cooper sup
porters up in the air; to lead them
to believe that Cooper hasn't. a
chance. The Cooper men know bet
ter, and they are going to stand to
their guns. They are not going to be
misled by}any misleading campaign
thunder such as Friend Sparks is