The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1916-03-22
Coopsr's Candidacy.

"copper" SAndloAcy.
The announcement of R. A. Cooper,
of Laurens, that he will be candi-
date for governor this summer has
caused considerable talk and specula-
ton. What are his motives? What
will be the effect of his candidacy?
Is he going to ruin with a real hope of
election this year or merely to get in
line for nomination in 1882
Some people seem to resent his en-
trance and assert that he has no right
to be a candidate this year. That is
arrant nonsense. He has q perfect
right to be a candidate and doubtless
q number Of people are glad that he
is going to exercise that right.
But, how will his candidacy affect
the outcome? At this stage, that is
merely a matter of opinion: He made
q splendid race two years ago. He
was not generally known throughout
the state at the start. This handicap
was accentuated by the fact that cir
cumstances compelled him to be ab-
sent from the stump while the cam
paign party was in that section of the
state in which he was least known.
Unquestionably he made a remark
able race, when all things are con-
sidered. While he missed getting in
the second race by a narrow margin,
he was regarded by the rank and file
of both factions as sure of bright
political future. By running this
year he may realize that future or
may put himself in the political dis
cards.
In 1914, Mr.. Cooper was not very
definite in his campaign speeches, ex-
cept as to the supreme necessity of
restoring claw and order" Upon that
issue his utterances were specific. In
announcing that he had yielded to
pressure brought by his friends and
that therefore he would be a candi-
date this year, Mr.. Cooper made no
definite statement as to what would
be his platform, but promised such q
statement later. That statement will
be awaited with no small interest, for
upon it will largely depend the size of
the swathe he will, cut in the cam
paigr this year. Manifestly Mr..
Cooper cannot campaign along the
same lines he did in 1914. AS we
stated that fall claw and order" is
not and cannot be live political is
sue except as against reelection of a
candidate who is alleged not to have
properly upheld Claw and order" We
have no idea that Mr.. Cooper will at
tempt to raise that issue against
Governor Manning.
Whether one agree or disagree with
the stand Governor Manning has
taken, there can be no question of the
fact that he has taken a definite
stand on important public questions.
For Mr. Cooper to defeat him, it will
be necessary for him to convince a
majority of the voters that Governor
Manning's position on public ques-
tions is wrong, or that he, Cooper, is
better able to put through the policies
the governor advocates, or offer a
platform more acceptable to the
Democrats. In any case, he will have
to so state his platform as to show
that he stands for definite policies
and leave no doubt as to just where
he stands.
There is one other aspect of the
case. Some of those who urged Mr..
Cooper to run did so because they
fear that Governor Manning cannot
defeat Ex-Governor Blease, who has
announced that he will seek election
as governor this year. The Piedmont
does not believe Mr.. Cooper can COM
meno his candidacy if he base it on
that plea. A candidacy on that plea
alone will simply divide and weaken
the forces in the Democracy that are
opposed to any return to power of ex-
Governor Blease. Prof. j. G. Clink-
scales, who was strong guberna-
torial candidate in 1914, was also
urged to run again this year, but flat
ly refused and just as fatty endorsed
the administration of Governor Man
ming and promised to do all in his
power to secure reelection of the
present chief executive. Unless MIR.
Cooper should win out this year, this
course will give Professor Clinkscales
the advantage in case he cares to run
in 1918.
The gubernatorial race this year
will be very interesting, but definite
ideas as to it cannot be formed until
there be a more specific statement
from Mr.. Cooper as to his platform.
The Greenville Piedmont.