The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-08-30
BlEAsE DESERTS MEETING.
REFUSES TO SPEAK An CHESTER
GATHERING.


REFUSES TO SPEAK An CHESTER
GATHERING.
Cheers for Manning. Chief Executive
Of State Given Fine Reception by
Crowd at Chester. 2
Chester. Aug. 25.-Colc L. Blease,
confronted by jubilant Manning
sentiment. today boltcd the scheduled
campaign meeting here. charging that
his friends were crowded out" and
announcing that he would speak at
3 o'clock in the afternoon at the court
house. Prior. to the speeches by GU
bcrnatorial candidates the question Of
transferring the meeting from the
opera house to the court house square
vas debated. This plan was abandon
cd when. James ri. Glenn. county
chairman. announced that there were
only about so people on the other side
who could easily wedge into the alley
ways between the walls and the outer
rows Of seats These pressed forward
to occupy available space and listened
attsntively to- John T. Duncan and
Gov. Manning, the first speakers In
the gubernatorial race.
With the announcement by Mr..
Blease that he would not speak a
large proportioi OF THO audience de-
parted. possibly as many as one-half
leaving. and M Cooper and Mr.. SDes-
Champs spoke TO much reduced
house. The melting was attended by
six or seven hundred people, many of
these being women. who responded
/ as spiritedly as the men when a tell.
In thrust had been made by rival
candidates. fE
Gov. Manning was most cordially
received and at the conclusion Of his
speech received two large punches OF
flowers. Encouraged by the cordial re-
ception he spoke with earnestness and
enthusiasm, discussing the problems
OF law enforcement and the general
demoralized conditions which con-
fronted him when he was inducted
into Office. He referred with feeling
to the fight which is being made by
cotton mill pesidents to bring about
his defeat. The acts. he said. which
had occasionea the oppositiop, had
ll4 poxeoak3n - f ~ = R1111l|
wtsfksfs solely On the Drincipie 81 dc.
fsadins the weak against the strong
He had no apology to make and would
not alter his course should the oppor-
tunity again present itself. He also
highly commended the warehouse sys-
tein.
MIR. Cooper spoke at distinct dis
advantage because of the disrupted
meeting. He had entered the race
without pledge or promise to any man
or set Of men and IL elected was bound
by no promise to any one. Should
some Of the voters make the mistake
OF voting against him he would re-
gard 1t only as bad judgement and
would attempt to forget just how the
people voted II he were made COVER
nor and II called upon to act in behalf
OF or against anyone. He also dis
cussed thoroughly plan to raise the
standard Of the public school system
J. M. DesChamps likened the static
condition Of South Carolina affairs to
the concentric circles about Caesars
Head woven there by the spiral high
way leading to the top. Looking down
the mountain side you can see your
tracks In tho encircling pathway be-
low made there two hours before. In
looking hack over South Carolina's
history ono Is not yet out of sight of
tracks made 20. rs or even 40 years
ago. he said
w. Banks Dove. candidate for Sec
retary of state, once taught school in
Chester and was greeted with marked
enthusiasm. He also received flow
ers.
George w. Wightman, an opposing
candidate. was delayed In getting to
Chester and merely announced his
candidacy when the other candidates
had spoken.