The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-10-10

ana nation That South Carolina could
send to the senate. But these are
not ordinary times and considerations
that would otherwise be Of great
weight are now of no weight at all in
comparison with needs of the public
service and the safety of our country.
we cannot afford TO risk the chance
OF man like Blease being elected to
the senate; and in our opinion it is I,
most hazardous risk to leave the field
10 Tillman and Blease in the senator
ial contest.
Therfore, for the good of South
Carolina and of our country Senator
Illlman should rise in the fullness of
his patriotism and do his mobiles. SER
vice for South Carolina by putting
aside thoughts Of future service and
further honors. His vision OF being
'conscripted" for another term in the
senate by the practically unanimous
voice Of the people is but a dream
Traitors and disguised enemies lurk
in many unsupported places. awaiting
an opportunity to strike a blow against
our government. They do not care
what happens to American when they
are dead-they hunger for the loave3
and fishes and the spoils of office IN
the immediate present. The times
and the conditions demand vigorous
aggressive, fearless, twOhanded
fighters to go before the people to
expose, denOunce and destroy these
secret foes that gnaw at the roots Of
democracy; and. unfortunately for
the State, Senator Tillman is not the
man of tho hour. His loyalty and his
courage are all that could be desired.
but he lacks the brute strength to
fight the battle that must be fought
to guarantee a victory over the
powers OF evil that are being must
cred against him. The cunning
scheme of Blease to force Senator
~ iSSCiIu Ills OtClSiOIl HOl "
seek reelection is against the in
terests Of the country. Likewise, the
blind and mistaken activities of the
friends and admirers of Senator
Tillman, whose judgment is i'm eclipse
because Of memories of the achieve
ments OF Ben Tillman. the stump
speaker and campaigner without q
peer, when in the full vigor of his
physical manhood, are not for the
good of the State. They are playing
the game of the man they most
heartily despise, and helping to cre-
ote situation that they would least
wish to see.
There is no such thing as con-
scripting a leader of crusade. and
we may as we'll realize now as later
that the political campaign next sum-
mer must be a crusade for decency
righteousness, humanity, democracy
and loyal to our government and to
American ideals. On the other side
will be arrayed the Pro-Germans, tho
slackers, the spoilsnen, the joi
hunters, the vice profiteers the IL
quor touts and all the enemies Of ALI
the noble and worthy ideals and as
pirations that the Vision administra
tion stands for in the eyes of all the
world.
This crusade in defense OF the prin
ciplos and policies of our government
calls for leader who will be in tn,
forefront Of the fight in every engage
ment with the enemy-and Senate
Tillman cannot endure the hurry
burly of the melee. Who this lead2
will be we do not know and we
would not venture a suggestion, but
we know that there is man for cv.
cry emergency, and sooner Senator
fillman and his mistaken admirer
dismiss the mirage Of senatorial con
scription in 1918, the easier it will b.
for loyal Americans of South Caro-
lima to find and rally to the support
of leader who will make an aggres-
sive. fearless and winning fight against
Blease, whose avowed purpose is the
defeat Of every congressman who had
the manhood to vote for war against
Germany.