The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-01-02
State POLITICS F0RECASTED.
SOME THINGS THAT MAY AND
MAY NOT HAPPEN BEFORE
ANOTHER YEAR
GOES BIZ.
The Candidates so Far in The Field
What Some of Them Stand for
and Who They Stand With i'm State
Politics.

Seventy-secodn general assembly,
which meets here on Tuesday, jan
uary 8, has revived discussion of the
probable political situation next
summer
Political prophesy is always dan
gerous; at no time more so than a.,
the present. The great war in which
America is engaged is rapidly up
turning former standards. and those
OF this State are passing through the
leavening process. However, one in
controvertible premise may be laiG
down. No one opposed to this war or
to the administration in it's efforts to-
ward q victorious conclusion Of this
war need offer for political prefer
ment in South Carolina with hope of
success.
Each politician has to reckon with
one factor; perhaps before the next
campaign the American troops in
France will have offered valorous and
heroic fight to the Germans, and out
of such engagement there might have
arisen a South Carolinian, exalted b.
daring and sacrifice, incapacitated by
injury for further service. Should he
come back to his home State and Of
fer for election to almost any office.
there is little chance for him being
defeated by the stay at homes" Out
OF this arises a prediction: The sol
diers fighting the battles of democracy
on Europe's ensanguined fields will
be the future rulers Of the United
States. South Carolina among them
The politicians Of the present may as
well prepare themselves for the over
turning Of their order.
No man in South Carolina at the
present time offering for office can
predict his election a year from now;
but the relative strength Of candi-
dates. announced and prospective, al
this time can be fairly accurately
guaged.
Cole l.. Blease, who has announced
definitely for the United States sen
ate, is not as strong as he was when
he ran for governor in 1915, and was
defeated. However, he is not dead
by any means, as some would per-
force believe. He is alive enough to
be in a second race should the pri-
mary be held at this time. Either
Senator Tillman. who, it seems assur
ed, will run If his health permits, or
Congressman A. F. Lever, who un-
doubtedly will be in the race if the
senior senator does not mako it. can
defeat the titular leader OF the So
called reform party" The ex-gov-
ernor's speeches at Pomaria and Fill
bert estranged some of his most
powerful lieutenants. and consequent
ly weakened him with the rank and
file Of the minority faction.
| Col. Nat B. Dial. OF Laurens, is def
lnitely announced for the senatorial
toga, and he has considerable
strength. Although the Laurens man
has entered the race as a non-parti.
san candidate, yet he can be aligned
with the anti-Blease faction. He as
suredly will make strong fight
against Senator Tilman, should the
senior senator run. Col. Dial will un-
doubtedly get all the intensely bit
ter anti-Tillmanites Of the eos who
will not vote for Tillman and who
are as strongly opposed to Blease
This vote, along with considerable
personal following. will mako him q
formidable candidate.
Among those who have been sug
gested as other possible candidates
but who have made no announcement
are: r. Goodwin Rhett, of Charles
ton; L. d. Jennings. Of Sumter: w. p
Pollock, Of Cheraw. and DR.. George
b. Cromer. of Newberry. Latterly,
repeatedly mentioned as a candidate
to oppose Congressman Fred H. Dom
mick, of the Third district. 1t has
been said that the perennial candi-
date, John T. Duncan, of Columbia
will announce for the senate instead
of governor this year }
w. Jasp. Talbert, Of Mccormick
who has definitely announced for the
senate, is strong Blease partisan
and bitter political enemy Of Senate,
Tillman.
There are five candidates definitely
announced for governor and two /,
perspective. Robert A. Cooper, of
Laurens. stated some time ago tina,
he will make the race, and he stands