The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1918-08-08
BYRNES CARRIES THE CROWD.
Congressman Gets Splendid Reception
at Aiken Meeting.

Aiken, 5. C., Aug. l.TIne Jolnl
debate of the candidates for congress
in the Second South Carolina District
at Aiken today developed little that
was new. There was flicker of ex-
citement when G. L. Toole pronounc-
ed as a malicious falsehood any state
ment that might be made that he had
during the campaign distorted facts
or trangressed the record by any ut
terance or printed matter.
Congressman Byrnes was speaking
at the time this occurred, and had
referred to the fact that, while having
been called an aggressor, Mr.. Toole
and his other opponents had all three
been jumping on him. For months
there had been appearing in county
papers articles which were attacks
On him (Byrnes). He had not been
the aggressor. Some of these print
ed articles twisted the facts.
Mr.. Toole in making his declara-
ton, did not discuss the articles, but
asserted that he had printed no ar
ticles which were not fair discussions
o. public records of public men. Mr..
Byrnes, during the afternoon, SAID
that Toole's articles in the papers
were as frequent as Tanlac ADVERTISE
ments. He made no direct reply to
Mr.. Toole's declaration other than to
say that he was not to be drawn into
quarrel at a time when he was hard
beset by three earnest and active
opponents. He then launched into
a reply to attacks that had been made
on his record and his political acts.
After Him Hard.
It appears that Mr.. Byrnes has on
hand the fight of his life. So far as
yesterdays meeting was concerned,
he won hands down. The audience
apparel to be with him, else he cap
tured them wholly by his address.
He handled himself excellently in the
debate. He was the last man up. Mr..
Toole had jumped on him in hammer
and tong manner. The eloquent T..
G. Croft had arraigned him on the
record. The courtly N. G. Evans, of
Edgefeld, had cleverly arranged pit
falls for the incumbent. Each had
with no sign Of concert of action)
attacked Byrnes from this point or
that. But, closing the meeting and
on the defensive, he turned every
thrust that had been made at him
to his advantage, and won cheers
upon cheers from his hearers.
Played a Strong Gard.
One of the points against him was
that he was out of whack at Wash
ington, this being principally based
on. the statement that he had not
wholly supported the administra-
tion's selective draft bill, but had
first gone off after the volunteer Sc
lective draft measure. Having de-
Tended himself by declaring that he
had co-operated on the army meas
ure, he met the statement that he
was not in harmony with the White
House by reading letter received by
him this morning, in which President
Wilson spoke not only in the highest
terms of his loyalty to the admins
tration, but referred in the most inti-
mate and kindly manner to the con-
gressman.
Mr.. Toole is hard fighter. He
has done excellent work within the
State, and he has a splendid follow
ing, especially in Aiken county.
Mr.. Croft-one of the most able
men in his section of the State, and
a man who has served Aiken we'll in
the assembly at Columbia-is hard
hitter on the stump. Many believe
him very formidable in the present
race for congress.
Mr.. Evans, a finished speaker;
harsh to no one; intense in his patri-
tism; man of the highest ability,
solidly backed by Edgefeld and sup
ported we'll in other counties, is a
strong factor in the race. 1t is plain
that Byrnes's friends regard him as
the man they must finally lock horns
with.
Mr.. John E. Stansfeld, who is
making his way excellently at the
Aiken bar, presided at the meeting
yesterday. There was an immense
gathering. The courthouse was far
overfowed. Rain fell at intervals,
and an open-air effort was impracti-
cable. Mr.. Stansfield conducted the