The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-08-03

with an answer to their attacks. TIM
norman and Brantley preceded Lev
er, and Mcleod followed. Thinner
mans attack was the more biting.
while Mcleod followed his usual as
sauIt. Both Brantley and Lever got
further away from the personal na-
ture of the contest, Lever particular
ly devoting much time to cotton.
In his speech Congressman Lever
referred slightly to Timmerman's
speech, not at all to McLeod's and
concentrated again on showing
up about the Edisto River PROPOSE
ton
A more detailed account Of each
speech is presented below:
George Bell Zimmerman.
The first speaker was George Bell
Zimmerman, Of Lexington. M Lev
er had complained the night before
that he. had dealt IN ''insinuations
and inuedo'"' but che hoped to make
himself so plain that even Mr.. Lever
would understand" He was not re-
sponsible for Levers acrobatics. The
trouble was Lever couldn't tdistin-
guish between where he wanted to
be and the public good
Lever had quoted a letter from
Tfllman saying no new man could
take his place as chairman OIL the ag-
ricuiture committee, "but Tillman
hadn't said Gordon Lee OF Georgia
couldn't do it, or one Of the other
good Democrats in lire. Lever had
read the letter from Tilllnan be-
cause he said his opponents were try
ing to make the people think the late
senior senator died hating him. No
body brought out such a charge,
said the speaker, land Mr.. Lever
was the only man to mention it.
Since it had been mentioned, how
ever, he would quote the following
from assIetter written him on July Is,
1915 by b. r. Tillnaan, Jr.:
s.I am not a. fair judge Of him
evera at the present time because
beKeTe his pnarisaicai friendship
for my father and his jumping into
the race for the senate, produced
great deal of worry and irritation,
which fastened his end. Pretending
for twenty years to be devoted ad-
mirer, = riding from Washington to
Columbia with me in my automobile
last summer and expressing un-
bounded admiration and affection,
using the expression, I had as soon
think of running against my own ia
ther as against Senator Tillman,'
etc. etc. He attempted to knife
him in his old age, and finding HIM
self beat, he has retreated to again
offer for congress. sincerely hope
he will be beat. "(Signed 8. r.
Tilfman, Jr.''
Lever said 81 had read parts of
the presidents letter without CUTS
in tt wonder if he thinks he's got
them all ?" Making known his dis
approval of such references to a
presidential letter. but .if he misrep-
resents me to get your votes he'll
naisrepresent you in congress" He
then quoted from Tillman's letter to
Burleson. where the senator said he
must fight the devil with fire. that
they were lying like the devil and
claiming al sorts of things refer
ring to the Lever crowd.
Lever also charged his opponents
with quoting only parts, Of letter
the parts that suited them best. Lev
er did the same thing, only worse, be
cause in reading the presidents an
swer 20 the Jennings letter che cid
not even finish a sentence. but stop
ped at comma" The remainder
reading. ''but Of course I have mol
right to intervene as between equally
loyal and sincere supporters Of the
administration and I would be very
sorry if anything I should say should
cause any embarrassment to any can
6iidate," and then asked that this be
given publication. Yet. despite the
presidents request. Lever stopped att
the comma.
AS to Levers statement that his
opponents had spread the report that
he wasn't coming TO the campaign
meetings. whereas Lever had written
various chairnaen that he couldn't be
there to-day" Zimmerman said Lev
er had stated in an interview with
P. II. MCGOWAN that Il shall not
stump the district" it was my duty
to remain in Washington" and the
people understand While declin-
ing to follow the congressional dates
he had before in the senatorial race
declared he would attend tne dates
as fixed by the party.
He closed with an expression o.
loyal support to the war.
Thos. T. Brantley.
Thos. Brantle.- was the second
speaker, and he said he felt sure tha;
the voters would decide the race
without any dictation from Richard
I. Manning. A. F. Lever. or oEtsid"
influences He denounced any charg"
that he had assailed the presden'
''as false and I stand ready to de
fend it, AS matter of fact h:
friendship with the president prob
ably antedated that Of Lerer's
Brantley here quoted a friendly let
ter he received from Woodrow WI
son when ne was governor OF New
Jersey. thanking him fo. Il letter anG
expressing the hope to see han ~
~, y-:s:f II I