The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1918-05-10
THE SENATORIAL RACE.

Lever CdulS uoWu W oOueh IeAi oAAAA'-
and gave out the statement that he
had flung his hat in the ring. He
has gone back to Washington, but the
Washington dispatches state that he
has nothing to say now.
We have been looking for state
ment from Senator Tillman, but he
too seems to be quiet. 1t appears
to US that there must be an under
standing between Mr.. Lever and Mr.
Tillman that Mr. Tillman will with
draw before the primary, but WIFI
remain in long enough to keep any
one else from entering so that there
NAV be clear field between Mr..
please and Mr. Lever. This, wit.
due apology to Mr.. Dial and Rev. Mr..
Mahaffey, because under existing
circumstances and conditions they
are not likely to cut any big figure
in the race, though sometimes great
changes take place very rapidly ami
you can never tell what will happen.
The Herald and News expects tc
treat all the candidates fair, and
does not intend to play any big part,
or even try, in the race. AS it ap-
pears to us, however, those who op-
pose Mr.. Blease and would go almost
any length to encompass his defeat
were getting very uneasy about the
situation, and were afraid that Mr..
Tillman could not defeat him, and in
looking around they concluded that
if he could be defeated that Lever
was the man to do it, and therefore
he was urged to make the race. ie
was not question of where Mr.
Lever could be of the greatest service
to his State and country at this
time, but the uppermost question was
the defeat of Blease.
Somehow we have an, idea that
Mr.. Tillman remains in the race ne
will poll more votes than Lever.
Every one wants in this time to get
rid of factional politics and not have
so much excitement during these try
ing times, but he always thinks 1t
is the other fellow who is stirring up
the strife and should keep out. AS
we have said, if Mr.. Lever was con-
sidering the question Of where ne
could be of the greater service to
his country and State, that he should
have remained where he is, because
he evidently is much bigger factor
in the government in congress TO-DAY
than he can possibly hope to be in
the senate for years to come, even
if he should be elected, which is not
at all certain. The fact is we hate
TO see Mr.. Lever permit himself to
be used as he is by those VINO nave
never been his political friends or
supporters. Mr.. Tillman dld tha'
very thing some six years ago and
now they are paying him back in the
same coin, and that IS true even Ii
they have made him agree to get oHE
of the way for Lever. 1t is not
Lever they want half so much as they
want the defeat Of Ble9se. But we
reckon that is politics and as we do
not know much about the game the
hest thing possibly is to have nothing
to say.
Somehow we have an idea that the
elections this year are soing to De
surprises to many people. Unless
we have not felt the pulse properly
the reople are not saying much and
are not going to talk much but they
are going TO vote as they think. Ana
thew are thinking some now.
All this talk Of having some one
TO go on the stump this year to de-
fend the administration. and to let
the people know the facts is polltlca'
and is done for effect The people OF
this State are behind the adminlstra-
tion and are supporting the govern
ment Loyalty, and will continue to do
so. and all the oratory and stump
speaking will have but little enec<'
The same blood which helped to es-
tablish this government and set up
this democracy in this western heHi :
isphere courses through the veins or
the people of this State today, ami
will fight for the government just
as did their forbears at Bunker Hill
and the other battles Of the Revolii-
ton. And you will find the people
pretty we'll Informed as we'll.
Until we are convinced to the con-
+rorv wa will be1ieye that the Lever