The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-06-22
The SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN.
MEETING AT NINNSBORO "A
VERY SMALL AFFAIR.
Dial Makes Assault on Both Blcasc
and TiIlmln, Scoring Them Sc
vcrcly.

w iiilSrOrO, June 49, -teWel IMAM
100 of Fairlicld's 1900 voters mobi!iz-
81 here today for the opening series
CT the senatorial campaign. Only two
of the four candidates were heard,
senator Tillman remaining at his post
IN Washington, and Elease giving no
lntimation sDy tel6 gram or letter to
the county chairman as to the cause
OF his absence. Both n. B. Dial, OF
Laurens. and James Francis Rice, OF
Anderson, restricted themselves to the
margins of their typed statement. A
letter from Senator Tillrlan was read
by Judge j. E. Mcdonald in which the
senator explained that duties III
Washington precluded his attendance.
He said he expected Ito be abused and
villifed," and also anticipated every
scandal revamped." Senator Tillman
by inference also referred to the al
legged disloyal speeches of Cole L.
Blease. 1t would be IAN unspeakable
disgrace" to elect to the United States
senate man so disposed to hamper
the work of the national administra-
tion in the prosecution Of the war.
Mr.. Rice was the first speaker
TO be heard. The major portion of Mr..
Rice's address was embodied in al
introduction of himself in a biograph
ical setch. F,is father was q Con-
fcderate ,'etcra... consequently Mr.
Rice will "asiS for and shall expcc
the support Of Confederate Veterans
their sons and grandsons" Mr.. Rice
once made a reply through the news
papers to a criticism of the public
schools by the late Sam =. Jones, in
which the writer said he gave the
BEST there was in him in defense Of
the public schools and the public
school teachers. For this he will "ask
for and shall expect the supper: o.
all teachers and ex-tcachers and shar
ask for and expect the hearty sup
port of all 'Bilp Smiths boys"
Although many constructive ques
tons were considered by Mr.. Dial, tha,
pant which gripped the people was
the clashing criticism Of both Till,
man and Elease. He was running be-
cause there were thousands of me,
who would not support either Till
man or Bicase. and OH election da.
would go fishing and not vote at all
Tillman's chief talent was of a de
stiuctive character and he kept i;
the good grace of voters by vililica
tion. Mr.. Tillman was too feeble tc
make the campaign six years ago, ana
If he was too feeble TO make the cam.
paicn this year he was too inGrm I.
De senator from South Carolina. EX-
ccrpts were read from Blease'>
speeches as published in the Bleaseitc
newspaper in which the state COun
Gil of Defense was designated as The
Council of Liars" and President Will
Portions of tho Pomaria and Filbert
speeches were also read Us published
in the Dlease organs.
Senator Tillman's letter. addressed
to j. f.. Mcdonald, of this place, and
read at this meeting today, follows:
June 13, 1918.
Not being able to be in Winnsboro
today. apd believing 1t to be my duty
to remain at my post in Washington
where my vote or answering to ms
name at coll-call is sometimes of
great Importance. take the liberty
of asking that YOU read this letter
to the voters assembled. Please say to
them this
Neither personal ambition nor fin
ancial need impelled me to ask for re =.
election. but sense Of duty alone
My family and some Iof my devoted
friends have urged me not to run.
fearing that 1t would injure my health.
feel that have grown old i'm the ser
vice of the State. III my strength has
been spent 1t has been given for South
Carolina, and TO the navy and the na
zion | am giving the best that is in
me now. am physically strong
enough to attend to my duties and the
record shows whether or not / am
Gctting results. Were not able t.
attend to my work I would be glad {,
get out OF the way because | have
iccn too signally honored by the poo
pie of South Carolina to want to
palm myself on thcm-were | dere-
lict.
II expect to be abused and vilined.
hut that has been going on these
many years. and have grown accls.
toned To IL. Every old scandal anl