The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-05-18


OF 1890. but he Is not a down-and- out
back number politically. either. He
does not hold this State i'm the hollow
OF his hand as he once did, he has
not an invincible political machine at
his beck and call, but the politician
who discounts his strength i'm the
present campaign will have a rude
and shocking awakening the morning
after the primary. Tillman Is not out
of the running as yet and he will not
be out until the last precinct is heard
from. The only thing that can put
him out Is death or another stroke Of
paralysis that entirely incapacitates
him both mentally and physically. At
present he Is not an utter physical
wreck nor Is he n derelict mentally
He Is not without political strength
and those who imagine that he will
not have a substantial support in his
race for the Senate are ignoring the
facts I'm the case. Senator Tillman
when he appeared i'm the State Con-
vention yesterday seemed more Wig
orous than he did three years ago
when he attended the Commercial
Congress in Charleston. He spoke
with more force. II was evident
that the impression he made was dis
fax
surprised ut the physical strength he
manifested. in view of the widespread
report that he has been for many
months incapaci.ated. Unless there
are unexpected developments during
the progress OF the campaign. Sena-
tor Tillman will continue to be the
strong candidate. with the others
fighting to gain and hold tho next best
position In the running. III Pollock
enters the race. which now seems
probable. he and Lever will force the
fighting against Blease whose eleventh
hour conversion TO loyalty TO Ameri-
ca and the cause o" humanity, de-
coives no real American citizen who
Il awake TO the issues OF the hour,
and Tillman will he as greatly bene-
hted by the fight that they make as
will either OF them. Blcase months
ago made the war an issue I'm South
Carolina politics by dcnouncing
Woodrow Wilson. threatening to de-
feat every Congressman who voted TO
declare that n state OF war existed by
reason OF the outrages and insults OF
the German autocracy. by declaring
unpopular I'm South Carolina. and
finally that he did not care what sort
OF country America was after he was
dead and gone. He deliberately al
ligned himself with the slackers and
the disloyal. and on that issue he
must meet the people and stand or
fall I'm the primary election. We mis-
Judge the temper OF the people If
they permit him to become the issue
by the introduction OF extraneous
matter In the campaign. The cam
paign will be made on the issue of
OF lukewarmness or secret leanings
toward the German autoeracy will re
ceive the support of any considerable
number OF South Carolinians. for this
state IN almost 100 per cent. loyal. the
exceptions being the secret agents OF
the German spy system and "a few
chronic agitators who lack both prin-
ciple and sense. This being the issue
the conditions are more favorable to
the success OF Tillman than IL the
chief issue of the campaign was a To-
cal or some economic question. There
was no evidence I'm and around tn,
convention that the candidacy Of Mr.
Lever has stirred the people to en-
thusiasm. and I'm fact not grea,
deal was heard about him or his can.
didacy. IL may bo that the writer
was on the outside and did not see OF
feel the forces that really dominat,
the situation. hut To an onlooker a
appears that the Senator nj battle ot
four years ago will he repeated witt
Pollock and Lever playing the role'
then played by jennings and Pollocl
--hghting a good fight for the good o
the country with little hope of reward
save la the well done of their fellow
citlzenH