Lexington dispatch-news. [volume] (Lexington, S.C.) 1917-1919, 1918-07-03
CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR
SPOKE TO LARGE AUDIENCE

lanS, most Oh NilOl1 "eAS
ened to a steady flow OF oratory oN
last Saturday. It was by Tar the
largest audience that has yet greeSeo
the candidates for State Office this
summer; and it caused the speakers
to sharpen their spurs. The auol
ence. however; entirely different from
,otbor wears sat imn,ovable thoughout
and was unusually 'stingy' in the way
of applause. The meeting reminded
one more of a patriotic rally than a
noItical gathering. The candidates
themselves appeared to think so; for
all of them, with the exception OF the
two candidates for State superintend
ent of education, Mr.. Swearingen and
Mr. Rector who came last, devoted the
greater portion Of their small allot
ment of time to a discussion + the
war. and it's awful consequences to
the country. Neither of 1.-The two
last candidates even mentioned the
great conflict, they catching the
idea that the audience had had quite
enough. On'the great war issue
there appeared to be no difference;
and, while the several aspirants twlt
ted eachoher about other things, there
was not a single charge that any OF
the candidates in the party were not
Ioyal. On the other hand, each ex
pressed the belief that every man IN
the party was behind the government
and behind the boys who are dong
the fighting in the trenches.
Several Of the candidates for gov
ernor, among them Mr. Richards; Mr.
Bethea and Mr. Cooper, differed on
the question of the war being an
issue Mr. Richards declared that
there was not man, woman or child
in the State, 50 far as he knew; but
who are with the government to the
bitter end; and said that it was re
aeesion upon the manhood and intel
Iigence of the people of South Caro-
lima to assert that the war is the lead
mo issue: hnd especially so since
f,ere are SO many other questions
ef vital interest that should be con
sidered. Mr. Bethea said that it was
the teeming question Of the hour:
and so did Mr.. Cooper; but neither
intimated or charged that Mr. Rich
ards was not sincere or that he was
not patriotic to the core.
The meeting was called to order
promptly at 1890 O'Clock in the
county court house, Judge c. M
Efrd, democratic county chairman
presiding. After few of the can
= ididates had. spoken and. after the
court house had been filed to over
flowing, the meeting wac adjourned
10 the court house green.
Candidates for Governor
John Madison DesChamps, the
first candidate for. Governor to speak,
came out squarely for ''Old Ben" and
said that Cong gresham Lever had act
cd wisely in withdrawing from the
senatorial race when he did, 'lhe
speaker took shot at the Kaiser and
predicted victory for the Allies.
John T. Duncan, the second candl
date for governor to speak, paid his
respects to practically all of his oppo
nents to the delight of the audience;
and then went into a dicussion of his
famous system zone of the big
gest things that the system has done
this year." said Mr.: Duncan "is to dc
clare that Ben Tillman must be re
elected to the United States senate o,
the country will go to the devil The
speaker claimed credit for the price
of cotton going to 35 cents by helping
to oust the system. He said he
was going to keep hammering away
and predicted SO cents cotton this fal
with the system wiped out Of es
istence.
Attorney General Peoples, seek
ing promotion to the governorshll
upon the splendid record he has made
as chief counselor of the State, ably
and effectively" presented his claim:
70 the audience. Mr.. Peoples touch
ed upon the great European conflict
pledging his loyalty to the govern
naent in unmistakable language. H.
then launchea into discussion of th'
tax question which, he said; is becon
ing more and more burdensome will
each succeeding year. The attorne.
general declared that the people ar
beingburdened with taxes to suppor
g ,olo