The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-06-22

innuence OF both OF the old papers
and In manifestly the best advertiser
medium i'm Sumter.
AS we predicted weeks ago, the peo-
pie OF South Carolina are not evincing
much interest in the political cam
paign that is now in progress. Prac-
tically all interest is conferred In the
war. and while thousands will attend
meetings held to promote some
phase OF war activity Ii liz difficult to
arouse sufficient interest i'm a political
meeting to get a hundred men to at
tend. The war is a live issue and il
touches tho imagination, the patriot
ism and the heart of the people. while
the campaign meetings are nothing
more than rehash OF the threadbare
arguments that office seekers have
been dinning into the ears of the
voters for these many years. The men
who are loyal to the cause OF Ameri-
ca and have no taint OF Pro- German
Ism, the men who firmly believe in
fighting to the last ditch to make
America and tho world safe for de-
mocracy and safe and decent abid-
ing place for honest men and pure
women. who are willing to fight to
maNe sure that this country will lie In
future. as In the past. the cradle Of
liberty and free home for their chill
dren, have made up their minds that
they will not vote for any man
tainted with disloyaity. and they have
little tir 2 10 g're to hearing the
pleas OF ofEc s-hunters for votes. In
this time OF great events. when tn"
fate OF civilization and the dominion
OF The world are hanging in the bal
ence. the same old stump speechcs
sound petty and mtan.
a start has been made In Washing
ton on n round up OF the little graft
ers who have been dabbling I'm COM
missions on war contracts IL Is q
good thing to start house cleaning
and before IL Is over 1t Is sincerely
20 be hoped that all the graftors and
prohteers. big and little. will be un-
covered and properly punished. 1t IL
no more than one could expect that
there should he more or less grating
going on when the government Is en-
gagged In so stupendous an undertak-
inc as this war. While the big men
and the honest men are devoting all
their time and energies to the task O:
putting the country on war footing
the grafters have an opportunity
10 slip around under cover and do
their dirty work. All grafters are
traitors and they should be turned
over TO the military authorities to he
expeditously dealt with by martial law
The Sumter County Council of De-
Tense having decided that the Fourth
of July must he celebrated I'm Sumter
In a fitting manner placed the full
burden OF responsibility upon the
shoulders OF Chairman A. C. Phelps
and told him TO go as far as he liked
Sumter county will have the biggest
patriotic celebration ever staged in
this section of the state. The event
around which the celebration pro-
gramme is being built Is the address
Co be delivered nv Hon. John c.
sheppard OF Edgeneld. one of the few
lig South Carolinians who made his
tory In the days OF 1876 and the sue
ceedlng decade during which the state
rebuilt its prosperity upon the ruins
left by Reconstruction.
Reports from some sections OF the
county are not encouraging in respect
Co the corn crop. old corn generally
has been injured by the dry weather.
md the lack OF nitrate OF soda will
nIso havc the effect OF reducing the
yield. Another fact that has not been
ey acreage OF corn this year than
last. Lcss corn was planted and un-
less there ~ larger acreage being
planted after oats than usual the corn
crop OF sumter county will not he suf-
ncicnt for local needs. This is not
y satisfactory prospect considering the
ruafe OF the provision market