Lexington dispatch-news. [volume] (Lexington, S.C.) 1917-1919, 1918-07-03

power to help them in their labor trou
bles, if elected; he would endeavor to
have law passed that would hold a
laborer and one that would make it
possible to bring laborer back if he
ran off from his contract. Mr. Peoples
closed by inviting the people of Lex
ington to make the governors office
and the governors mansion their
headquarters for the next two years:
commencing next January. Just call
for Tom Peeples-he will be there.
Mai. John G.. Richards said that it
is always a pleasure for him to come
to Lexington and thanked the people
for the confidence and respect they
had reposed in him; and it mattered
not whether he was elected or defeat
ed, he would always feel proud of thai
esteem and affection. The speaker
briefly reviewed his work as chairman
of the South Carolina railroad com
mission and said that his whole life
both public and private-was an open
book He stands open md above
board for law enforcement; but is un
alterably opposed to the appropria
ton of S50,OOO.00 for law enforce
mentor the governor to use in
sending men over the State, when it
is the duty of the sheriffs and other
peace officers to enforce the laws OF
the State. It is reflection upon the
sheriffs and reflection upon the peo
pie of South Carolina. Maj. Richards
next took up the burdensome tax ques
ton; and was strong in his denuncla
ton of increased levies by the genera
assembly. There should be curtail
ment and there would be a curtail
ment if he is elected governor--if he
has to use the veto power to do it. He
said that land assessments had been
raised from S3.19 per acre to S5.43
per acre, which was uncalled for and
useless. The whole country should
use the strictest economy in times
like these. said Maj. Richards. He
was the first Of the candidates to
make taxation an issue, he said; but
all the others are now falling in line.
By adopting biennial sessions of tho
general assembly, which he favors
100000 dollars could be saved each
wear; and by doing away with the
State board of charities and correc
tons another large sum could be say
ed to the taxpayer. Favored the
adoption of free text books in the
schools, which would mean the saw
ing of hundreds of thousands of do!
lars to the people. Maj. Richards
told of his efforts in behalf of free
scholarships to worthy boys and girls
and how, after three years work in
the general assembly, he had succeed
ed in establishing 124 scholarships in
Winthrop and 124 in Clemson. MAJ
Richards twitted Mr.. Cooper about
the latter's plan of making boys and
girls pay back to the: State the cost OF
their education. Mr.. Richards closed
with an eloquent appeal for the boys
fighting across the waters, declaring
however, that the war is nota polite
al issue in the campaign of 1918. IN
South Carolina; for there is not an
American citizen in South Carolina
who is not for America even to the
shedding CT his. life blood.
The Hon. Andrew Jackson Bethea
the next speaker, devoted the grea'
er portion of his time in 4 parlotlc er
deavor urging at the. outset conserve
ton of foodstuffs and appealing te
the farmers to pay greater attention
to diversified farming as the only
salvation of the people at this time
Mr.. Bethea said he was in favor o.
preparing now for the return OF oul
boys after the war had been won. A;
serting that the war was the onl!
great and vital issue in the campaign
the speaker said it was the buslne'
of American citizens to speak tol
America and her Allies. He salt
he did not doubt Mr.. Richards sll
cerity upon the tax question; but NJ
: did not think that he could etfec
any decrease. The lieutenant go'
ernor said that he had hundred
or more relatives in the army and n
was endeavoring to serve his coul
try as best he could.
=. Robert A. Cooper Of Laurens wa
. the next and last of the candidate
for governor. The Laurens cand
EA