Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1918-03-13
Why He Is a Candidate.


fore to serve the nation and my
State, if 1 retired because of the
statement made in 1914 it would be
an act of cowardice, and an injus-
tice to our boys who have offered
their lives in defense of their coun-
try.
''I have everything to lose and
nothing to gain by offering for re-
election. I would be safely out of
the troubled waters of politics in
which I have been swimming since
1885, but 1 would feel somewhat
like deserter in the face of the
enemy.
"When I first came to Washing
ton, sectionalism was virulent and
l was forced to listen to false and
insulting accusations against the
South and its people. The Demo-
Gratis had decided it was wisest to
say nothing. thank God never
followed this course, but from the
beginning protested vigorously with
my brother Democrats against such
cravenness. When anyone threw
rock at the South, I was always
ready to throw two hack. Indeed, l
have been told by competent judges
and l believe it to be true-that
nv speeches in the senate and my
lectures through the North have
done more TO enlighten the Northern
people on the race question than all
other instrumentalities combined.
Some Things He Has Done.
'T have labored consistently for
the greater development and use Of
the Charleston Navy yard and am
individually responsible for its es-
tablishment. The clothing factory at
that yard is a concrete example of
one Of its benefits.
"It was largely due to my efforts
that Congress enacted the railroad
rates bill which gave to the country
fair railway rates and to the farm
ers much relief from the burdens
they were then bearing.
"The exposure Of frauds and
robbery of the government perpe-
trated by the armor plate manufac-
turers was among my first impor-
tant acts as Senator. Time after
time 1 offered amendments to the ma
val appropriation bills authorizing
the government to build its own ar
NOR plate factory. Each of these
was defeated, but I have lived long
enough to see the enactment of my
original proposition authorizing the
erection of a plant by the govern
ment; and that plant is now actually
under construction at Charleston,
w. Va.
"I have lived to see most of the
financial legislation which 1 always
advocated, enacted into law. The
national reserve bank act and the
farmers loan act, enabling the far
mers to get money at low rates of
interest, are among the things l
helped to secure. Both of these
were long cherished dreams of the
Farmers Alliance and their germs
may be found in the 'Ocala de-
mands.
zone Of the things of which 1 am
most proud was that I compelled
recognition of South Cardinals
claim against the federal govern
ment for money loaned by the State
in the War of 1912. By this, $780,
600 of the States bonds, held by
the federal government as debt
against the State, were cancelled and
s89,157.36 was paid into the State
treasury in cash.
Doesn't Think People Want Cam
paign.
81 do not belive the people of the
State are in the humor for unneces-
sary political agitation this year.
They want to win the war and they
know the only way to win it is to
hold up President Wilson's hands.
Any man sent to the senate now
from South Carolina who would not
sustain the President whole-hearted-
ly would be a traitor to the best
interests of our country and utterly
useless to his South Carolina con-
stituents.
although my health is better
now than it has been for years, it
is not my purpose to make any cam
paign speeches. In my opinion, it is
more important for me to remain in
Washington attending to my duties
in the Senate and in the naval af-
fo;-e oornnitten than If is for me to