The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-08-21
WILSON OR KAISER?
ISSUE CLEARLY DRAWN IN
SOUTH CAROLINA.
Presidents Rebuke 20 Ble;ssc Read by
Benet and PoIiocl-Stirring -Ad-
dresses Made.

dresses Made.
Pickens, Aug. 16.-The MESA se,
America or the Fatherland. Woodrow {
Wilson or the kaiser OF Germany, was
today. 1t was at Pickens one year
ago that Blease made one OF his most
violent anti-war speeches. four months
after this country had entered the
struggle. Here he was most bitter
in his denunciation OF President Viii
son, declaring he was not afraid OF
Mesident Wilson and III anybody
hit like it, darn them, let them
lump it, It was at Pickens also that
he characterized President Wilson as
"a climatized Yankee and the State
Council of Defense IS "a council OF
liars''
The rebuke from President Wilson,
published in this mornings papers.
was read to the audience today by
both Senator Bencl and w. z. Pollock
and created a profound impression.
The name Of Thomas II. Peoples
was called out by the chairman today
when beginning the program. You
may call, Mr.. Chairman, with meg
aphone, but 7 guarantee Tom Peoples
is coming no closer TO this meeting
than Columbia Mr.. Benet SAID.
Mr.. Renet had been approached by
many \people asking that he let up
on the war issue for political en-
pediency. The war was an issue and
rf,e only issue The challenge would
be answered by any man with son
in. France Or q service flag On his
dspr He challenged any candida
w5So said the war was not 2n issue IN
this campaign to. come to the cam
paign meetings and debate the issue.
The Charleston American had no
right to speak for the loyal ocmo-
Gratis OF South Carolina. Mr.. Peoples
vas letting it speak for him and that
paper is fighting me and Pollock and
fighting for Wilson" Senator Benet
got much applause When he said he
wanted the boys to make lob OF 1t
in France at the earliest possible mo-
ment and get home. He wanted 70
send them every gun, cannon ana
man necessary to- clean up the Hun
and come home Five million men
in arms one year is more to be desir-
ed than 100000 in arms five years
he said, and the audience applaud
ed his utterance with enthusiasm.
w. P. Pollock said Biease's record
would follow the ex-governor like
Banquo's ghost Had South Carolina
elected Blease to the United States
senate four years ago, this State wollfl
have contributed one to the little
band of wilful men, as Blease him
self had said he would have fought
Wilson and congress on the War IS
sue. Referring to the truth spread
ing crusade, which Blease had COM
r..ended to the Charleston American,
Mr.. Pollock said he vas also spread
ing the truth. 1T was his misfortune
to have known Blease 25 years. He
had been in college with him, in tbs
legislature with him and had the fur
ther disgrace to have him governor o.
the State He would have been Gis-
tinctly pleased to have met Please OF
The stump this summer. But It has
been too blamed hot to run Rlease
down. he said, reminding his hear
erss that when the campaign party
vas in the west side of the State,
Please was in the east side, and wh24
in the northern half, Blease was il
the southern half The only thins
he had seen of Little Tom Peoples
after the first days campaign meet
ing in Florence was q pale photo
graph" in the newspapers.
n. B. Dial thanked God that he was
an American citizen and Democrat,
but made no direct reference to the
Wilson letter relative 20 Blease. The
Laurens candidate pledged if elected
to do all in his power to continue the
enlargement OF the Charleston navy
until it is second TO none in the INIT
ed States. Concerning this Mr. Dial
said: LAS general proposition dc
not believe IN the government spend
ing money lavish!y and unnecessarily
in public buildings There are GER
TIA public works, however, the de-
mands FOR which are self-eviGcnt. OF
this number might be cited the navy,
yard at Charleston. 1t is a tribute to
the wisdom and foresight OF the late
Senator Tillman that he saw the ne
cessity for preparing this agency foi.
government defense even in times o.:
peace It is al the more important
now that the country is engaged Ii
war, and Will come out cf it with q
npavy that even for maintenance viii
lax the capacity of al her nav
yards. Charleson is situated geo
graphically SO as TO become orc o.
the leading ports Of the" South ard
the navy yard there should be :t2,,ia
tanned TO the highest decree g: ef
ticiency If elected to the Cl1iteft
States senate II VII BE my desire and
purpose to make The navy ya9d =