The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-05-18
THE STATE CONVENTION.
PATRIOTISM NOT POLITICS OUT
STANDING FEATURE OF
MEETING OF DEMO-
GRATIS.
Keynote of All Speeches Was Loyalty
and Determination To Win the War
-Tiilman Makes Address Outlining
Reasons for Seeking Reelection.


Evans was yesterday again elected
chairman of the State Democratic
executive committee and Gen. Willie
Jones of Columbia treasurer. Ash
ley c. Tobias Jr.. OF Columbia was
reelected secretary of the committee.
The convention was called to order
promptly at IL o'clock by John Gary
Evans. state chairman OF the execu-
tive committee. Prayer was offered
by Rev. Thornton Whaling. ID. d..
president OF the Columbia Theological
Seminary. Mr.. Evans reported that
no contests or protests had been
brought to the attention OF the com
miteee. Proceeding to organize. the
name OF w T.. Pollock of Cheraw was
placed i'm nomination for temporary
president of the convention. the
domination being made by George X.
Iancy. State senator from Chester
neid county. Mr.. Pollock was unani.
mously elected temporary president.
j. Wilson Gibbes of Columbia and
Henry @. senseney OF Charleston
+ we're nominated temporary secretaries.
the organization calling for two. and
"A. r.. Hutchinson OF York being
elected reading clerk. On motion Of
John c. Sheppard of Edgeheld the
temporary organization was then
made permanent and the keynote
speech OF the convention was then
made by Mr. Pollock.
His theme was the necessity for
pure Americanism In this present ma :
tionai crisis. During the course OF his
address. Mr.. Pollock denounced In
scathing terms "the man who 30 for
got his manhood as TO say II made no
difference what kind OF America we
have after he is dead and gone. Mr..
Pollock declared he could not think OF
more damnakie utterance than that.
Thunderous applause greeted this re-
mark. and applause and cheers burst
forth again when the speaker declar-
ed. God pity such n man. And II
he does not repent. may the devil
take his soul and burn IL forever and
day"
II feel like addressing YOU more
as my fellow Americans than as my
fellow democrats" began Mr.. Pollock.
We have met here under conditions
such as South Carolina has never
known before. The white people OF
the State have gathered TO represent
not only democracy but Americanism
throughout America and the world"
This is no time for partisan poll
tics" declared Mr.. Pollock. This is
meeting OF American people having
but one purpose. the betterment OF
humanity the preservation Of civillza
. tion and the liberty for which our
forefathers fought more than 100
years ago. Would that in the hearts
OF every man i'm South Carolina. re-
gardless OF faction or regardless OF
color. there were nothing save. the
best interests of the nation and would
that every man were loyal to the
stars and stripes. for over 100 years
the beacon light OF the world.
I'VE have ut this time, fortunateiy
for the democratic party and Ameri-
ca. presiding over the destinies OF
America that Incompatible statesman
Woodrow Wilson" Much applause
greeted this statement The speaker
pointed out that the democrats have
also control I'm the house and senate
and told how the South Carolina dele
cation In the national democratic
convention six years ago stood solidly
for Wilson first last and all the time
I'e reviewed the circumstances sur
rounding the beginning OF the war:
telling how the cloud first rose in
Serbia. then how the German hordes
swept westward. committing atroci-
ties and outrages that startled and
shocked the world. He wished that
America had gone into the war then.
he said. To avenge these outrages. but
was rot To be. The nation had =
very smnll army and navy. the people
were not aroused. Wilson bldcd his
time. The speaker reviewed the sink
ins OF ships by the Germans. the Lusi-
tania. the Sussex sinkings and the
creation OF the submarine zones.
when Germany told America she
could send ships to England only one
day week. "Then we told GERMANY
she could 20 TO hell seven days Il