The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-08-03

have said, but who can best serve the
interest OF your boys at the front.
He re-read, however, Tlllman's letter
saying he hoped he'd be reelected,
and paid tributes to Solicitor Mann,
Solicitor Cobb and Mr. II. p. Fulmer,
congressional candidates who with
drew when Lever re-entered.
Lever stated he didn't question
the LOYALTY Of Zimmerman, Brantley
or Mcleod, they are all good loyal
men, but the question was one OF
ability to render service.
He had known Tillman's health
and had told him that he would
rather: have his right arm cut Off
than interfere with his desire to
come back, but he'd rather cut off
both arms than see q man take ms
place who would have to explain his
notwithstanding to Blease, but
! calling no names. Lever closed by
asking why his opponents didn't
| point out the weak spots in his rec
ord in congress if they thought him
unfit.
Thos. G.. Mcleod
The last speaker was Thos. G. Nc
! I.eod, who was inconvenlenced
slightly in his opening by some de-
partures. 1t was long afteer dinner
time. but the large majority IF the
audience waited to hear hi SPEAK
also. He followed mainly his usual
speech, which arraigns Levers ac-
tions. and charges him with misrepre-
sentation to the president. 1t was
| pra ctically the same speech ne has
made elsewhere. The reporter ask
ed one Of McLeod's friends Why he
used the same speech. and the reply
was gwen by his friend, II asked
Mcleod the same thing, and he told
me &c dsT,.t change because the
charges he made against Lever IN II
| were unanswerable, that Lever hae'
rot even tried to answer, and he was
going to keep hammering on them
until lever tried to answer them.
! Because OF the similarity Of the
! speeches only the comparatively new
elements in it are reported aga-n.
Referring to Levers praise Of So
l;citor Mann for Withdrawing. Nc
I.eod said he could take licking
but would not back down. As for
Mann he had been at every cam
Daign meeting He went on to tell
of Lever breaking his word to Till
man. and said "every man in this
audience who breaks his word
should vote for Lever"
After Lever realized he was beat
for the senate, he apparently put
in motion the machinery for reach
ing the resident and directly OF
indirectly exerted influence on the
president to get a basis to reente1
the congressional race. The presl-
dents letter TO Lever began, HAY
ing been assured" Gas to certain po-
Iitical conditions in S. c. and Nc
Leod wanted to know who had =
sured" him? Was it some friend OF
Mr. Levers?
Mcleod said he would perform
any service the president requested
of him, but as much as he admired
him, .'ae would not cast g, ballot al
] anybody's dictation,'' and he was
/ glad that the president hadn't asked
such a thing. His letter to TillmaI
/ showed that clearly. AS a matter OF
! fact, Wilson was misied, when Lever
failed to tell him tl1aA there were SIN
other good Democrats running fol-
congress. eff congress got alons
without the great Calhoun, Clay
and now Tillman. lit would seem that
it could get along without Frank
Lever"
Mcleod closed his speech by a
discussion Of the cotton situation
and an advocacy Of restricted immi-
grafton.