The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-08-21
HOT At hONGK'S CORNER.
VARIOUS STATE CANDIDATES IN
ARGUMENTS.
Bethca, Cooper and Richards IL EN-
change While Lilies Replies to
Wightnan.

MoncAs Corner, Aug. 16.-Pithy en-
changes between various candidates
for State Offices characterized the
! 40th State campaign meeting here
today. The audience though num-
, bering only about $50 voters was by
far the most responsive and enthus-
iastic OF the campaign.
There was u colloquy between
Lieut. Gov. Andrew J. Bethea and
Robert A. Cooper, candidates for
governor which at one time bordered
on becoming heated. Mr.. Rethea,
who was the first speaker, took IS
sue with the speech Of the Laurens
candidate delivered at Georgetown
yesterday.
81 have obser1 of late" said Mr..
Bethca, that when l finish speaking
Mr.. Cooper, who usually follows me
tries to chill the ardor and enthus-
iasn Of my support. He does this not
by direction. but by indirection, but
he does it nevertheless. In the face
of what impression I have made and
on the heels Of what I have said. he
gets up and says in a self righteous
sort of way that he has never made
an appeal to factioEalsm to get
vote He would evade and side step
the real issue of the campaign. 1t is
true that he is a bit more outspoken
OF late than heretofore, and why?
Simply because he sees the hand
writing on the wall He sees the
people rallying around the standard
have set up and fighting for the cause
in which have taken the offensive
and the lead. am making fearless
but fair fight for what I conceive 70
be right, but I do not propose to
shake down plums or pull chestnuts
out of the fire for any candidate IN
the race. If, therefore, Mr.. Cooper
pursues the course he has adol'ted. /
shall be forced to disclose the reasons
that I believe prompt him and
these, I venture to assert, will be q
revelation Of the people of South
Carolina"
Mr.. Cooper interrupted Mr.. Bethea
at this juncture and challenged him
20 make known any revelations
which he might possess. stating that
his record is an open book and ne
feared not to have it scrutinized. The
lieutenant governor said that ne was
not making any charges against Nj
Cooper. When again pressed for the
meaning Of his statement, Mr.. Be
thea said that he was referring to
Mr.. Cooper's speech at Georgetown
yesterday.
Mr.. Cooper, who followed Mr.. Be
thea in the list Of speakers. said that
yesterday, at Georgetown. the Heuten-
ant governor criticized some Of the
gubernatorial candidates for dealng
with the tax and other questions,
claiming that they were lodging the
real issue, that of the war. L ID
that I did no1 suppose he meant to
include me as one who was lodging
the issue,' continued the Laurens can
didate, sand I understood him to say
that he did not mean me, that he was
referring TO Major Richards. Is that
correct. Mr.. Bethea ?"
Replying that he believed he said
that in substance, Mr.. Bethea con-
tinued with further remarks and was
Interrupted by NIr. Cooper who said
that he had not called on the lieuten-
ant governor for u speech. Ii he
could not make q statement Of su1f-
cient length to explain his position
said Mr.. Bethea, ne would rot answer
the question az all.
"Mr. Bethea stated that he will tell
something on me- continued Mr..
Cooper, "and I say that man who is
going to fight fair, when asked &
question and when asked to spec.i%
will do so. when I have charge TO
make against him / am not gong to
say that T will do it. but I am going
to do it, and when he makes state
ment I expect him to back it up with
the facts"
In discussing the tax question. Mr
Cooper said that he had asked Rich
ards repeatedly how he is going to re-
duce taxes.
81 make a rule never to interrupt
a speaker" interjected the Reform
candidate for governor, but since he
has asked me the question, I want to
state that I do not propose to disclose
my plans as to what l am going to
do if elected
When Mr.. Cooper replied that. i;
Mr. richards objected 10 giving his
plan in his presence, he would &c
outside and let him disclose his poi
icy to the audience, the Reform
candidate asked the speaker what his
plans were for raising the taxes MI.
Cooper replied that he had never
stated that he would raise the taxes
During the speech of Juuius T.
Lilies. candidate for lieutenant govern
or, he urged his auditors not to vote
! for any man about whose loya. y
there was a question. he was inter-
rupted by George W. Wishtman, his
Reform" opponent and asked to
specify as to whom he meant.
q refer to Cole L. Dlcasc,' replied
Mr.. Lilies.
Other than these exchanges. there
eas little out of the ordinary in the