Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1918-07-17
THE STATE CAMPAIGN.
Meeting at Walhalla Was Quiet, Well
Attended, Not Exciting.

meeting was held yesterday, about
500 people being in attendance. AS
Is characteristic Of Oconee, the speak
ers, about 20 in number, were given
respectful attention.
The crowd was slow in gathering
at first. and it was thought that the
Court House would be ample to ac-
commodatc the people, but it was
later discovered that the building
was too crowded, and the meeting
was moved to the high school audi
torium, where the crowd was COM
fortably seated and the speakers had
a better opportunity to address the
people who had come from almost
every section Of the county to hear
| them.
The speeches made were Of no out
of-the-ordinary type, covering much
the same ground that is covered at
all counties. Mr.. DesChamps, candi-
date for Governor, introduced some
OF his humOr, keeping the crowd
laughing and in happy frame of
mind. though, like the others, stcr
ing pretty clear of real live issues
that might be termed enlightening
to the public.
Among the Gubernatorial candi-
dates there was little more than
the usuel everyday run OF events.
though they grew out Of the persist
ent efforts Of Andrew J. Bethea, can
didate for Governor, to force his OPP
pOncnt, John G.. Richards, to come
out and declare himself as to whom
he will support for the United States
Senate.
Mr.. Bethca, after MIR. Richards
mad spoken and started from the
speakers stand, requested that he
remain. stating that he had a nues-
ton he wished to ask him. Mr.. Rich
ards agreed to stay. but later became
restless, and again started to go.
Bcthea urged him to remain but for
a moment longer. and then he read
the now famous Blease speech in
which he CBlease) stated that there
were mo grounds justifying the en-
trance of the United States into the
present war, and that upon the heads
of President Wilson and his associ-
ates rested responsibility before
God for the lives that might be lost"
and that if he had been in Congress
he (Blease) would have voted
against war. Mr.. Bethea asked Mr..
ments, and Mr.. Richards said that he
"But,' he said, 81 have a son in the
army, and other relatives also and |
am loyal" The question was put
several times, but no direct answer
was received. Finally, a gentleman
in the audience called to Mr.. Bethea
and told him to ask Richards the di-
rect question whether or not he is
supporting Blease for the United
States Senate. Mr.. Richards still re-
fused to reply directly, but said that
he would answer If the crowd indi-
Gated it's desire to know where he
stood In the Senatorial race. A hand
primary was called for, and it was
evident that the audience desired
some direct information on the ques-
tion. Mr.. Richards went into a de-
tailed statement, in which he in
formed the audience that he had
been in the reform movement" for
many years, was still in it and with
it. and would therefore, vote for Mr..
Blease for the United States Senate.
This was the first time. so far as
we recall, that this admission has
been dragged from Mr.. Richards.
though his reluctance to make an
Swer has always been interpreted in
such manner as to place him in the
ranks with Mr.. Blease's supporters.
Mr.. McLaurin, who has been in the
race for the Governorship up to the
present time, was not at the meet
ing here, and the announcement of
his withdrawal from the race came
to Walhalla over the wires and by
early morning papers ahead Of the
candidates who were to speak.
Opinion varies considerably on the
withdrawal. some feeling that Mr..
McLaurin should have stuck it out
to the bitter end, others commend
ing him for getting out Of a race that
promised little if any general good
from the discussions that have de-
seloped.
The candidates left here yester-
day afternoon for PickcnS. where
they appear to-day before the voters
OF that county.
a spirit Of uniform good will pre-
| vailed at Walhalla. both among the
Candi idates and the voters. Both Mr..
I'ethca and Mr.. Richards, during
their tilt, managed to summon con-
siderable color to their faces. and
there was a slight ripple of excite
mcnt and expectancy preceding and
during tho "hand primary" Taken
as a whole, however, the meeting
was what Bill Arp would have de-
scribed as real calm ana serene
like
Miss Rankin for Senate.
Ia; ,ok<, I,,1,