The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-07-24
JOHN RICHARDS BUSTERS.
WORKS HIMSELF UP TO A
FRENZY BUT DOES MOTH
ING.
>andidatcs for Governor Almost
Come to Blows Before Big Green
Vile Audience.

Grcenville, July 2O.-Leut. Gov. An
drew ]. Bethea and John G. Richards,
candidates for governor, almost came
to blows at the State campaign meet
ing here today in the municipal park
before an audience of approximately
1900.
The incident was the outcome of
lhe renewal of a question by Mr..
Eethea which was asked at Walhalla
and which occasioned Major Richards
coming out for Cole L. Blease at that
place. Mr.. Bethca asked Major Rich
ards, DO you indorse the sentiments
aid the words uttered by Cole l..
Eiease at Pomaria July 27. 1912"
Following the preface of his
speech, which was an excoriation of
the Greenville Piedmont, the lieuten-
ant governor referred to the Pomaria
speech Of Blease, quoting from the
Charleston American in which Blease
is reputed to have said that the blood
shed by the soldiers of the United
States in Europe will be on the head
of President Wilson and the members
OF the American congress las an un-
warranted sacrifice of fresh young
American manhood" he said. "I am
not making 1t an issue, because the
Charleston American made it an is
Sue when it said that Blease came out
for Richards In his Wagner speech
and that Richards got up and came
out for Blease. They raised the issue
and / propose to meet it from day
to day. l turned to Major Richards,
who is a candidate lin this race, at
Walhalla and asked him if he indors-
cd the utterance of Blease. He did
not answer specifically and he can an
swer 1t now if he wants to. His re-
ply to me was Why are you not in
the war? Why don't you don the
Khaki? You are in the draft age.
Major Richards knows 1 am not in
|
yet I have rendered my services to
the war department at Washington
and am ready and willing to go and
to spend every cent / have in order to
make the world safe for democracy.
Continuing, the lieutenant governor
said that the test of a mans quail
1icatiOn for Office was his loyalty TO
his country and his adherence to the
national administration. He said that
no candidate should be given prefer
n,cnt whose loyalty was in doubt.
would you like me to answer your
question:" asked Major Richards at
this point. AS he arose to his feet, he
stated that he had been informed that
Il man now on the stand had quoted
Mr. Bethea as saying he was sorry
that he brought the matter up at
Walhalla. Mr.. Bethea replied that
he had not said to anyone that he was
sorry.
II want to, say to Mr.. Bethea,"
said Major Richards, that he said
to me at Walhalla he did not intend
to reflect on my loyalty"
Major Richards then walked up be-
side the lieutenant governor, poised
himself on the balls of his feet, dou-
bled his fists and asked: did you
not make that statement"
Il stated at Walhalla in my reply"
said Mr.. Bethea, that that was not
the question and I did not ask the
question as to whether he was 10y.
al"
| do you mean to infer here today
that l am disloyal?" shouted Major
richards las he drew back his clinch~
ed fist as If to hit the lieutenant gov
error.
T. p. Cothran, county chairman,
who was standing between the two
men, grabbed Mr. Richards arm AMI
several policemen and a part of the
audience rushed on the stand. During
The disturbance Major Richards said
something about coward" The cOun-
ty chairman said that Major Rich
ards called Mr.. Bethea "a cOntemp
t'ble coward"
During the heated exchange be
tween the two candidates, men in the |
audience cried out, "Yes, you're lis
loval,' '"TraitOr," Give it to him Be
thea "Open her wide Bethea, anu
otf er such cries
AT the conclusion OF the lieutenant
governors speech Mr.. Cothran an
nounced that Major ltlchardS would
he allowed two minutes for a reply to
Nh. Bcthea.