The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-08-24

Congress.
Six hundred or more voters and a
lew ladies attended the congressional
campaign meeting in the Court House
This is an estimate based upon tbs
seating and standing room capacit!
lof the court room, there may have
oeen more than that number, Tor ev-
cry seat was occupied and large num-
Der stood in the 6oorways and in the
side aisles. All Of those present
were not Sumter city voters, how
ever, for there were many from va
rious sections of the county as well
as quite a delegation from Bishop
vile and several from Orangeburg.
All of the speakers were cordially re-
ceived and given more or less ap-
plause, but the interest centered or
Lever and Mcleod and both of them
were the recipients of enthusiastic
and long continued cheers when they
were introduced and at intervals dur
ing their speeches. The Lever boost
erS are of the opinion that Lever was
greeted with the biggest volume OF
1oise while the Mcleod partisans are
of a like opinion as to the ovation
given their favorite. AS matter OF
fact there was little if any difference
lin the noise mace, the rooters for
both men doing their darndest to
make all the noise they could and to
keep it up as long as possible Both
-
thusiastic rooters whose strength OF
lungs and yelling ability evidenced
long practice as fox hunters. Ap-
plause of the public is said to be
sweet incense to the candidate and
both Lever and Mcleod evidently en-
joyed and appreciated the efforts OF
their friends, for their faces were
wreathed with smiles as the clamor-
,us volume Of cheers and hand-clap-
Ding greeted them when they faced
the audience.
The burden. of the speeches of all
the candidates was their reasons for
being in the race for congress. MI.
Lever had tile to say about his ex-
cursion into the senatorial arena and
his precipitate exit therefrom when
Senator TillnaE took his pen in hand
and began to write few chapters OF
inside political history. He did say
in this connection that he believed
at the time he announced his candl-
lacy in opposition TO Senator Tillnan
that it was his patriotic duty to make
the race, and that he had told Sen
ator Tillman prior to that time that
he would neve.' oppose him for the
senate, unless he was convinced that
it was his duty to the State to do so.
He quoted from President Wilson's
letter advising him to withdraw from
senatorial contest and seek re-elec-
ton to the house, and commented on
it at length. This is his ark of refuge
and his strong bucller Of defense in
"a time of trouble and he is making
the most Of it. In other respect Mr.
Levers speech was without features
of interest. Of course he said good
deal about his length of service and
his experience, his loyal support Of
the president and the policies Of the
administration, but there was nothing
new or striking in this line of talk,
As he was nearing the conclusion OF
his speech man in the audience
asked why he had not made good the
promise made in Orangeburg TO say
in Sumter exactly what he had said
in Orangeburg about L. D. Jennings.
Mr.. Lever and several others in the
crowd told the man to stand up so
they could see who he was. This ne
did and Mr.. Lever remarked that ne
thought he knew him to which the
man replied, "Of course you know
me-" Gle was a Mr.. Courteney, OF
-Orangeburg it was stately. Mr.. Lever
then said that he had not called MIR.
Jennings Little Langy, for he knew
how big he was, had said Langy
Jennings had gone to Washington and
acted the bull in the china shop. He
then abruptly changed the subject
and began talking about something
else, evidently preferring to side
step the Orangeburg incident Later
on when Mr.. Mcleod and again When
Mr.. Zimmerman was speaking, eacn
of them referred to the Orangeburs
incident, relating how Mr.. Lever had
spoken of Langy Jennings asinlne'
puerile, etc. letter to President WI
son-a letter that a seven-year-olo
child should have had more sense
than to write. It was stated that IN
this connection Mr.. Lever had, said IN
Orangebu-g that he had no feathers
on his legs had his gives on ane
would repeat in Sumter everything
he had said in Orangeburg. 1t was
small matter and too much has
probably been made Of it in current
gossip on the streets and wherevel
politics has been discussed during
the past two weeks, but it has nev,
ertheless made an impression, ane
Mr.. Levers apparent eagernesS t'
pass it off with smile and get ava!
from it as quickly as possible, seemee
to indicate that he was rather asham
ed of trying TO make capital In or
angeburg of a small piece of long dis
| tance sarcasm.
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