Lexington dispatch-news. [volume] (Lexington, S.C.) 1917-1919, 1918-08-07
COUNTY CAMPAIGN
OPENED SATURDAY
Five Hundred People Hear Candi-
dates for County Offices
at Gilbert.


county campaign were fired at Gil
bert on last Saturday. where more
than zoo persons gathered to hear
what the various ohice-seekers had to
say. The meeting was void of the
sensational: the audience being un-
demonstrative. except there was
slight tilt between the two candidates
for county auditor, and the two can
didats for county treasurer. These
incidents however came near the
close of the meeting, and afforded
the only excitement of the day.
The meeting was officially opened
by Judge C. NJ. Efrd, democratic
county chairman who in address fill
ed with optimism and ringing with
the earmarks of Democracy. bespoke
for all of the candidates. throughout
he entire campaign, a square and
lair deal. Judge Efird referred
briefly to the great crisis confronting
the people, declared that Lexington
county was patriotic to the core. and
that her people would continue to
stand by the government until democ
racy reigns supreme throughout the
universe.
The candidates organized by elect
! ing Cyrus L. Shealy, president, and
W. D. Dent, secretary.It was agreed
to give the seven candidates for the
house 20 minutes each and the can.
didates for other offices 10 minutes
each.
D. J. S. Derrick was the first .candi
date to speak. he stated that he was
in the race only after having been
solicited by many friends to become
a candidate. He did not believe in
long speeches. 1t was his purpose
to do all in his power to aid the state
and national governments in the pres
ent war. He was no new convert to
the principle of loyalty; had been
there all the time from the very mo-
ment our government took hand.
hard to be loyal now, but last year
The speaker asserted that it was not
when there was difference of opin-
/ ion he was of the same belief. 1t is
tn duty of every one to back up the
government and support the boys IN
the trenches. Did not know what he
could do in the legislature. but he had
practiced economy all through life
and if elected he would see that the
printing knife is applied to all unnec-
essary appropriations. At the same
time there would be- no limit to what
he could do for the boys in the tren-
ches.
! DR.. L. E. Dreher, introduced next,
made his maiden political speech, it
being Dr.. Dreher's first appearance
! in politics. He urged his heafsEs at
! the outset not to vote for any candi-
! date because of personal likes and dis
likes. but for those candidates repre-
sertirg the principles for whici! the
voter stanGs-for those candidates
representing true principles of gen
uine democracy. Dr.. Drener !; de-
clared that the people Of this county
and state will never be- able to re-
lease themselves from the clutches OF
the present high taxes until the vot-
ers took the matter IN hand and cut
out the wiley politician who, each
campaign year. made all kinds OF
promises, which never is nor never
can be filled. DR.. Dreher then went
into an able and clear discussion of
high taxes. Columbia b0''rowed mo-
ney at 4 per cent interest. he said.
while the great state of South Caro-
lima paid 3-4 per cent. The taxpay
ers have to come up with S222,OOO
interest each year on the bonded in
debtedness of the State. and it Is
time to call a halt. The wealth of
South Carolina had increased less
than SO per cent, and the population
of the state 10 per cent during the
past 10 vars, while the expenditures
have increased 100 per cent. How
can we survive with such wreckless
extravaganza? asked the speaker. DR..
Dreher came out flatfooted and un-
oualifiedly in favor of education. Es
pec;ally did he favor liberal provls-
ions for the rural schools. The spea-
ker advanced the progressive idea of
compulsory attendance of all white
children between the ages of 7 and
II years, inclusive. which he said