The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-06-15

and national duty to see to it that
south Carolina was represented in the
United States senate by one who was.
and Is, loyal to the United States and
strong supporter of President Will
son and his administration. Blease
does not fill these requirements Here
is the crux of the situation. Governor
Manning was not willing to trust the
people with making their own nomi-
nation for senator. and he. with the
ala OF very small coterie of politi-
clans. set to work to make senator
satisfactory to Governor Manning.
Naturally Governor Manning is con-
cerned in the defeat of Blease. This
Is no new sensation to him. He has
called on me in times past to bring
about this much desired event, and !
contributed something to that end,
notably when he himself was in the
race two years ago for governor, but
now he thinks it advisa BILE to get
someone else to bell the cat Wha,
Il transformed and ubiquitous states
man he is when it comes to making
possible to elect a senator from that
of two years ago, when the issue was
on the election Of q governor?
II want to say i'm this connection
that when the second race was on be-
tween Manning and Blease I issued
over my own signature q letter, in
which l tied Blease and McLaurin
together. / outlined the iniquities
connected with the proposed deal, etc.
and had this statement ready for the
printer when Mr.. Lever came to Tren
ton in the hot weather in early Sep
tember in an automobile. with the
curtains down, and returning to Co
lumbia after dark to get this anti
Blease document to the printers, keep.
ing it a secret as to the part he was
taking in the election.
Governor 'Manning's opinion, as
| we'll as Mr.. Levers, as tc my ability
to defeat Blease by newspaper COM
munications and my own plan of cam
paign have evidently undergone a
considerable change in their minds.
1.-THE blunt truth about the matter
Is this: Governor Manning has re-
Gently been in the business of making
senator for the people of South
Carolina to swallow. To carry his
plans through he even went to Wash
ington and tried to get the president
and Gen. Burleson to help him; MAX
ing the specious statement that Till
man could not defeat Blease. He was
asked who. in his judgment, could de-
feat Blease in South Carolina, and
Gov. Manning named Mr.. Lever as his
candidate. Gov. Manning has been
instrumental in taking from a place
of usefulness a young man. whose
career was full of promise and posi-
b!lities. and offered him as O sacrifice
to nothing less than vanity and bull
headedness. If there are any two
persons in South Carolina who have
more cause to be grateful to me for
services than Gov. Manning and Mr.
Lever 1 do not remember who they
are. Neither will deny what 1 have
done for them nor attempt to belittle
it's value. If they want me to speci-
fy 1 will do so.
There is one striking feature
about Gov Manning's opon letter to
me. In his egotsm and vanity he
| makes no effort to conceal the fact
that he has tried to use President
Wilson and Gen. Burleson and create
the impression that Blease is a men
ace. Just how far the good people OF
the State will resent this l am unable
10 say, but there is big difference
IN reelecting Tillman to the senate
and reelecting Manning governor.
This statement will find its vindication
later on.
MIR. Lever has stated to me and
also TO others that he would under
no circumstances run against me but
would aid me in every way he could
IN my reelection. After my announce
nent L know that Gen. Burleson
advised Mr.. Lever to declare for my
rejection. But in spite of his pro-
testations of personal and political
friendship. Mr.. Lever has endeavored
to create the impression i'm the State
tnat he is the candidate of the ad-
ministration when he i'm fact is Gov.
Manning's candidate brought abou
by deal that Gov. Manning thought
he had made but the terms Of which
nf H.