Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-07-26

vidual that was willing 10 put up WIN
the insults that the German empire
had heapcd on the United States was
not worthy of liberty. He said that
he. had told the people Of the state
long neforc McI.aurin's disclosures oi
the intentions OF Bleasc and McLaurin
to bolt the Democratic ticket and that
the truth had come out at last. He
went on to say that h. had in'orma-
tion that Cole Blease was organizing
the negroes OF the state through a
negro bishop Nth the purpose OF
pulling of another bolt into the gen
eral election. He claimed that Rlcases
own brother had taken the stump
against him in Ncwbcrry county. He
said that Cooper is the candidat" OF
the system. the lcgatcc Of the seat
now, held 10y Manning and advised
the people To beat Cooper. even II
YOU have to bcNt him with yellow
dog"
John G. Richards referred Ia the
fact that his father once lived and
laborCd in York county. that two
members OF his family are resting IN
York county soil. He paid tribute
to the amazing feat of Mr.. Wilson In
organizing in the short period OF one
year the greatest army and navy that
the world has ever known. He said
that the war involves the greatest
question that has ever confronted
Cristendom or heathcnism: hut II Is
not an issue. for even the littl" boys
and girls. all of them arc heart and
soul for the winniI" of the war. ANA
there are none who oppose. The grca,
issue il taxation. ! told You thrr"
years ago that if you elected Mr.
NJ h.. In t,.It "a ht
stood then, taxes would bc trench
dously increased. | stand here and
call your attention 10 the fact that in
the three years OF the Manning ad-
ministration your tax levy has been
increased from 5, mills TO % mills.
stand here and tell you that II You
elect Mr.. Cooper or Mr.. Drschamps
on the same platform you can only
look for still further increase in tax
rs. He said that If this election
should br postponed until after this
years taxes are paid. there would he
no doubt of the result. Their" would
he u tidal wave OF Indignation against
the tremendous increase of taxes. He
referred To the fact that he had been
chairman OF the ways and means
committee and understood the busi-
ness and financial affairs OF the state.
II elected governor OF the state. ne
would certainly reduce taxes 10y abol-
ishing useless offices. He helped to
establish Winthrop college and had
supported II ever since. He was the
father of free scholarships at Win
throp and Clemson, and he said that
Mr.. Cooper's plan to undertake the
abolition OF these scholarships and
substitute big loan fund instead,
such a scheme would bankrupt tn"
state. He concluded with most cm-
phatic dcnunciation of the effort To
make II appear that the war is an is
sue. and when nc closed there was
long continued applause. followed by
the departure of some o5 OF 80 people
from the hall.
Mr.. \. J. Bcthca was the next
speaker. He reviewed his political re-
cord said he had been elected two
years ago by the largest vote over
given to a state otlircr--mOrc than
$4,000. Mr.. Richards has said that IN"
war is not an issue, and the speak
rr took up the challenge thrown down.
lie declared that the war is the great :
rst issue before the people today, and
claimed President Wilson as his au-
thority. He had copies Of The En-
ulIircr containing reports of former
Governor l5leasc's speech at Filhert,
reading detached extracts from the
speech and strongly criticised <I''RfIa
the former governor had TO- say oi
that occasion. He askath Tor all WIN
endorsed tkr~~ governors statement
IT,. mold up their hands. and hccanS
no hands were held up. hc took |
that the people were unanimous h
support of his position. II" hurlc'
L I,.i.r nf n
crnor Bleasc. and was applaudcd by ;
portion of the audience. while othcr
remained quiet. He said that M
man should he elected to Office abou
whose patriotism or loyalty there Ii
Iany question. (Applausc.) No MAJ
should DC elected who Is unwilling Il
uphold the hands OF and tighten thu
burden of that great man, Woodrow
Wilson, the president or the unite'
| States. He said that he had been Il
the war-torn countries since the he
ginning of the war and he wanted Il
say that the purpose of this war is ;
challenge to the prcambl" to the con
stitution of the United States. W.
shall answer IL by sending out on
boys with shot and shell and by th'
purchase of Liberty bonds and wa
savings stamps. He closed with ap
plalisr.
Robert \. Cooper was greeted will
Iapplausc upon his introduction. III
said that he had never appealed Il
prejudice or asked for support he
cause he supported or did not suppor
any other man. He was the first can
diiate who said from the bcginnin:
that there was only one issue hcfor'
the people of the United States. an'
hc would say that there will be but on
issue until the end Of the war. ]
you agree that the war Is the onl,
issue, then you must vote only for ;
man who stands for the war becaus
he believes 1t Is right. Major Rich
ards has told you that ] am In faro
Of higher taxes. Thai Is not true.
am in favor of lower taxes: bu
say that | cannot see how any take!
can be reduced during the rcadjust
mcnt period that must extend Owe
several years following the war i
will he our duty and our rcsponsi
bility during the next several years
especially TO provide means to ta.''
care of crippled soldiers and to en-
able them to make an indcpendcn
living through their own efforts
| | am not in favor OF higher taxes
but this Is why I am telling 20. tha
Il taxes Will not De TeuuCSu. MT. TlCu
ards believes 1t Is right TO create 12
free scholarships by levying a tax a
all the people Of the. state. There Il
no such thing rs free scholarship, 81
far as the taxp; yers arc concerned
The beneficiary will get it free, but Tia
taxpayers will have to pay. Also thes'
free scholarships. going as they do Il
| the people who are able to pass thu
most crcditable examinations, go als'
| to TIE people who are best able to pa!
| for them and who are least d'servinj
| of gratuity at the hands of the taxpay
crs. But we have more than 124 poo
boys in South Carolina, and what
propose to do Is to create a loan funt
from which deserving boys can borrow
money for their education, with th'
| understanding that after their earning
| capacity has been largely increased
| through the education they have re
ceived they pay the money back. Ant
| ] say that this plan does not involve
expense. II the money that has al
| ready been expended on free scholar
ships had Instead been allowed to &C
cumulatc into a loan fund. there woClt
now be enough money available t.
meet the needs Of all the boys wht
could he accommodated in the colleges
He went on to say that while he coult
not promise to reduce taxes, he '"oulC
promise that il elected he would con
duct tho business OF the state In n bus
Il i,,a 10 t1n