The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1918-06-27
SPOKE TUESDAY,
Largest Crowd of the Campaign Was
Present to Hear Candidates.

| Offices ElSll0u DdLuUelS 1uSSudS oll1
l presented their claims for the votes
of the citizens of Bamberg county
The campaign party stated that the
crowd attending the meeting here
was decidedly the largest that has
yet been seen at any of the meetings
so far held. At the time the meeting
opened in the court house, $50 men
were in the audience. The number
grew when the gubernatorial candi-
dates spoke, and it was found neces-
sary to adjourn the meeting to the
lawn in front of the court house.
The crowd was variously estimated
from 250 to 450.
The meeting was presided over by
J. F. Carter, Esq, county chairman.
The first candidates to speak were
those offering for railroad commits
sioner, who were followed by The
gubernatorial aspirants.
The principal issue at the meeting
appeared to be the question of taxa
ton. Thomas H. Peoples said if
elected he would strive to reduce ex-
cessive expenditures. He opposed
the action of the tax commission in
increasing assessments 70 per cent,
and was vehement in his condemna-
ton of useless extravaganza and in
creating useless offices to make room
for pets. He said that if the State
recovers the Columbia canal from the
possession of the Columbia Railway,
Gas and Electric company it will
bring South Carolina enough money
to almost Hquidate the State debt
of s5,O0O,00O, which has been in eS
istence for a number of years.
Major John G. Richards, candi-
date for governor, said that free text
books can be supplied to the school
children of the State and larger pen
sions can be given the Confederate
veterans. This can be done, he as
serted, without increasing the taxes.
81 charge that Mr.. Cooper" said Ma
jor Richards. "has laid down in the
face of the enemies of the people and
has turned up with the position TAX
en- by Governor Manning two years
ago that taxes cannot be reduced"
Lieutenant Governor Andrew ].
Bethea, gubernatorial candidate, in
handling the tax situation, said: Il
will do my best to equalize and ad-
just the tax burden between the rich
and the poor, so that you may receive
100 per cent. of good government for
every dollar expended. have ple
to do this, but have not the time to
explain it now. Perhaps l shall give
it later" He said he would neither
promise to reduce taxes, nor would
he say that they would be increased,
but he thought some economies might
be effected.
Robert A. Cooper, a gubernatorial
candidate, when he commenced his
speech, said that Mr.. Richards dart
fell harmless at his feet, neither
wounding nor offending. Il have nev-
er laid down in the face of the enc
N.Y." he said, land those who know
me know that I speak the truth. I
have made mistakes, but / have nev-
er refused to take q definite stand
on any subject We can ecomo-
mize in many places, said Mr.. Coop
er, adding: But 1 am unwilling to
win office by saying l can reduce tax
es when l don't believe it. 1 will
treat your business as 1 would my
own. If l am elected governor,
am not going to have any enemies
and l am not going to reward any
friends" Mr.. Cooper said, regard
ing the pardon question, that if elect
ed, he would not grant pardon to
any convicted man unless he was
absolutely convinced that the jury
was wrong and that justice had not
been done.
John Madison DesChamps, the
next speaker for governor, said that
Mad Anthony Wayne, of Revolution
ary fame, was a direct ancestor of
his. He said that the cause of high
taxes was the creating of offices for
the fellow who helped someone to
be elected. He advocated universal
compulsory education for white and
black, and would have county legis-
latures with district representation
and was opposed to deforestation.
John T. Duncan, the biennial can
didate, Tuesday paid his respects to
practically all the gubernatorial can
didates and gave his usual review
of the system which he alleges pre-