The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-07-27
LOYALTY the ISSUE.
HIAIE CANDIDATES. SPEAK IN
YORK.
"ubcrEatcriaI Aspirants Stick Closely
to the Issues Already Raised OH the
Itinerary.

York July 24.-"Had | been a NOM
Der of congress | would have voted
Tor war any time after the sinking OF
the Lusitania and if no other mem
Ter OF congress had introduced a res
olution declaring u state of war.
should have done so, because Ameri-
! ca had never stood fer an Insult like
: she received from Germany. In the
event Of a German victory can YOU
conceive of Christianity surviving and
American Institutions remaining in
tact. That's the issue" said Robert
! y. Cooper, candidate for governor.
here today in making clear his DO
sition on the war rs opposed to the
stand taken by John G.. richards. an
opponent, who declared that the war.
while it was the paramount consider
alton before the people of An,erico
WAS not the issue in South Carolina.
Lieut.. Gov. Andrew J. Bethea, also
seeking the governorship, declared the
war the vital issue of the campaign
and John Madison DcsChamps. anoth-
or gubcrnatOrial aspirant, took an an
tithetical position from that of Cooper
and Bethea.
The state ca npaign meeting today
was held in the court room of the
beautiful new York county court
house, a real architectural triumph.
ana was attended by an attentive au-
d.ence of approximately 500 voters.
John II. Duncan. the first gubcrna
tor.al speaker today, warned the peo-
Pile to get their registration certificates
and he prepared for a bolt He said
that the negroes of the State are or
&an:zing ana are ready for n certain
political leader to place himself at
their head in the general election.
John G.. Richards, the next speaker
declared that the mos magnificent
worl in the history of the world was
the building Of the American army
and navy during the past year by
President Wilson and his assistants in
the cabinet. He said that no decent
man in South Carolina would impugn
his motives o" his stand on the war.
lie asserted that all the people of the
State are loyal.
Taking Up what he described rs a
- Il - 10, ID IL
Lieut.. Gov. 4. J. Bcthca said that The
Issue was raised when Cole l.. ElcGsc
indcrsod Richards at Wagener and
richards indors1d Blcase. He then
quoted sections Of the Blease speeche.;
at Pomaria and Filbert and asked any
member Of the audience who inlorsej
the sentiments contained therein to
raise his hand. no hand was raised.
"Anh cush have never appealed TO
fact!Onll prejudice" said Robert A
Cooper, who was next to the last
speaker, no man in South Caroline
doubts where l stand or where have
stood. l have never hesitated to de
clare myself md to take a determined
stand hy any tissue" Stating that the
war will be an issue until the men in
france return home with victory, tho
speaker then devoted him attention
TO discussion OF the problem of tax
atlon and n loan plan for students g
state colleges along his usual lines.
John Madison DcsChamps. the con-
Guiding speaker Of the meeting. ad-
vocatcd more thorough protection fo~l
the primary election. a standard of
character to which all candidates
must measure before they can enter |
race law preventing combinations
in favor Of any candidate and pay
ment by the State or the candidates
OF all advertising Of campaign meet
ihgs and expenses of the newspapers
for handling campaign reports.