The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-03-16
SENATOR TILLNIAN'S ADDRESS
Newspaper Comment on Announce.
mcnt OF Candidacy for Reelection
to Senate.
Work For His Friends.

ncut Oh Canuiuacy Tor Rc-clectiOr
| to Senate.
Work For His Friends.
(From the Edgefeld Chronicle.)
| Senator Tillman throws his hat in
The ring formally this week. And we
believe South Carolina will re-elec,
him. as they should. considering the
worldwide crisis and the usefulness
he can render the nation by his ex-
perience and wisdom as chairman OF
tho naval committee. But his friends
IN each county should work for him
Just like they felt sure he would be
defeated. Safety first" in all things
Thinks An Active Campaign Needed
(From the Chester Reporter.)
United States Senator Tillman is a
past master when it comes to politics
and when 1t comes to knowledge oil
political conditions in South Carolina
is Informed as few other men are.
with all Of this stock OF information,
however, and his past achievements
TO his credit we do not believe that
his plan Of campaigning for reelec-
tion-the writing OF a few letters
through the papers and sitting supine-
~ by SO far as the active phases OF
the campaign are concerned-will
win against a live and active dema-
gogue like Blease. If Mr.. Tillman
as great as have been his services
in the United States senate and as
sorely as level-headed and sagacious
leaders OF experience may now be
needed at Neutrality-suspicious. not feel
physically able to make the canvass
or the State on an out-and- out nat
ional administration platform some
body who possesses the necessary
ability and has the physical qualifica-
tions should come forward at once
and shy his hat into the ring. Were
Senator Tillman appealing to the
voters Of twelve or fifteen years ago,
who had been in active touch with
him and were under the spell of his
name and fame. 1t might be different;
but 1t should be borne in mind that q
great number of South CaroIinians
who will vote this summer have new
er heard the senator speak, know OF
him only by reputation. and are
likely to give their votes to a man
who shall appear before them on the
stand, and attract their fancy. II
Senator Tillman can be reelected by
the tactics that he proposes to follow
all well and good; but whether it il
the right thing to thrust personal am
bition forward at this time and risk
defeat for the administration is a sub.
ject that Mr.. Tillman ought to give
serious thought
Largely GucsswOrk.
(From the Iaurensville Herald.)
Now. then. how does that line up
the race? Nobody seems to know jus.
yet. Col. Dial has announced and like
Senator Tillman. is getting encourage
ment from people throughout the
State We never can tell what NAV
develop. but right now we believe Col.
Dial is stronger than he was six
years ago. Unless he has been mis-
led he will get votes this year that
went to Senator Tillman six years
ago and probably others that wen.
to Mr.. Talbert.
III Blease runs he will probably
have "a strong following, but in race
against Tillman many people who
have been Bleaseites and Tillmanites
too. must make "a choice, and it il
hardly expect that Blease could
carry all this vote. In this connec
ton 1T might be stated that if Bleast
does run and attack Tillman like he
| usually does his opponents. we looH
| for Uncle Bn" to stretch open thai
good eye of his and come down t,
see about II. regardless of his state.
ment that he will not make cam.
paign speeches. Once more he'll fee
drafted"
But then, there's Lever and Nc
I-aurin. both spoken of as candidates
IN Lever runs he will get mighty
heap OF votes. and take our wore
Tor 1t. McLaurin will get more thar
some people think for.
but then Wen have to wait awhil,
10 see As interesting as the race
looks now II will be more so whei
all announcements are made and peo
pie begin to talk about it.