The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1918-01-03
s. c. POLITICAL SITUATION
DISSERTATION oN)WHAT MAY OR
MAY NOT HAPPEN NEXT YEAR
The Candidates So Far.-What Some
of Them Stand For And
Who They Stand With.

The near advent of the second ses-
sion of the seventy-second general
assembly which meets in Columbia on
Tuesday, January s, has revived dis
cussion of the probable political sit
uation next summer.
Political prophesy is always dan
gerous; at no time more so than at
the present. The great war in which
America is engaged is rapidly upturn-
ing former standards, and those of
this State are passing through the
leavening process. However, one in
controvertible premise may be laid
down: No one opposed to this*war
or to the administration in it's efforts
toward a victorious conclusion of this
war need offer for political prefer
ment in South Carolina with hope of
= success.
Each politician has to reckon with
one factor; perhaps before the next
campaign the American troops in
France will have offered valorous and
Z heroic fight to the Germans, and out
of such engagement there might have
arisen a South Carolinian, exalted by
daring and sacrifice, incapacitated by
injury for further service. Should he
come back to his home State and Of
fer for election to almost any office,
there is little chance for him being
defeated by the ''stay-at-homes. Out
of this arises prediction: The SOL
diers fighting the battles of democ-
racy on Europe's ensanguined fields
will be the future rulers of the Unit
ed States, South Carolina among
them. The politicians of the present
may as we'll prepare themselves for
!, the overturning of their order.
No man in South Carolina at the
present time offering for Office can
predict his election year from now,
but the relative strength of candi-
dates, announced and prospective, at
this time can be fairly accurately
guaged.
For the L. S. Senate.
i. Cole L. Blease, who has announced
definitely for the United States SEN
ate. is not as strong as he was when
he ran for governor in 1916, and was
: defeated. However, he is not dead
by any means, as some would per-
force believe. He is alive enough to
be in a second race should the pri-
mary be held at this time. Either
Senator Tillman, who it seems as
sured, will run if bis health permits,
or Congressman A. F. Lever, who,
undoubtedly will be in the race if
the senior senator does not make it,
can defeat the titular leader of the
so-called reform party" The ex-
governors speeches at Pomaria and
Filbert estranged some of his most
powerful lieutenants, and consequent
1y weakened him with the rank and
file of the minority faction.
Col. Nat B. Dial, of Laurens, is def
initely announced for the senatorial
toga, and he has considerable
strength. Although the Laurens man
2 has entered the race as non-parti-
san candidate, yet he can be aligned
with the anti-Blease faction. He as
suredly will make strong fight
against the senior senator, should he
run. Col. Dial will undoubtedly get
all the intensely bitter anti-Tillman-
ties for the COS who will not vote for
Tillman and who are as strongly op-
posed to Blease. This vote, along
with a considerable personal follow
) ing, will make him formidable can
didate.
Z, Among those who have been sug-
gested as other possible candidates
but who have made no announcement
are: r. Goodwin Rhett, of Charles
ton; L. D. Jennings, of SUMTER W.
P. Pollock, of Cheraw, and DR.. Geo.
B. Cromer, of Newberry. Latterly,
however, DR.. Cromer's name has been
repeatedly mentioned as a candidate
to oppose Congressman Fred H. Dom
mick, of the third district. 1t has
been said that the perennial candi'
date, John T. Duncan, of Columbia
will announce for the senate instead
of governor this year.
w. Jasp. Talbert, of Mccormick
who has definitely announced for the
senate, is strong Blease partisan
and bitter political enemy of Senator
Tillman.
For Governor.
There are five candidates definite
ly announced for governor and twt