The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-08-24
thea ATTACKS COOPER.
IS OPPONENT HAS NOT SPOK-
EN- OUT.
eclares His Position ON War and
Blease known to All, Including
Lieut.. Governor.
sEaEkAS@

ernor, Before an audience of about
200 Dorchester county voters here
today in the court house, directed his
guns against the position of Robert A,
Cooper, one Of his opponents, on the
war, saying that Mr.. Cooper had noi
spoken specifically and clearly and
emphatically on the utterances OF
Cole L. Blease at Ponaria and Filbert.
Mr.. Cooper, in replying, said that Mr..
Rethea was probably the only man IN
South Carolina who did not know
how he stood on the Blease issue;
that twice the test had been made
and he had stood those tests; that ne
had stated from many "stumps o.
the State that, had he been in con-
gress he would have voted fol
the war resolution, and if no one else
had introduced such a resolution he
would have done so himself MI
Cooper said that, holding the senti-
ments that he did, no one, including
Mr.. Bethea, believes that he could In
dorse or palliate the utterances enun-
ciated by Blease in his Pon1aria and
F:lbert speeches. The audience to-
day was enthusiastic and was impair
tial in the distribution Of its applause.
John Madison DesChamps, the first
gubernatorial speaker, said that the
Democrats of Kentucky and iowa.
following a tour Of speech making
wanted him to establish his residence
in those States and promised to elect
him governor He told them, how
ever, that he would remain citizen
of South Carolina and the people
would select him as their chief exc
cutive. This they will do this year,
he declared. He took his usual po-
sition on high taxes, promising sub
stantial increase, if elected. j.
John T. Duncan, the second speak
er, said that he has been assured by
high authorities in Washington that
an investigation, based on his Flor
ence affidavit, would be conducted at
Camp Jackson. He attacked the
system and his opponents.
John G. Richards, the Reform
candidate, was the third speaker. q
have tried all my life" said Mr.. Rich
ards, ito establish a reputation fol-
manhood, not for politics. He de-
clared that the war is no issue, for
never before in the history of the
world has such an unanimity of SEN
timent behind the government as the
people of South Carolina are show
ing, men, women and children. Mr..
Richards made his usual speech on
taxation, and free scholarship. He re-
iterated his charges of extravaganza
against the Manning administration,
claiming that too many useless offices
had been established, and promised
the abolition Of the State Board OF
Charities and Corrections and the
State tax commission, if it is in his
power. In discussing scholarship
question, Mr.. Richards said that ii
there had been mistake in appro-
priations, too much money has been
appropriated for higher education in
this State, at the expense Of the CON-
mon schools
Mr.. Bethea, the fourth speaker,
opened his speech by saying tina
Blease had made the war an issue BY
his Pomaria and Filbert speeches
and Richards has issued the chal-
lenge from every stump" in tht
State that the war is not an issue.
He has snatched up the gauntlet
and intends to discuss the matter un-
til the finish Of the campaign. He
cautioned the people to vote for 10y
al men only, and made his usual at
tack on Richards.
Mr. Bethea read the following pre-
pared statement:
That Mr.. Richards has completely
lodged the paramount and only real
issue of the campaign there is nc
longer room for doubt. He has sought
security in hiding place from which
there is no escape. His one time
friends have tried in vain to eNtrlcate
him but he will not heed their call.
Having consigned him VITA Blease
to oblivion they now turn away in de-
spair and disgust. Peace to mis- po-
htical ashes!
That Mr.. Cooper has failed to dis.
cover the issue, has SHE'D away from
it or has approached it a-tip-toe, IN
fear and trembling, is likewise true.
For what is the issue? With Richards
It is anything but the war. With
l
to high taxes, burdensone govern
ment, etc. But what is the issue:
The real, paramount, overshadowlns
issue in South Carolina this year Is
the war and the attitude Of Cole l..
Blease toward it, as judged by his
utterances at Pomaria, Filbert and
elsewhere three and half months
after the entry Of the United States
into war with Germany. This is the
issue; and Blease's attitude toward
the war is of paramount importance
at this time because Of his former po-
litical influence and power. Let Us
not dodge it. Let us face it like men
of grit and steel Let Us meet Ii
squarely and courageous!y as I have
met it from stump to stump IL South
Carolina?
"On one Of the matters of supreme
concern just now Mr.. Cooper has not
spoken at all. Here and there ne mas
raised his voice feebly and family. He
has referred to the question Of loyalty