The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-12-14
Public Meeting
At Court House
Candidates For Election TIC
Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatives Heard


dates offering themselves in the
general assembly which will be
held on December goth. to fill the
vacancies: in the senate caused by
the death Of Senator John II. Cliff
ton, and in the House of Represen-
tatives caused by the resignation of
Hon. D. d. Noise. A fairly large
and representative crowd Of men
with a few ladies attended the
meeting. Just after the opening Of
Eae meeting motion was made at
the insistance Of Colonel ]. j. Dar-
gan that the entire audience ad-
iourn to the exterior Of the Court
House where was in readiness a
camera arranged for the purpose Of
taking a picture of the attendants
at the meeting. Colonel Dargan
related that it would be a picture
at which they could point with
pride in years to come, stating that
they had been advocators of the
platform Of q defendants attorney.
The motion was seconded and car
ried. Quite number of persons
were absent from the court room
auditorium for a short time while
this picture was made. At their re-
turn to the auditorium the meet
ing was again called to order by
acting chairmen John 3. Duffie.
who stated the object Of the meet
ing.
The candidates for the House Of
Representatives were first heard
from ]. B. Britton being the first
speaker. Mr.. Britton said that he
had no special platform to present
but pledged hi0lse,,1t to meet the is
sues as they came before him. He
stated that If he was fortunate
enough to be elected that he would
make the people electing him feel
as if they had chosen the right
man.
The next speaker. Mr.. f. w.
Dabbs, Jr.. stated that he had no
special law to advocate and tina he
thought that as much service could
be derived from the opposition OF
unwise and harmful bills at times
as for the advancing of some new
bills. He expressed himself in fav-
or of a revision Of our school system
but stated that the matter would
have to be placed in the hands OF
educators capable of handling 1t.
, He was in favor Of good roads and
of the present road bond issue. He
! said that he felt that this permanent
Roads Commission represented the
best judgment Of the county. lie
favored a reform in the present
( tax system, stating that real es-
! tate and certain other classes or
visible property bore the brunt OF
all taxation whereas there was 9TH
er taxable property which could be
just as justly taxed. Said that the
matter was worthy Of very careful
study. He stated finally tha. he
was for close spirit of co-opera-
| ton among all Of the citizens OF
Sumter county.
The last candidate for the house
to speak was Mr.. Edgar Skinner.
His talk was short, he onl!- stat
ing that he would appreciate the
support of the voters and that he
promised to meet all state issues
squarely as they came up.
The first candidate for the cleo
| ton to the senate was Colonel j. j..
Dargan. Colonel DarGan opened
| his speech with the assertion that it
! was not for the honor Of the office
| that he had given himself as cam
didate but that he felt it absolutely
essential that he so to the senate
/ in order that he might carry this
! measure which was Of such vital
(, importance. He stated that he had
always lived an Independent life
and that if the people appreciated
him it was very gratifying but that
if they did not like him that he,
of course, was sorry, but that 1t
would not influence him in any
manner. He stated that he was
in his 74th year and would not
have announced himself as can
didate were it not for the brevity OF
the uneXpired term. He stated
that he was giving himself for the
service Of the people although his
| time for service was now limited.
said that he did not feel that
he could serve any better than
Younger man would be able to do
but that his measure was of most
pressing nature. His main plat
form is the Introduction Of a bill
into the senate for the provision OF
defendants lawyer. This lawyer
is to be paid by the state. The
measure will provide that a lawyer
may receive money from no other
outside source than from the state
Colonel Dargan gave number OF
instances Of happenings that nave
taken place in the court room at
rhe time that he was acting SOllcl-
tor. He stated that he resigned
this office just as soon as he reall2-
ed the unfairneSS OF the whole or
der Of things. He stated that he
has long advocated this measure
and said that he had abundant
proofs on hand and that he would
like TO prove that he had the in
dorsement of a number Of promi-
nent persons in this and in other
states. He stated that the system
was working with perfect satisfac-
ton in I.o:; Angeles, Cal, and that
it would wcrh oerfect!y here.
COZ Durgan spoke with all earn
estneSs and zeal and with the salts
faction that he is justitiably in the