The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-07-29
CAMP PlAICNERS
SPEAK AT
MARION
Laney Charges That
Machine Politicians
Are Trying to Elect
the Governor

Chief interest centered about the
charges by State Senator George Is.
ILaney Of Chesterfield that ma
chine politicians were attempting
to elect the governor Of South
iCarolina and the reply by Thomas
G.. Mcleod of Bishopvil1e that the
only ring behind him was that
composed of the men and women
of the state, a ring into which the
other candidates were attempting
to break. He believed that ring
was composed of the majority of
the people.
Mr.. Laney was the third of the
candidates for governor to be heard
After reviewing his consistent fight
for appropriations for Winthrop
college through his 20 years Of ser
vice in the general assembly he
told the women theyswould have to
wipe out that record to scratch his
name. He hoped they would re-
tain their individuality and not be
herded by any ring. There was no
ring behind him and if elected he
would be the governor of all the
people. Men and women who vot-
ed against him would have to
wipe out his record for the white
boys and girls Of the state. Would
they vote for a machine candidate
he asked. "Im no machine candi-
date. Are you a machine people
There are such people around.
I've seen some OF them today. who
are talking about the best man to
beat Blease with"
Mr.. Mcleod. who was next in
troduced. said: "You've heard this
talk about rings. There's only one
ring behind me. and it believe
is the majority Of the men and
women of South Carolina. 1t is
into this ring that other candidates
are trying to break. am not go
ing to swell up and say that I am
going to be elected governor. |
know a maa WI o has done that
and missed it seven times out OF
nine. I wouldn't carry an UNI
brella for weather prophet who
Ecould not nit it any better than
that
! Cole L. Blease was the first Of
the gubernatoria1 candidates TO be
heard. He reviewed the general
appropriation bills of the years of
1914 and 1921, comparing the items
! for the different Offices. He said
ECONOMY at institutiona of learning
might be effected by getting rid of
assistant professors at the times of
stress.
There had been much talk. of his
pardon record. He had been gov
ernor four years and during that
time wore no mans collar. He
pleased some people. while COVER
nor and for this he was proud.
Those who didn't like it could not
help themselves. When he went in
to office he found a tuberculosis
factory which he proceeded to
iabolish. He had 10 apologies to
make and when he stands before
the judgment throne he expects to
see some of those who criticized
him turn to the left, while he will
plead fer that mercy which he has
shown to, others. The time would
corle in South Carolina. he pre-
/ dicted, when ministers would eth
have to quit preaching the for
siyeness Of Jesus Christ or quit
abusing Blease for pardonins GRIM
inals.
John T. Duncan. who followed
said the former governor was the
| first man whom he had ever met
who was trying to barter with God
Almighty by swapping pardons.
He had unbounded sympathy for
the man who had been governor
two terms. came back and asked
| for a third after several defeats
and was now doomed for the worst
humiliation ever meted out to a
candidate in the state. He had
met many former Bleasites who
said they would have nothing to
do with a third termer. ''They
know when they have got enough
of him as breeder Of strife he
said
He told the voters that the for
mer governor would come to their
faces and abuse the negroes and
/ then go to the negroes and abuse
/ the whites. He cited the congress
sional race by Blease in 1919, when
the former governor advised his
followers to go into the general
election and 1et's see who has the
largest following" and also that
Blease made speeches for Harding
in the presidential election against
the Democratic nominee.
Mr.. Laney reviewed the tax
measure passed at the last session
Of the general assembly when other
sources of revenue were sought
that the burden might be lifted
from the backs of the farmers and
also emphasized what he had al
ways stood for in an educational
program. the giving to every white
I boy and girl in the state an equal
! chance He said the newspapers
were not SAYING much about his
educational efforts, for they knew
il was dangerous point 10 touch
upon. Ii was following his discus
/ sion Of this stand on education that
he launched into the charge that
ring and machine politicians are
attempting to manipulate this race.
Mr.. Mcleod. in addition TO re-
viewing his plans FOR constructise
tax reform in the state today