The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1922-08-23

TIC COuTJ mouse Dtt Oh Account OF
Large Crowd had to be Held on the
Lawn in Front OF Graded School
Building. Crowd was Orderly.
Candidates for state Offices were
heard in Laurens last Wednesday by
a crowd estimated at between 1000
and l,5O0, large proportion of which
was composed of women. On account
OF lack OF space in the court house the
meeting was adjourned to the graded
school grounds after candidates for
comptroller general had spoken. The
meeting was presided over by C. A.
Power, county chairman, and the
crowd was orderly throughout the day.
oohn /. Duncan, candidate for govcr-
nor, being the only speaker to come
III for interruption. He was heckled
several times by a few men standing
near the box on which the candidates
spoke, but he handled the hecklers
good naturedly, amusing the crowds
with his Tepartce. j. e. Swearingen,
offering for recollection as . slrperin-
tendent of education, was the recipi-
ent Of handsome bouquet of flowers.
Il. Hagood Gooding, candidate for
comptroller general, was the first
speaker OF the day The speech Of
MT. Gooding and that Of, Walter II.
Duncan, his opponent who followed
him, was taken up largely with the
charges brought against Mr. Gooding
by Mr.. Duncan that the former had
been forced to give up his office as
auditor of Hampton county on ac-
count Of inefIiciency in office. Mr..
Gooding claimed tnal ne had bscn
ousted as result Of political actiyi-
ties by Senator Lightsey, who was
political enemy of his and that he en-
tered the race for comptroller general
to vindicate himself. In reply Mr..
Duncan asked why he had not entered
the race for state senator against Mr..
Liehtsey instead Of running for a state
office.
b. Harris, candidate for reelection
as agricultural commissioner, review
ed his record in office and said that he
had been diligent in his efforts to aid
the farming people Of South Carolina.
Geo. w. Wightman, his opponent, made
a scathing denunciation Of Mr.. Harris
for his remarks the day before at
Greenwood when he had referred to
Mr.. Wightman as a picture peddler".
Mr.. Wightman charged extravaganza
in the office, saying that agents in the
employ of Mr.. Harris had paid $4.5(
per day for rooms in hotels while II
get good rooms at $780," He said that
Jack" Smith. agent for Mr.. Harris,
had charged up $500 per day as hotel
bill while living at home and that Mr.,
Harris had O. KID the bill.
Candidates for Governor
Thomas G. Mcleod was the first OF
the candidates for governor TO address
the audience and in his opening re-
marks asked that extreme care be used
In the selection Of men and women to
represent the county in the general
assembly. He reminded the audience
that the men who will represent the
various counties in the house Of rep
resentatives and the senate will have
in charge the making and repeating Of
laws which will affect every ctizef OF
the state.
Mr.. Mcleod told Of his advocacy OF
economical administration Of every de-
partment OF state government, and
promised IL elected to bring to play
such measures Of economy as will re-
suit in O saving where there is extrav-
agance, prevent overlapping Of depart
ments, and coordinate agencies OF gov
ernment. He pleaded for tax reform,
loyal support OF state institutions and
promised an effectual enforcement of
the laws of the state.
Mcleod was followed by Blease, who
spoke in no uncertain terms Of the ex-
travagance and lawlessness of the adj
ministrations, both OF Manning and
Cooper. Referring to the volume of
unpaid taxes, the former governor said
the penalties and costs incident to
forced collections or delinquencies
bhis year will amount to almost as
much as 1t cost to operate the state
y government when he left the office Of
governor. Governor Harvey, he said,
now had about half dozen shcriffs
and dozen constables looking up men