The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-07-22

SPEAK AT
BISH0PVILLE
Largest Crowd Of the
Campaign Thus Far
II e ar Candidates
For Minor Offices
Hand Out Personal
tiles

Hand Out PERSONAL
tiles
Bishopvil'e. July 18.-The largest
crowd to hear candidates for state
Offices this summer attended the
meeting in Bishopville today. There
was quarter of an acre of voters,
possibly between 1000 and 1900.
and ali remained until the candi-
dates for governor had been
heard. This is the home Of Thos.
G. Mcleod, candidate for governor,
and an enthusiastic welcome was
extended him. One basket of flow
ers after another was brought to
the rostrum for him until he sat
down in veritable floral display.
The meeting was further enliven-
ed today by a more general in
dulgence in personalities. George
Wightnan of Saluda county again
today read statements from citi-
zens of Saluda telling of efforts Of
D. L. Smith, an employee of the Of
fee of commissioner of agriculture.
to gather certain data relative to
Mr.. Wightman in Saluda county. 3.
Harris, incumbent and offering for
reelection, retaliated by reading
excerpts from a letter said to have
been written by c. W. Langford,
former supervisor of Saluda coun-
ty, in which Mr.. Langford is alleg-
ed to have said that the only oc-
cupation'' he knew Mr. Wightman
to have was. that of state senator
from his county and going around
getting up photographs to be en-
larged.'' There has been consider
able argument between Mr.. Harris
and Mr.. Wightman as to whether
Mr.. Wightman is real dirt farm
err"
Replying to the charges concern
ing the political activities of MIR.
Smith Mr.. Harris said. Il told my
men not to medd1e in politics. I
can't keep them from talking when
they are out on the road
Sam NJ. Wolfe. attorney general
and candidate for reelection, ad
ministered fairly good sized dose
of ether to one of his opponents
when he told the voters today that
D. NJ. Winter also candidate for
the Office, was charging that the
present attorney general was lax in
his views on law enforcement and
at the same time Mr.. Winter him
self was violating the criminal laws
of the state by riding over South
Carolina on a railroad pass while
member Of the general assembly.
Mr.. Wolfe pointed out that Mr..
Winter is a member of the lower
house of the general assembly from
Berkeley county and said he was
also a railroad attorney. The law
provides a penalty of $500 or a
term of six months in prison to
ride on a pass while a member of
the general assembly. Mr.. Wolfe
said he bad the number of the
pass being used and also the word
of reliable men as to its use.
George *. Laney was the frs. of
the candidates for governor to be
heard today. Mr. Laney said he
would like to see a man Of the
people from the people and for the
people elected chief executive. You
need him there in this hour of
trial." the Chesterfield senator said,
"and if you listen to political
prejudice you may not get him.
He reviewed his fight Tor the pub
lie schools through the 20 years
he has been in the general as
semhly. He was present at the cor
nerstone laying Of Winthrop col
lege, Mr.. Laney said, adding,
and I have been standing there
ever since He had never oppos-
ed an appropriation for that school
he said.
Mr.. Laney took occasion to de-
fend the last general assembly in IT.
efforts to reduce taxes by provid-
ing other sources for five mills of
the - voted Some one has said
that this was for political purposes,
Mr.. Laney said. Those men who
thus sought to reduce the state
levy, Mr.. Laney said. were as hon
orab1e set of men as ever came
together in South Carolina.
The warm welcome given to Mr..
/ Mcleod was most pleasing to the
Lee county candidate and he spoke
with zest and enthusiasm, being
often interr"l ted by applause.
Cole L. Biease said he was glad
TO see that his opponents were not
afraid of the lash of the little Of
fee holders who had been follow
; ing the campaign putting out
propaganda against extravaganza
and were rejoicing him in his plea
! that useless Offices" should be GU,
out. Whenever the voters heard
any one criticising the speaker
just ask him, Mr. Biease said. what
public Job he held or some Of his
relatives held. He knew lot OF
men who were sucking the public
pap who brought nothing in for the
state. he said. He was the only
governor who ever put the prun-
ing knife to the general appropria-
ton bill. he said. as others We're
afraid. He did it every year OF
the four years he was governor, he
said. During that time. Mr.. B1ease
said. he was ''the" governor ane
wore no mans collar.
In closing the former governor
! said his hat would be hanging il
! the governors office next January
! John T. Duncan thought. however