Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-06-20
swearinaen Quits Governors Race.

SWedrln9en SuItS SoNSiTo' . ''eSS'
The Hon. J. E. Swearingen has with
drawn from the gubernatorial race and
has announced his intention to stand
for reelection to the office which he
now holds.
This is in accordance with informa-
ton obtained by a staff representative
of The Yorkville Enquirer during the
sitting of the recent state convention
and forecast at the time.
The information as obtained by our
representative was that Mr.. Swearin-
gen had been flattered into the guber-
material race by county superintend-
ents of education who desire to get rid
of him as state superintendent. The
idea was that if Mr.. Swearingen should
get into the gubernatorial race, he
would, whether elected or not, be elm
mated from the state educational sys-
tenn, and that system would hereafter
have an opportunity to develop through
eyes that can see.
Relatives and close friends Of Mr..
Swearingen, who were in no wise par
ties to the trick; but who were able TO
see through the whole thing as soon as
it developed, have evidently been able
to convince him that he stood no show
of being elected governor, and that his
defeat as a candidate for that office
would mean his complete elimination
from the public affairs of the state.
While Of course Mr.. Swearingen did
not know it, as gubernatorial candi-
date he was virtually impossible. He
was placed in the office Of state super
intendent of education through the po-
litical power and influence Of his uncle;
the late Senator Tillman. He was kept
there largely by that amepower and
influence coupled with his blindness,
and the fact that to certain extent at
least he made good.
1t is a fact that as superintendent of
education Mr. Swearingen has never
been popular except with the general
public, which knows but little about
his office and which cares less. Legis-
lators have always been afraid of him.
1t was very well understood that HAY
ing arrived at his conclusions through
the suggestions OF Those who could see
and having made up his mind as to
what he wanted, there was no use ar
guing with him. Both senator's and
representatives have been giving him
practically whatever1he would ASK for,
rather than incur an unpleasantness
that they believed was inevitable in
case Of antagonism.f
There are very few men of political
standing and experience in the state
who believe that Mr.. Swearingen could
be elected to the governorship. AS Il
rule they understand that it would be
dangerous to an opposing candidate to
stir up his temper and make him show
his real self. The common idea is that
such a procedure would arouse sympa-
thy for Swearingen, which sympathy
would operate against his opponents.
But understanding this fact as we'll as
they do, the other candidates would
find means of accomplishing the desir-
ed end without having to take the re-
sponsibility.
Except for his mistake in allowing
himself to be flattcred into trying for
the governorship, there is little doubt
that Mr.. Swearingen could have been
re-clected to his present office with but
small difficulty. But as to how he is
going to come out now is not so Ger
tain. For one thing it depends upon
how he may go back at the people who
tried to trick him out Of the race, and
for another thing, it will depend upon
what kind of a showing the other can
didates may be able to make through
out the campaign.