The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-07-13
Candidates Appeal for Votes
Bamberg County Democrats
(By R. P. Bellinger.)

are the right to pay their own debts
and the privilege to run for office
in the Democratic primary, and so "a
candidates for only state Offices ex-
ercised that privilege here last Thurs,
day, and beginning at 10 o'clock in
the morning thundered their hot air
into the dear ''peepul' of Bamberg
and adjoining counties until nearly
four that afternoon. Every speaker
was accorded a respectful and atten-
tive hearing. At one time there were
at least 500 voters in the audience,
some coming from Colleton and many
from Orangeburg county. Interspers-
ed among the men were probably fifty
or more of the new variety of voters,
formerly referred to as suffragettes,
but now honored with the old time
sobriquet of full fledged, real dyed
in-the-wool Democrats. And con-
trary to every other campaign meet
ing ever held in Bamberg two of the
female of the species made their ap-
pearance on the hustings and each in
turn made a good impression. The
day was also delightfully."- free from
the old vilifcation and vituperation,
and all in all, was one of the most
successful campaign days for state
offices that Bamberg county has yet
enjoyed. And everybody took dots
as to how we are to have good roads,
better schools and no taxes.
Promptly at the appointed hour
the meeting was opened with a beau
'tiful prayer in keeping with the oc-
casion by Rev. S. o. Cantey, pastor
of Trinity Methodist church, this
city. This was Immediately followed
by a brief and appropriate address Of
welcome to the numerous candidates
by Hon. Jesse Francis Carter, county
chairman of his party. Mr.. Carter
gave some sound advice to the voters
and assured to all candidates a well
merited attention. He then intro
duced the first candidate to show
himself on the stand, B. Harris, of
Anderson, asking to succeed himself
as commissioner of agriculture, and
the other 23 speakers came along in
the following order.
Mr.. Harris stated that he had been
a farmer all his life, had been work
ing on the farmers problems for 80
years and this is his mission in life.
The state department of agriculture
pays it's own expenses, according to
him. The farmer is the only man
who works in cooperation with God
Almighty, and every evil against
farming can be 'remedied except the
weather, but he made no attempt to
outline the remedy.
State Senator George w. Wight
man, of Saluda, then fired away with
an aggressive speech, made a good
showing, and if Thursdays indlca-
tions spell anything will easily carry
Bamberg county against Harris. He
started by saying it was funny Har-
ris wanted him to run for governor,
but is trying to beat him for COM
missioner of agriculture. Harris
hasn't had time in four years to pre-
scribe the remedy for farmers, "but
elect me-" says Wightman, "and so
help me God if 1 get the information
he says he has I'll do more for you
than go around hot airing" He is
a farmer born and bred. He repeats
ed several times that he is going to
be elected, and rubbed it into Harris
for telling the farmers to hold their
cotton for so and Is cents and not
being in position to refer to that
now.
Robt. E. Craig, of Darlington, try
ing to be adjutant and inspector gen
eral, used a good portion of his ten
minutes by telling an apt story of a
Bamberg county boy under his COM
mand on the battle fields Of Belgium.
He paid glowing tribute to the fol-
lowers of the immortal Lee and jack
son, and told of his own life and
family tree. We may never need the
guards for combat, but if so Bob
Craig is always ready and for eoun-
try, right or wrong.
Thomas E. Marshall, of Columbia,
Mr.. Craig's only opponent, next took
his shot with the national guard,
which he has always had at heart.
He cited some statistics to prove
that during the. past years the fed
eral government paid s230,000 to the
militia men of this state, and the
cost to the state government was only
$4,000. He told of his education
and his service on the border with
+ho ouords. he entered the world