The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-08-23
cANTEY CRIES
AGAINST
RING RULE

Secret Caucus Pick
ed Candidate at the
May Convention
Abbeville, Aug. 111About six
hundred voters heard candidates
fer state Offices in A Abbeyilie to-
day. Candidates for omnissioh-
er Of agriculture spoke first and
much pickering took place between
George Wightnaan and B. Harris
the former saying that the bad
advice given the farmers by B:
Harris had caused many bank notes
to so unpaid and had cost the
state many times the expense OF
the Office. He also said Mr.. 5ac-
rs had voted for him for lieuten-
ant governor four years ago AMI
would be supporting him now if he
were Offering for any other office
Cole Blease made his usual az
tack on hign taxes and compared
figures OF ten years ago with costs
Of government today. He said the
people wanted good roads. but why
pay sixty thousand dollars for a
mile of road when they could cut
the graft and build it for forty
thousand.
J. Cantey Of Sunlmerton again
today went after the scalp of
Blease. All this talk about taxes
was empty demagoguery Adam
paid no taxes. The Indian pail
no taxes, nor did the baboon pay
any taxes. If the people wanted
schools and roads they had TO pay
for them. During the May eonven-
ton the anti Bleaseites met, Mr..
Cantey said, and put one of his
opponents for governor. This Sc
crst conclaye had subsidized the
aewspa pers, he charged. and this
man was being ramTned down he
throats Of the people. A secret
eonclave was as. bad as Bleaseism.
John z. Duncan gave Bleasa a
severe rasping because OF the fight
Of the latter on the state tax COM
mission Mr. Duncan said the for
mer goerhor was tearing his shirt
to make It appear It hat he was the
poor mans friend. Instead OF do.
ing something for the poor man,
the forner governor was their en-
eny IN lighting the tax commits
sion, which was making the big IN
terests Of the state pay their Just
proportion of taxes. Mr.. Duncan
pointed out that last week the tax
commission called for four thou
sand dollars back taxes from The
Columbia Eaflway. Gas and Elee-
tric COMPANY Mr. Duncan also
answered the statement Of Mr..
Blease that seven men were ki.ie1
IN South Carolina last week. Nc.
Duncan said the poor deluded EEL
lows were no doubt persuaded :Eat
If BIease We're elected governor
they would get pardon. He
also said Mr. Blease was no doubt
Keeping count and knew just how
many men we're in the state peni-
Tertiary and knew what a job he
would have TO do IL he were elect
ed But the defeat OF Blease was
certain beyond peradventure. He
warned the voters to watch out for
the charge from Blease the morn
ing after the first primary that The
election had been stolen.
William Coleman made his usual
speech He was followed by George
Il. Ianey. who stressed the fact
that tax burdens were largely local
burdens. The legislature had
nothing to do with counties voting
bonds for roads and extra leyies
OF schools. A lot OF foolish things
had been done by the legislature,
but It had not hankrupted the peo-
pie as charged by Blease. Mr..
Laney also emphasized the three
mill levy for schools was county
tax. but that besides this million
and a quarter dollars was appro-
priased for the schools out OF the
state treasury last year. This
item, that for Confederate veterans
and for the state hospital for the
insane accounted largely for the
increase in the<general appropria-
ton bill.
Thomas G.. Mcleod pointed out
that rhe proportion of taxes in Ab-
beviile county is rs per cent for
county purposes and "a for State
purposes. Mr. Mcleod came to the
defense of the state demonstration
agents and nome demonstration
agents, whose work is being much
belittled by Cole Blease. Mr.. Nc
Leod pointed ont that the state
made no appropriation for these.
bur that counties appropriated
where they wished to employ these
agents. Mr. Mcleod said he was
in the race on his own responsible
iry with confidence of thousands
of South Cafolinians that at this
crucial period that he could be Of
service to South Carolina.
RFTIDDED IN