The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-10-19

Thomas C. Mcleod, the man who
is to be South Carolina s. next gov
ernor, had just finished debating
statement for the press on the morn
ing after his election, writes Edward
A. Mcdowell in the Greenville Pied
mont. The two newspaper men
who were interviewing him had
folded up their pads and were pre-
pairing to leave when the governor
elect began little personal chat.
He was in a happy frame of mind,
naturally, and the great, broad smile
he always wears was still there. But
with look of earnestness on his
face and impressiveness in his voice
he told his interviewers he wanted
the people of his state to know he
was human.
Thomas G. Mcleod is human, very
human. He is approachable always,
there is nothing vaunted or
"stuck-up'' about him. His hand
is always out-streched for hearty
handshake, smile is ever ready for
the man he greets. He is never too
busy to miss speaking to a friend.
He is full of human sympathy; a
man of lovable qualities and disposi-
ton. Pride and braggadocio are
not in his category. In the COVER
nor's office he will be- Of and part
of the people he serves; the office
will be theirs. He will keep "open
house" to his friends and one will
not be ION pins" when he enters the
presence of the governor of South
Carolina. ,>
The writer knows good deal
about Mr.. Mcleod, having been one
Of the newspaper correspondents
with the state campaign party and
having visited the goverpor-elect's
home town of Bishopville, on many
occasions.
A Clean Man.
The picture of Mr.. Mcleod as
campaigner will always be a pleas
ant recollection. Not a suggestion Of
an epithet, not one word that would
not become a Christian gentleman
fell from his lips throughout the
long, hard weeks of campaigning.
His speeches were free from person
alities; his private expressions were
clean. He impressed all who knew
him closely as a man Of purity OF
thought and nobleness Of action.
But with his tenderness, Mr.. Nc
Leod is a man of force. He will fight
when fighting is necessary. This
was illustrated during the campaign
at Marion when one of the candi-
dates for governor made charges OF
a "ring." Mr.. Mcleod came back
with strong reply in his speech
that day, telling the people that the
only ring" behind him was a ma
jority of the good people Of the
state. When some one congratulate
ed him on his "come-back" several
hours later he said: ''WeH, if they
think I am ''bag of mush' they are
mistaken In the two weeks OF
campaigning intervening between
the first and second primaries he
again showed his qualities as
fighter and a strong campaigner:
Carrying the responsibility of his
cause heavily upon his shoulders,
he made thirty speeches in the short
space of 72. hours in the Piedmont
section. In his Greenville speech he
told the people he did not like rows,
but that, when they were forced
upon him, he was not affrait to
fight. His reply to certain state
ments of the defeated candidate for
governor showed his fighting quail
ties.
Full of humor, Mr.. Mcleod is
still a serious-minded man. On the
morning after election at his head
quarters in Columbia he was asked
if he had slept well the night be-
fore. He replied that he had not
slept at all, though he had gone to
bed. "How would you have slept,
governor, if you had been defeated?"
someone asked. 81 never thought OF
being defeated, even from the be-
ginning Of the campaign" he an
swered. "I'll tell you the whole
state was resting on my shoulders
and the idea Of being defeated nev-
er entered my head"
Good Story Teller.
Some of Mr.. McLeod's opponents
often threw off on his joke telling
l. H~