The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1922-06-21
STATE CAMPAIGN
OPENED TUESDAY
IN COLUMBIA WITH FORMER
GOVERNOR BLEASE THE FIRST
sPEAKER.-SAYS HE KNOWS
NO FACTIONALISM.-McLEOD
PRAISES THE FARMER.

fNA1SEsS <AENlUAkNs
Columbia, June 20.-The state
campaign got under way here today
with a large audience hearing the
two women candidates and the host
of male aspirants for state Offices. The
candidates for Governor spoke first,
each allowed twenty minutes. Cole l.
Blease spoke first. He read a state
ment, declaring that he would dellv-
er a public address in Columbia at a
later date. He stated that he was
in favor of reduced taxes, the aboll-
ton of useless Offices and liberal ap-
propriations for state institutions,
but that he was against extravaganza.
He favored building up the public
school system, paying school teachers
more, laws to further protect labor,
liberal and even extravagant support
of Confederate Veterans, and strict
enforcement of the laws.
Mr.. Blease said he would know no
factionalism and would not inject
personalities into the campaign, un-
less others injected them first. He
said he favored abolition Of the tax
commission, which he described as a
useless Office. He would reduce the
tax levy to the lowest possible limit,
without crippling state governmental
agencies. He favored one mill levy
for state schools, board to make all
purchases for the state, a water pow
er tax, biennial sessions of the legis-
latures, and federal care of the Ca
tawba Indians
J. ]. Cantey Of Summerton and
William Coleman of Whitmire, can.
didates for Governor, were absent.
George K. Laney, of Chesterfield,
stated that he was tied to nobody's
apron strings, that he would repre-
sent every citizen of the State if elect
ed. He said he believed all business
interests should rise to the assistance
of the agricultural interests, the far
mer being the basis of all welfare of
the state. He favored rigid economy
IN government, without injuring effic-
iency; he wanted to relieve real es-
tate of the heavy burden of taxa
tion; he favored reclassification of
property for taxation; he would seek
other means of raising state revenue;
he favored continuation of the tax
reforms started by the last legislature
he plead for support of education; he
wanted liberal support of veterans
and the State hospital; he stood for
law enforcement.
Thomas C. Mcleod of Bishopville,
former Lieutenant Governor, charac-
terized the farmer as the backbone of
the States Progress; he favored
equalization of the tax burden; he
stated that he thought the best ef-
forts of his life had been those in be-
half of the schools of his community,
he said that he stood squarely be-
hind law enforcement, for upholding
the verdicts of juries and for the
punishment of criminals.
William Coleman of Union, stated
that his ambition was to serve his
State. He announced that he would
speak again to the people of Colum-
bia from the capitol steps, this even
ing.
John T. Duncan attacked the "sys-
tenn" and wanted natural resources
conserved.
Both Mrs. Martha Wallace of Co.
lumbia and Mrs. Bessie Rogers Drake
of Bennettsville, candidates for State
Superintendent of Education, were
given ovations. Flowers were brought
to the stage.