Yorkville Enquirer

If there is any considerable local interest in the state campaigns now in progress for either the United States senatorship or the state offices, this writer has not been able to run across it. He has talked during the past few weeks with representative men from different parts of the county, and the universal opinion seems to be that the people are paying less attention to politics than has ever been known at this comparative season of a campaign year since the latter 80's. Of course there are a number of individuals who are indulging in more or less speculation as to who will be the winners. These are watching especially the races for the governorship and the senatorship. Of the gubernatorial candidates most interest seems to centre in Messrs. Talbert, Tillman and Heyward. At the beginning of the race there was a pretty strong general opinion that Talbert was the strongest man in the race. Since then it is beginning to be generally acknowledged that Tillman is a factor, and some of the experts are beginning to size up the situation like this: "If Tillman and Talbert are in the second race together, Tillman will be elected. If the race should be between Tillman and Heyward, Heyward will be governor. If between Heyward and Talbert, Heyward will stand the better chance to win." This speculation seems to be based upon the theory that Talbert is running for governor with a view to using the office as a stepping stone to the place now occupied by Senator Tillman. Not many local politicians seem to take much stock in the idea that a man would voluntarily give up a seat in congress for the governorship. They assume that Senator Tillman takes this view of the situation, and that in a second race between either of the candidates named, or any other for that matter, he would exert himself against Talbert. There may or may not be something in this theory; but it sounds plausible. Mr. Ansel is not very well known in this immediate section. There are a number of individuals in the county who have an acquaintance with him and they seem to be generally agreed that he is a good man, well worthy and qualified to be governor; but they are not making any special effort in his behalf. Dr. Timmerman also enjoys a high place in the estimation of all who know him; but they are not taking his candidacy with a great deal of seriousness. As to the comparative strength of the various senatorial candidates in this section, there is no such thing as arriving at a satisfactory estimate. Both Messrs. Latimer and Evans are going to get a great many votes; but there is not now any reason for believing that either of them will carry the county. There is more or less effort being made in behalf of Mr. Henderson; but as yet he does not appear to have a formidable following. Mr. Elliott is not very well known in this county; but he has some few strong friends that are urging his claims with some earnestness, and he will get some votes. The favorite at this time, if there is such a thing as a favorite, is Mr. Hemphill. At one time it looked as if this gentleman's long residence in Washington was going to operate to his disadvantage; but notwithstanding this, quite a large number of his old friends are beginning to remember his former able service and arrive at the conclusion that, probably after all, of the material in sight, they can make no better choice. However, all this is with very few facts from which to arrive at conclusions.

As stated at the beginning of this paragraph, there is very little real interest in the whole subject, and unless something develops within the next month or six weeks to wake the people up, there will not be a very heavy vote for any of the candidates. In fact, up to this time, notwithstanding the races for the senate, congress, state and county offices, some of the most experienced of the county politicians are predicting for the next primary the lightest vote that has ever been recorded since the primary system was inaugurated.