The Watchman And Southron

BLEASE AND SMITH LOCK HORNS
AT ONCE
Blease Makes Charges Against Smith
Which Latter Denounces as False
Blease Then
Throws
Burden of
Statement on Senator Tillman-Jen-
ning Well Received.

St. Matthews, June 17.-Before a
crowd of about 800, including ladies,
and a number of visitors from ad-
joining counties, the candidates for
the United States senate spoke here
today at the opening meeting of what
promise to be at least an interesting
campaign.

Gov. Blease, who was
the first
speaker, was introduced by County
Chairman T. H. Dreher. and when an
intermission for dinner
was
taken
about 3 o'clock, the
governor
and
Mayor Jennings had concluded their
speeches.

The governor
left
the
school
grounds immediately after his speech.
He delivered his speech from man-
uscript. Practically no enthusiasm has
been shown by the crowds. A number
of Blease leaders are here from oth-
er places. Blease's claim that Smith
was responsible for the appointment
of James L. Simms as United States
Marshall and Wm. E. Gonzales, as
Minister to Cuba,
was
denied
by
Smith, who interrupted governor, say-
ing that Sims was Tillman's appointee.
and "I had no more to do with the
appointment of Gonzales than Cole L.
Blease."

Gov. Blease repeated that Sims was
Smith's appointment, giving
as au-
thoritative a letter from Senator, Tillman
to W. J. Shelton
Senator Smith
advanced toward
Blease, explaining his agreement with
Tillman in reference to the marshal-
ship and adding, "and no man in
the image of God can call me a liar."
Chairman Dreher interfered, and
Senator Smith sat down while Blease
said. "Well Mr. Tillman wrote the
letter."

Gov. Blease
closed
by
criticising
Senator Smith's record.

Mayor Jennings was very favorably
received. He thinks a man is needed
to show up the present conditions and
stated that he hopes to make himself
better known to the voters and prove
neither Smith nor Blease is fit to sit
in the United States senate."

He told much about his
career
hardships, etc. He is a farmer himself
and will show before the campaign
ends who is the real friend of the
farmer. He praised President Wilson
and his acts. He says he is not beg-
ging for votes. Without calling names
he made several references to Blease
and Smith.
was in the race.

"My watchword." he said, "will be
enforcement of the laws, whether it
be that against carrying concealed
weapons, race track gambling. the il-
licit sale or liquor or what not."

In the past the State campaign had
been alluded to as a circus. He deem-
ed this a reflection on
the
State.

"Bitterness, personalities and
abuse
have been
brought up
during
past
campaigns.
I will ask that all candi-
dates allow
bitterness. personalities
and vituperations to be done away
with and that public questions be dis-
cussed in a parliamentary way." While
he would allow his time to be divid-
ed among the other candidates, he
would ask that the newspapers pub-
lish his platform speech, which he
would deliver tomorrow.

Lowndes J. Browning, of Union, a
farmer, was next speaker. In open-
ing his address Mr. Browning stated
that, as far as he was concerned. he
would heartily reciprocate courtesies
in the discussion of all questions.
He stated that he was a Jefferson-
ian Democrat and advocated those
measures of the Democratic party
which were being carried out by
President Woodrow Wilson. He was
the candidate of no faction, party or
newspaper.

"There is no coat-tail in
South Carolina sufficiently large for
Lowndes J. Browning to swing on."
he announced, and this remark was
greeted with applause.

The national government was now
coming to the aid of the people of
the State and it was time that the
State government also did something
to better conditions within the State.
He stressed the need of homebuilding.
would abolish personal taxes for State
purposes and would substitute an in-
come and inheritance tax in its place.
He characterized. the real estate tax
as very unjust and was in the act of
showing why. when time was called.
His address followed closely the
outlines of his platform printed else-
where in this issue.

At this juncture the meeting
ad-
jour ned for dinner.