Last Meeting in Kershaw County Was Held on Saturday.

Special to The State.

Camden, Aug. 23 – The last campaign meeting for this county was held here Saturday in Hampton park, in the presence of about 100 people.

The meeting passed off quietly and without any incidents of especial interest. Speaker Smith, as county chairman, presided.

Mr. H. M. Fincher, candidate for magistrate for this township, was the first candidate introduced. He simply announced himself as a candidate.

Magistrate McDowall was sick and therefore not present. The other candidate for the office. Mr. K. S. Villipigue, was also absent.

The next speaker was Mr. J. M. Watts, candidate for superintendent of education. Mr. Watts spoke at length on his record as superintendent, and asked to have another turn at that particular helm.

Mr. W. B. Turner, another candidate for that office, was next introduced. Mr. Turner said that he had refused to endorse the Evans chart when it was introduced into the county six years ago, and was shut out of his school for his course. At the conclusion of his speech a party in the audience asked if he could propound a question, and when Turner declined to listen he observed that Turner’s remarks were false.

Mr. W. T. Hammond then announced himself as a candidate for coroner.

The three next speakers were the candidates for the county supervisor. Mr. J. M. Sowell, the incumbent, was the first speaker. Mr. Sowell stated that if elected he would organize a hired work gang which innovation he claimed was very much needed. He did not think the chaingang sufficient.

Mr. B. M. Pearce then announced himself.

Mr. D. F. Dixon followed with promises to work roads which had not been worked for two years, and then after that was done he would organize then gang Mr. Sowell spoke of.

Mr. D. K. Hough, candidate for treasurer, was next introduced. He said that it had been charged that he was running on the record of W. R. Hough, and he wished to assure the people that he was simply running on his own merits.

Mr. D. M. McCaskill, for treasurer, followed. He invited an investigation of his record as a citizen, and of his fitness for the position.

Mr. W. F. Malone followed Mr. McCaskill, he felt that he was the most competent man on the ticket; that he had been keeping an intricate set of books for 18 years.

The candidates for auditor were next called on, and Mr. M. B. Rabon was the first speaker. He promised to curtail that he was the only candidate from west Wateree, Wateree township, and though that the township should be recognized. Some one in the audience asked him about his support of an independent ticket, which be vigorously denied.

Hon. W. F. Russell was the next speaker. He was no stranger; had been in politics since the dark days of ’68. He was no township man but a county man.

Mr. John J. Goodale, the incumbent, who was appointed to fill out the unexpired term of Mr. W. R. McCreight, followed Mr. Russell. He replied to Mr. Rabon’s charge about executions. In the course of his remarks he stated that Kershaw county was one among four of all the counties to send in the abstract to the comptroller, which is required.

Mr. J. G. Richards for reelection to the legislature, next addressed the crowd. He was very grateful for the support of the people in all his aspirations. He argued in favor of the biennial sessions of the legislature, remarking that it would save the State $50,000 per year. He was in favor of public highway improvements. The heaviest tax on the county and State, he thought, was the self-imposed one of bad roads. Education, however, he said, was the most important question before the people today. He was against compulsory education, if it became a law 94,000 negro children would be put into the schools of the State, and he considered the education of the negro the greatest menace of the south today. He has voted for an appropriation of $200,000 for the old Confederate soldiers.

When Mr. Richards concluded Mr. Geo. R. Rembert, candidate for solicitor of the Fifth circuit, addressed the audience.

Mr. Joel Hough, the present clerk of the court, announced himself for the reelection. He indulged in some war reminiscences. Had been school commissioner, and in the legislature. Had been clerk of the court since ’92 and asked them to endorse his service by electing him again.

Mr. Geo. W. Moseley is opposing Mr. Hough, and he spoke next. He was in the legislature when Clemson and Winthrop were established, and voted for them.

The four candidates for sheriff, J. S. Thrantham, R. B. Williams, Jas. L. Haile and W. W. Huckabee, announced themselves briefly.

Chairman Smith congratulated the people that the campaingn was at an end, and the meeting closed.