The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-06-23
The Race for Congress.
iNccbc,1y Observer.

The congressional race In the 81 District is
getting Interesting. The announcement that
Judge Cothran would be candidate has
caused quite Il furry among some OF the
friends OF the other candidates. lie is known
to be Il strong man, and that lie Will be hard
10 beat. The fact that Judge Cotllran Is an
Ahhnville man Is being used against him.
But that Is not q valid objection against linn
or any other candidate from Abberille. Tnc
sole question should be the fitness of the res
rectivc candidates for the position to which
they aspire. None of the candidates has any
claim OH the office. and ~ Congressman Ii not
To be elected with Il view TO sratiIy amy par
ticular candidate. The mass of the people
are not Interested in the political aspirations
Of any Individual. They want a man for Con,
grcssnian who can best serve the District ana
the country. The Tutcltigencer speaks of
Judge Cothran ''thwarting the lnudablc ambi-
ton of other genLlemen"-a most remarknole
statement truly. What have tho people TO 40
with candidates "laudable ambition? Of
fees are not bestowed ns reward for nmdi-
tion. And If there is any ambition about It.,
why not as laudable in Judge Cothran as IN
the rest?
Judge Cothran will very likely make no eff
fort to get the Office. He says, in letter pub
lished in this tissue, that If the people desire
his services III Congress he VIII not decline.
We hear Il great deal about "thc office should
seek the man, not the man the ollice.' Judge
Cot hiram Is not seeking the Office.
The appeal that has been made to class pre-
Judice will have no weight, The people 90
/
n farmer, but because he Is best fitted Tor the
Office If farmers believe u lawyer is the best
man, they will vote for him. If lawyers be-
lieve q farmer Is the best man, they Will vote
for him. In other words, The people Will rotC
for the man and not for his profession.
Especial Dispatch to The Baltimore SUM-
COLUMBIA, S. c., June 0.-The State demo-
cratic executive held IL secret session here YES
terday which lasted until midnight. The
meeting was called for the purpose of organlZ-
ing the democracy to thwart the farmers In
their movement for q new deal, which is tend
the meeting was to declare against the rrina.
~ system, which Is being adopted IN the Third
congressional district against party rules.
The recent farmers convention held III the
city has greatly alarmed many democrats i'll
the State, and the ottice-hodcrs are very nm
easy ON account of the demonstration made
ny the farmers against the present state ad-
miniStmtion, anu they will use every effort to
overcome Farmer Tillman In the approach
ing campaign. The State cOnv Cntion has been
called to meet in Columbia on August 4tli.
We are requested by the GrecnriHc Nc,rs to
say "tllat Mr.. Orr WAS named as Judge Goth
rams successor by the NeWs, without re-
quest or hint from anybody, and without the
ject has not so l:,r :ls we know, been spoken
of in any way or even alluded 10 by Mr. Orr
or,his personal friends
We fake pleasure in complying with the
heard Mr. Urr'S name mention In this con-
ncctiun. before we saw the suggestion OF the
GrepnriNe NcDs, and ii looked very much rs
if there was Il plot somewhere, and there was
some reason for thinking so as Mr. Orrs
friends made him Solicitor cOthrans success
sor, and might like to make him Judge Goth
ran successor, which cannot be done unless
they elect Judge Cothran tn Cor grrss or some
other position and create IL vacancy.
Gcor9ctoV, Enquirer.
The Nerbc1y Ucrd'd and Ncms argues that
Abbevillc has monOpliZrd The official honors
long enough, and requests that County Ia
stand aside and let the others have II repre-
ScnutiOn in Congress. The Press and Bdnner
very properly replies that it is the man, and
not the place, which should determine the
selection. 1t dcprccatcs the introduction of
what it calls geographical politics. and
urges that the people of the District should
hc left untrammclcd Ia choose the best and
strongest man for the office. regardless of his
| latitude ahd longitude. This is sound doc
trinc. In order To apply 1t fully, it wnnld
seem that The candidate should he nominated
! by primaries; 0r better still. the delegates TO
al ltts.