The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-02
To the Democratic Voters of Newberry
County.

ton Of Gen. y. J. Pope-suhJect, OF
course, to the primary election.
AS public meetings can scarcely be
held, and as the time between now
and the primary election Will be 100
short for personal canvass, l deem II
due to YOU to announce the principles
bv which I shall be guided, and the
more important measures when l
shall advocate, if my fellow-cltZens
shall see fit to elect HE to the response
ble Office seek.
need scarcely say that l am un-
alterably Dem 0 crat-that the prlncI-
pies embodied in the platforms OF the
Democratic party in the United States
and in this State are my principles
that insist upon the adjustment with
in our own lines Of all differences
among ourselves-tha | detest and
shall always oppose any independent
movenent-that shall support to the
extent of my ability the nominations
recently made by the State Democratic
Convention and those made by the
Democrats Of Newberry in the late
primary elections--a that, however
different the persons whom I would
have placed on the State ticket if had
had my choice, l will, if elected to the
Senate, cordially support the next Gov
eruor and the officers Of his administra-
ton in all measures which they shall
propose for the benefit of the people.
Thus much l say, not because those
who know me can have any doubt,
but in order to set at rest any possible
doubt in any mind in regard TO my
position towards the incoming State
administration.
| hold that representation in the
House Of Representatives should be ap-
portioned according to the population
Of counties, as the constitution directs;
and I will, if elected, vote for a reap
portiOnment at once.
am in favor Of using every proper
effort to make Clemson College sue
cess. l thought formerly that its pur-
poses could be effected, at a smaller
expense, by the school of agriculture
in the State University. But since the
people Of the State, through their
Legislature, have determined upon a
separate institution for instruction in
agriculture, l am determined to con-
tribute what I can 10 the complete sue
cess of that institution. | have for
many years been a jealous advocate Of
thorough scientific agricultural eGuca-
ton; and I was one Of the Board of
Trustees who organized in Columbia,
at the University, an agricultural col
lege. in exclusion Of all merely literary
and scientific branches, several years
before even Mr. Tillman published a
word about agricultural education.
That institution was made, and kept,
purely an agricultural and mechanical
school, until the Legislature compelled
US to engraft the academical depart
ment upon it. [ therefore make no
change in my principles in urging the
most energetic support of Clemson
College.
And I may add, while on this sub
ject, that l am quite ready to turn over
10 the Trustees Of that College the
Agricultural Department of the State,
including the phosphate and fertilizer
businesses. This will secure greater
efficiency and economy.
shall, if elected, exert myself to inn
prove our public school system, being
convinced that our hope for the future
depends, next after the providence of
God, upon the education of our people.
We should have the schools every
where open for at least six or seven
months of the year, and for longer
term if we can afford it. This increase
Of time l propose to effect by doubling
the poll tax, and by, in some measure
at least, proportioning the allowance of
school funds to negro education to the
amount Of money contributed by that
race. BY these two measures we shall
materially lengthen the school sessions,
without additional taxation of proper
ty. These things may easily be accom-
plished by constitutional amendment.
/ estimate that if the proper penalties
are attached we may cause the negro
race in the State to contribute perhaps
one hundred and fifty thousand dollars
more to the school fund than we now
derive from them.
l shall, If elected, propose and advo-
vate the most economical government
consistent with the public interests. [
shall urge the reduction of most Of the
salaries of public officers. I shall ad-
vocate the abrogation of the rule which
requires the Governor y reside in Co
lumbia and maintain an establishment
there-which will enable him to live
on a smaller salary. l shall urge the
reduction of the salaries of Judges by
at least five hundred dollars each
though I am in favor of giving them a
longer term Of office. [ shall urge
smaller appropriations to the Citadel
Academy and the University-dear as
the latter is to me. I shall urge the
reduction Of the pay of the Members
OF the Legislature Gncluding the Sen
ate, of course from five dollars to two
dollars and fifty cents per day-the
compensation allowed before the war.
I think the expenses of the Lunatic
Asylum should be reduced, but to eX-
actly what extent | am not now able
to say. I am not disposed to interfere
with the small pensions allowed dis
abled Confederate soldiers and the
widows of those brave patriots who
lost their lives III the defense of our
liberties.
There are other matters in which our
expenses should be decreased, such as
the public rinting and the services in
legislative and executive offices; but an
enumeration of all these would require
greater space than l can now occupy:
| am no enemy to good salaries, and l
regret to urge these reductions; but the
truth is, that we are too poor to pay
large sums Of money, and officers of all
kinds must submit 10 the economy and
short allowances that the taxpayers
have to endure.
\ further reduction of expenses can
he effected by the following change in
our judicial system, to wit: the estab-
lisEment Of county court, with a
judge at a salary Of say $500, with no
grand jury, aud with a single petitjury
Of say eight persons, as was the system
for two or three years just after the
war. This court might try all criminal
causes, except capital ones, and all
civil actions involving one hundred
dollars or less. The saving in jurors
fees, witnesses fees and other expen-
Ses, by decreasing the number of
persons to be paid and the length of
the terms, would much more than pay