The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-10-31
VOTE s'No," BECAUSE TT rs
RIGHT.

There is single question for Demo-
cratic voters at .he approaching election
to decide. One question only. but it is
question of the greatest Importance.
1t is not a question of men, of Office
holders, of the servants We shall choose
to administer the laws we have agreed
to obey. but question of the law itself,
The question of ofice-holders-now-a-
days they are more like bosses thar
servants, unfortuuately-was deter
mined by the result Of the General Pri-
mary.
The question We must settle before
casting our BALLOTS Oh next Tuesday is
whether we desire the fun damental Law
of the land wholly changed in many Of
the most important particulars, or would
rather have it remain as it is. The
effects of a mistake in the selection of
public officials are serious enough. but
are nos permanent; for at the expira.
ton of a termo of Office the IN worthy or
incompetent of6cisl can be- removed.
and. furthermore. these officials are
bedged about by the Limitations Of the.
lsw aud are BOT given opportunity of
doing an she evil sshe5 may desire.
1t is not so with .ths Constfu-
tioDal Convention. This convention
is absolutely supreme. e Gan
adopt anything it may desire e abe
Law of the State, aud so frame it that it
will be well-nigh impossible to undo
the evil work. The results Of mis-
take in this matter will be far-reaching,
and, as far as many of US are concerned,
permanent, for our checks will have
been passed in long years before it will
be possible to undo what few men
desire to have done, at their dictasion.
within few weeks. We believe that
i. will be the most terrible mistake the
people Of this State have made or will
make if they decide in favor of a Con-
stitutioual Convention. And We have
reasons for this belief.
l. The Constitution that with be
adopted will not be the work of a repre-
sentative body Of men. Who will have
the interest of the whole State as their
first consideration, bat the scheme OF q
few men Who will frame an instrument
beforehand to advance selfish aims, and
will rush it through packed conven-
ton. The Constitution will be like the
one adopted by the last State Convention
of the Democratic party. 1t will
be carried there 10 the pocket Of
some man aud will be swallowed
without question by select Con-
veution of men who delight to
vindicate their citizenship by obeyiog q
boss.
2 The Convention will be expensive
and the State is not in condition to
indulge in a thing that, viewed 10 the
most favorable light, is luxury.
There will be about l60 delegates in
the Convention, if it is held, who will
receive per day just as much as they
decide to pay themselves. OF course
they will be moderate and will proba-
bly, not pay themselves more than i've
dollars per day and mileage. This. with
incidental expenses, will amount to not
less than $1,000 per day ; and no one
has the remotest idea that the Conven-
ton will remain 10 session less than 90
to 80 days. 1t might have the shameless
ness to 60 to Columbia, adopt the
scheme dictated by the bossess and 60
home without even the pretense of con-
sidering the instrument under which
they would bave to live; but this is
but a wild supposition, as they will be
deferred by the per diem and a desire
to play at being Constitution makers.
Therefore the expense may be estl-
mated as not less that $50, 900 or.
perhaps, 100000.
3. There is no valid reason for holding
Constitutional Convention. The pre-
tense that provision will be iucorpora'
ted in the Constitution eliminating the
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