The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-06-27
LET ALL THE PEOPLE SPEAK.

It is on the line with the views ex-
pressed by The Herald and News a few
weeks ago. If there is to be prelimi'
nary primary the general primary will
be useless farce. The conservatives
have no ticket out for State officers
and this preliminary primary looks
very much as if the reformers were
afraid to let the conservatives make a
choice between the reformers who are
ruauing. Such plan may result in
minority carrying a county. 1t is
anothing but a rule of the majority.
Let US illustrate what We mean. We
will take Newberry County. Let US
suppose there are 1000 Democratic
voters in the county, l,2O0 of whom are
reformers and 500 are conservatives.
The 1900 60 into primary for Cover
nor, and 700 of them vote for John
Gary Evans a. 500 for DR.. Pope
Evans carries the county though he
has only 700 Of the 1000 voters, because
the 500 Pope voters are to be sworn,
according to Mr. Sigh, to support this
candidate. In the general primary
the 500 conse1 vatives may vote for DR..
Pope, but their votes will count for
nothing because his 500 reform votes,
having gone iu the preliminary primary
are sworn to vote for Evans. Under
this scheme the minority may carry
each county. Is there any justice or
fairness in this sort of a plan? Does it
get the will of the people? Under such
a plan is there any reason for the con-
servatives to go into the primary at all?
1t looks very much as if the idea was
cot to allow the conservatives to have
voice in saying whom the nominees
shall be. Yet when the general elec-
ton comes they will all be expected to
support the nominees. The same plan
may be tried as to every officer in the
county.
A good deal has been said about peace
and harmony. If the reformers want
peace and harmony they have the op-
portunlty now to secure them. Let
them be fair and manly, and give US a
free and fair primary. Let them do
away with the August reform conven-
ton AID with their reform caucusses
and reform primaries and let everybody
60 into the canvas who wants to, and
let the people speak with their ballots
aud every body will be in position to
support tine nominees. But if the re-
form conventions and reform caucusses
are to be kept up there is no telling
where it will end. The Herald and
News feels free to speak on this subject
because We have no candidate. In en-
dorsiog DR.. Pope's letter we have no
personal end in view, but we do it
simply because we think it is right and
fair and just. We are glad to see that
DR.. Pope has the courage and the man
hood to take this position, and we hope
he will keep it up 10 the end. And we
do not say this because we want to per-
petuate the reform movement, for
really we have been unable to see where
it has benefited the people; nor because
we think there is no danger of the con-
servetives getting majority, but be-
cause if we are to have a general pri-
mary in which every one is to partici-
pate, we should 60 there and fight it
out there before the people. Let it be
understood also that we are not en-
dorsing the candidacy of any man, but
We only seek the good of The people,
and want to see fairness and justice.
If we are to have primary let US have
one. If the reformers are to have a
primary first to say for whom reformers
must vote in the general primary then
there is no use of the general primary.
We invite expression of opinion on this
question from the reformers of this
county. We want to see the best men
chosen for the positions to be filed.
Does Rev. Mr.. Sigh see anything
unfair in this plan? We would like to
have his honest and sincere opinion on
it. Has be any reason to feara direct
vote of the Democrats of Newberry
County or of the State? There is no
conservative orgahization or ticket that
we know of. Is be afraid of the con-
servative vote in the general primary
when there are only reformers to he
voted for? five are not mistaken be
said in the executive committee meet
ing that he wanted peace and harmony.
Does he know any better way to secure
peace and harmony than by doing
away with caucusses and reform con-
ventions and letting every body 20 into
the primary and vote as be pleases?
If be does, will he please explain it?
Does be expect peace and harmony by
forever ignoring the rights of the mi
nority and by administering iron clad
oaths to keep the majority together?
Does Mr.. Sigh fear that Newberry is
so very close and doubtful that only by
swearing his men in he can keep the
county in line? We hope for once to
see him rise to the stature of full man.
hood and be fair and just and let us
submit this matter to the arbitration of
all the peoplein the general primary.
We acknowledge from Hon. w. J.
Talbert copy of his speech in the
House of June on the repeal Of the 10
per cent. tax on State bank issues. Our
own Congressman Latimer never favors
The Herald and News with any of bis
speeches in Congress, though we pre-