The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-07-04
THE SENATORIAL BOX.
Correspondence With Chairman
Nettles in the Matter Of
Managers Of Election.
The State, July 81


A few days ago Senator Butler sent
out to each of the various chairmen
of the Democratic executive commit
tees of the several counties in the
State letter looking to obtaining
representation on the boards Of pri-
mary election managers. Yesterday
the following reply was received from
the chairman of the Clarendon com
mittee:
MANNING, S. c., June 80, 1894.
Hon. NJ. C. Butler, Columbia, S. c.
DEAR SIR: Yours Of the 26tb instant
to band, in which you say ::
''For the coming primary election,
2Sth of August next, [ have the honor
to request that be allowed from
among my friends an equal division Of
the managers of said election. Either
give me two managers and give Gov.
Tillman the other manager and the
clerk, or give Gov Tillman two man
ayers and give ne the other and the
clerk.
confess to very great surprise at
the above. You seem not to realize
the objects and interests of our pri-
maries, but 70 have reached the co.,
clusion that their sole aim aud end
this year is centered 10 the Senatorial
contest. Possibly you have overlooked
the fact that there is really to be no
election in our primaries for United
States Senator, but as usual these Of
6cers are elected by the State Legisla-
ture, and it is to be presumed that our
legislators will have some other merits
aud qualifications than simply to vote
for United States Senator. You have
apparently jumped at the conclusion
that the heretofore Reform and anti
Reform factions of the State have
been revised and that their platforms
of principles are now concentrated 90
Tillman and Butler, or on Tillmanism
and Butlerism.
You surely lost sight of the fact that
there are many other candidates, each
of whom may feel as great interest
in his individual election as you do in
yours. | believe it is fact that there
are already four candidates for Gov
ernor. Then there are candidates for
tha other State Offices. for Railroad
Commissioners, for Congress, for the
Legislature, for county ofices-a great
hos: of candidates, each one like your
self, possibly fearful of the conse-
quences. Suppose that following your
example each one of this mighty host
should demand two managers that be
might feel fully assured that every
vote cast for him was properly counted
(and you must admit that in this
Democratic country Of ours you have
no rights that the humblest cannot
equally calm, what would be the re-
suit?
1 think when you carefully consider
this question you will realize that your
request is unreasonable.
We have in Clarendon county twenty
FIVE clubs, and in each the line is
strongly drawn between Reformers and
Fifteen Of these clubs
are Reformers and ten are Ants. At
our primaries 10 1892 We agreed upon
the following plan: Each club should
select from its own members two mana
gers aud one clerk, aud q ueigbboriDg
club of the opposing faction should
complete the board by sending another
manager and a clerk. By this plan
each club had three managers and two
clerks and both factions we're represent
ed. We found it to be most excellent
plan and it will probably be adopted
again this year. If now these anti clubs
or (Rsform clubs) should see Gt to cham
pion your candidacy, and to select
Butler managers, they would Of course
have right to do SO. and in this way
you may get you wishes gra,ifed, but
then. as you will uo:e, this is private
matter with the clabs and not for the
the executive committee. You know it
is now "equal rights to all and special
privileges to none.'' Yours very
respectfully, S. A. NErTLEs.
Chairman Democratic Executive Com
mittee, Clarendon County.
CAPT. cApERs REPLIES,
Capt John G. Capers. who has
charge of Gen. Buffers correspondence
from Columbia. has sent the following
reply to Chairman Nettles
Columbia, S. c., July 2. 1894.
Mr.. S. A. Nettles, Chairman, Clarendon
County:
Dear Sir: Your favor of June &c, in
reply to the letter written by Senator
Butler, asking for an equal representa-
tiop at the coming primary election in
the board Of managers. duly to hand.
Your expressions Of suspris,s are as
absurd as your ideas are narrow and
partizan. Il affords me some satisfac-