The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-21
TIE RErORM MASS MEETING.

No oAAtN ~ 1ASS]S Ne@AAAAS ~esSt~~J" ~
will pay. 1U-BE.
TIE REFORM MASS MEETING.
No Gubernatoriai Candidates Turn Up.
J. A, Sigh Elected Delegate to April
Conference In Col unb bia, The At
tendance not Large Or Enthu-
seastic. But Good Natured...
It was q delightful meeting. We
mean the mass meeting of the refor-
mers, which was held at Newberry
last Saturday under the call issued by
the Rev. J. A. Sigh in his circular let
ter. It was for the purpose of hearing
the reform candidates for Governor tell
Of their respective claims upon the peo-
pie for their suffrage, but the capdi-
dates gave US the 60 by. None Of them
turned up and even our own county
man went with the crowd over to Lex
ipgton. So our meeting was without
speaker in the shape of a gubernator-
ial candidate. But the meeting was
held all the same and q delegate elected
to the conference to be held in Colum-
bis under the Colleton idea. And
every body was in a good humor and
the meeting passed off without any
jars or friction. 1t may have been be-
cause every one was Of the same way
of thinking and there was no reason or
occasion for friction.
The crowd was not large. Only one
vote on division was held and there
were only twenty-five votes codnted,
but there were all told something more
than one hundred present. That in
cluded the reporters and college stu
dents and spectators from the town.
From the attendance here on Satur-
day we are almost ready to believe that
at least some of the people are getting
tired of politics. The leaders are now
having a big time and we suppose the
people will come in after awhile for
their time. We shall wait and watch
developments and try to keep our
readers posted. If you want all the
news and both sides of the political
questions The Herald and News is the
paper you are looking for.
The meeting was called to order by
Rev. J. A. Sigh, chairman Of the eau
Gus.
Upon motion of Mr.. J. T. Duncan
Mr.. Sigh was made permanent chair
man of the mass meeting.
Mr.. Sigh said that he would have
preferred some one else to have had
that honor but as it was his purpose
never to shrink from any duty, he
thanked them for the : on6dence
manifested and proceeded 10 business.
He said they were little unfortunate.
The mass meeting had been called to
hear the candidates for Governor; but
Lexington was little ahead of them
and having called a meeting first the
candidates and prospective candidates
bad accepted the Lexington invitation:
He had written to each candidate and
they had all responded regretting their
inability to attend. He said it wassfor
the meeting to say whether another
meeting should be held or not. The
meeting was also for the purpose of
discussing the Colleton plan and elect
ing delegate to attend a meeting to
be held in Columbia on April 4, and
who should also be a member of 8
campaign State committee Of the Re-
form party.
Mr.. Mills nominated A. E. P. Beden-
bangh for secretary and be was elected.
Upon motion of Mr.. Mills it was de-
cided to limit all speeches to ten min
utes.
We might say here that Chairman
Sigh did not read any of the letters,
though we understand be was re-
ouested to read some of them.
Letters were received from w. u.
Evans, J. G. Evans, J. E. Tindal, DR..
". 81. Zimmerman, w. 81. Ellerbe and
DR.. S. Pope. Mr.. Sigh told US after
the meeting that DR.. Pope requested
his letter read, but he wanted to get
through with the meeting and hardly
saw the necessity of reading them.
DIR. Pope's letter was to the effect that
he had never addressed the people OF
Lexington, and having received the
invitation be had decided to accept it.
That the people of Newberry knew
him and knew his position on puollc
questions and he felt sure they would
excuse his absence, thoughhe regretted
he could not be with them. At some
future time, if it was desired, he would
be glad to address the people of New
berry County. That he was candl-
date for Governor and if nominated
and elected he would do all il his
power to discharge the duties we'll and
faithfully, and if he was not successful
he would fall in line and work for the
successful candidate.
Mr. Cole. L. Blease, who was called
to Charleston on account of the illness
of his brothe1-in-law and who did not
return until Saturday at o'clock, also
wrote Mr.. Sigh letter explaining bis
absence and requesting it read to the
meeting, but it was not read and no
mention made of it, we presume for the
reason that he was not considered can
didate for Governor. So much for the
letters that were not read.
Mr.. w. G.. Sigh moved that we
ADOPT the Colleton plan
Mr.. Duncan said be did not know
that every one fully understood the
Colleton plan in its details. AS he
understood it there was to be one MEM
Der from each county, who should meet
in Columbia ou April 4, and formulate
a plan for calling a State Convention
of Reformers, and arrange for such con-
yention, and also to act as campaign
committee for the Reformers during
the coming campaign. 1t was unfortu-
nate that we had none before. In the
election of this committee it was well
togive the members some discretionary
powers. We cannot afford to 90
in the campaign with halh dozen
candidates. We must have a prun-
ing down. In order that We treat
each candidate right each one
should be given an opportunity to be
heard. Each one should be required to
pledge himself to staud by the nomina-
tions when they are made. We ought
to 90 in the campaign with one candl-
date for Governor and all Of us De pre-
pared to roll up our sleeves and 60 to
work foc that candidate.
Cha:tman Sigh said be wished to
call the attention of the meeting to the
f.ct that the conference which was to
oe held in Colum nia on April 4, was to
decide whether we were to have State
Convention and if it was decided TO
have one this committee was to ar
range for It. It seemed to him that it
would be we'll for. the meeting to say,
first, whether or not it was in favor of a
convention. There are Reformers who