The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-02-07
Caughman on Carolina Poll
tics.

tics.
Washington, y. c., Jan. %
F. G. Caughman. Of South Caro-
lima, now in Washington, vas in.
terviewed upon the present political
situation in that State by the Chronicle
correspondent. Mr.. Caughman is
Reading Clerk Of the South Carolina
Senate, and has been for four years.
He was asked, "What is the main
cause of the trouble, politically among
the masses of the Reformers 2"
He answered at length, and said !:
The great trouble among the masses,
of the Reform element is that their
leaders have, to large extent, proven
false to the promises Of retrenchnent
and reform. They have learned he
continued, "by experience, when they
went to pay taxes, that Reform was
only a name. To begin with, when B.
R. .Tillman and the Reform Legislature
came into power in 1890 the taxable
assessable property in the State was. in
round numbers. one hundred and forty
five million dollars, and the total State
levy was 4 Ia mills. After two years
of Tillman administration the taxable
assessable property reached the large
sum Of one hundred and sixty-ei ght
millions, while the States levy has
gone to 5 II mills, and only those
institutions are receiving their usual
appropriations as under the former ad-
ministrations.
''Auotber reason of-the dissatisfaction
is that majority of their leaders are
demagogues Of the deepest dye, and
have fooled the people speak what
I know, having had the best opportu.
nifty to view the manner in which the
laws Of South Carolina are enacted.
The majority Of the members of the
General Assembly Of my State are
utterly destitute Of the knowledge of
the rightful limits Of their powers.
They 60 madly on, driven by their
desperate executive. and the influence
of the caldron of political prejudices,
not mindful that their Office is to declare
and enforce only the natural rights aud
duties of their constituents. -
''What makes you think that the
people have come to such conclusions p
"From the large intercourse | have
had with them l can readily see that
they feel that a number of unconstitu-
tioual acts, bearing heavily upon them,
have been placed upon the statute books
affecting their legal rights, and they do
not hesitate to say that the men whom
they entrusted'with the management of
the government, have proven false to
every promise and ignored every
principle embodied in the plat
form Of the reform movement. They
have awakened to the situation, and
found their demagogues wrangling to a
great degree among themselves as to
who shall obtain personal aggrandise-
meut at the hands of those whom they
have so wantouly deceived in the past,
and they intend in the future to rele-
gate those deceptive leaders to the rear,
and select more conservative set of
representatives from the executive
down"
''What do you think will be the
final result of the so much talked of
Dispensary law in your States'
THAT can be easily answered; it
will die of its own weight, because all
of the right thinking people of tho State
know and feel that it is one of the
most outrageous and internal acts of
legislation that ever disgraced the stat
ute books of any civilized nation.
There is every element in it that makes
it revolving and disgusting to every de-
cent com nunity. 1t is an act which
strikes at the very individuality Of
every citizen, and seeks to invade the
saoctity of every home and household
in the State. It carries with it certain
sections which are odious to every SEN
sibility where decency reigns, and is
but typical Of The fauaticism that pre-
vailed in the last General Assembly,
and its utter disregard for constitution
al legislation.
"Tbere are other acts of the same
body which are receiving the coudem-
nation of the citizens Of our State.
namely, that of the redistricting bill,