The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-10-02
it, had kept six candidates and their
horses day and night.

opportunities 10 pass oH Lnc FeCofu "
their officers, and receive reports or
the conduct of their affairs.
Mr.. Lowman of Orangeburg thought
that we would have better and more
business like administrations with
longer terms.
Mr.. Johnstone of Newberry said il
Aldrich's amendment was adopted he
would supplement it with another
making the governor ineligible fol
reelection. He believed that the gov
ernor with four years in office and ne
re-ele ction to scheme for would give
better. fairer and more conscientious
administration.
Mr.. McWhite said that. the people
desired frequent elections rs they are
compelled to elect members of con
gress every two years anyhow, anC
nothing would be saved by the pro
posed amendment.
Ex-Governor, Sheppard opposed the
amendment on the ground that i,
would put office holders too far be
yond the reach of the people. II
would be easier to re.elect good gov
ernor for two years than to be rid OF
an incompetent one elected for four
years term. In replying to Aldrich,
who had said that the great reforms
begun by Tillman would fail if Ire
had been turned out at first after two
years, Sheppard was momentarily em,
barrassed, but got over the point
neatly by saying that the people "had
been made to believe" the second term
was necessary, for the accomplish
ment of reforms and had given it to
B.. R. Tillmau. "I am opposed to the
amendment" Continuing, he said,
that the dissatisfaction among the
people which led to the revolution OF
1890, had been caused by political
stagnaiion resulting from the conven'
ton system. He believed that four
years terms would bring stagnation
again. Agitation of thought and en-
lightened public discussion of affairs
of State were the best educators OF the
people. Long terms would bring leth-
argy, stagnation, ignorance and lndif,
ference and first thing we knew every
one would be so sound asleep that,
Those fellows might steal the whole
business before we knew it,"
The people liked to see their OIL
ciaIs. and hear them talk and discuss
issues and affairs. Long terms would
bring about another revolution. He
knew by experience that it was good
for a governor that he should be
watched and criticized and followed
up, and should know he would have
to give all account at the end OF two
years. 1t kept him active and ON the
alert. The legislative committee had
reported for a four years te, m for the
legislature. The governor could do
nothing unless he had the legislature
in sympathy with him. 1t would be
better to elect a governor in accord
with the legislature than to elect a
governor and a legislature not in &C
cord with him.
Senator Tillmau hoped everyone
who had thought of the matter would
express himself. 1t was conceded, he
urged, that prior to 1890, politics were
stagnant in South Carolina. The con-
vention system had brought about
stagnation, and that, say what you
would, was the cause of the unrest and
consequent revolution. He said that
nothing could be healthier than pub
lie agitation and that the people want
ed it, were going to have it and that
they did not want to return to the
lethargic condition that existed prior
to the revolution which brought about
the political stagnation of that time.
The people wanted light and discus
sion of public issues, and he did not,
for one, think that there was any OBJ
lection on the part of the people to en-
tertain or to hear candidates.
He said that if the people wanted to
restrict their liberties and their rights
that they might adopt this four year
term, and that it would not be long
before the people would again be SO
dead asleep that those fellows might
steal the whole thing and we not know
anything about it., and it would take
another revolution to overthrow
things. He said that he was bitterly
opposed to any action that would tend
to beget Indifference on the part of the
people and that to make the terms OF
the members of the Legislature or OF
the Governor four years would be a
great mistake. He said that if Gov
ernor were cussed and discussed and
damned it would put him on the alert
to pleas and do his duty, but if he
knew that all he had to do was to hold
his job without any hope of re-election
it would be very different. He then
took up the question of Legislative
and Executive cooperation, and with
good deal of force argued that a
Governor who had a legislature that
was not ip sympathy with him was in
a very bad fix, and virtually had his
hands bound.
Mr.. Henderson called for the yea and
nay vote upon this question, which re-
suited as follows:
Yeas, for Four Years-Aldricn, AL
exander, Ashe, Atkinson, Austin, Bar
ton, Bates, Bellipger, Bowen, Bow
man, Buist, Byrd, Connor, Derham,
Doyle, Dudley, Estridge, w. D. Evans,
Farrow, Field, Fitch, Floyd, Gage, J,
L. Glenn, Gunter, Hamel, D S. Hen
derson, Houser, George Johnstone,
McDermotte, MCGOWAN, Patterson,
Patton, PEI rite, Prince, j. H, Read
Rogers, Shuler, jeremiah Smith,
Smoak, Sprott, Stackhouse, Sullivan
Taylor, G. D. Tillman, A. H. White
Woodward-47.
Nays, for Two Years Anderson
Barry, Behre, Bryan, Burn, Cantey
Carver, Clayton, DELAY, Dennis