The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-02-12
A Sheep Campaign.

Sheep raising has never attained the
proportions that the importance OF
the industry and the adaptability of the
soil and climate Of the South invites. The
failure Of those who have undertaken
sheep raising to realize a fair profit on
their investment in money and labor is
due entirely to the raysges Of the thou
sands Of worthless dogs that infest the
country from the mountains to the sea.
This dog-cursed condition Of the State
is not incapable of remedy If the members
of the General Assembly, who are sup
posed to legislate for the benefit Of the
State, will face the situation like men and
enact q law that will provide for the ex-
termination ofthe surplusage Of dogs. It
is an old belief that the people will punish
by retirement to the shades of private
life the legislators that dare to impose q
tax .onSdugs or enact any law that will
curtail the privilege the dogs have so
long enjoyed of roaming abroad by day
and night and preying on whatever that
suits their taste.
Get the average man In the legislature
once, land: his very bones ache with a
longihg to stay there for two terms at
least, or until ne can get a better Office.
They are very timid and weary. about
taking part in the enactment of any law
that is calculated to arouse the hostility
of their constituents, Hence, believing
that when they refrain from striking a
blow. at the dogs they are ingrafling
themselves in the good grace of the vo-
ters, they have voted to kill the dog law
persistently and regularly each year. Iu
this respect the reform legislatures have
followed. in the footsteps of the legisla-
turers Sof snti-reform days. Ths dog
prowls tiarough the State, monarch Of all
he surveys, while the sheep, defenseless
and without friends among the Office
holders and politicians, are conspicuous
of their very fewness. AS long as the
State. has a legislature, composed of men
who fear the dogs, her citizens will con-
tinue to; wear clothes spun and woven
from wool grown in other countries.
There Is no particular issue for the next
campaign-the Constitutional Convention
is q thing Of the past, Clemson college has
been built and Is supported at large ex-
pense, the Woman's college has been
built also and maintained in a handsome
manner at large expense, Coosaw was
throttled long ago, and the phosphate
royalty is too small a thing to worry any
one, prohibition has been lost in the sue
cess Of the ~dispensary system, and 80 on
through Luo ll5t VI LuluBs auu QueStlouS
that once held the public attention and
agitated politioians-they have all ceased
to be isuses-and we suggest that the dog
question be made the paramount issue.
Let every legislative candidate be inves-
tigated concerning his views on the dog;
and when necessary, let us have recourse
to that venerable and much respected in
stitution, the hand primary, to test the
sentiment Of the people on the dog. This
dog question is a serious matter, and
we are deeply concerned over it. 1t is
worthy a place in the political annals of
the State, and the dog days of this year
will lie better spent in discussing the dog
than in pursuing an ordinary humdrum
campaign in which the only Issue will be
the Offices and how to get to them.-Sum-
ter Daily Item.