The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-08-14

boss rule, and that during oil its en-
thusiastic championships uf nominations
for Office by primary election of all the
people rs against nominations by only
convention of delegates. not one
word has been spoken by those leaders
In behalf oftownship government; or,
in other words, i'll behalf of the people
ruling themselves instead of being ruled
by officers appointed over them. There
is not q commonwealth in existence
pretending to he free where the people
exercise SO little real power of self-gov-
ernment in the choice of tho public Of
ticers nearest to them aud who control
their most important affairs ss is the
case in South Carolina. Therefore it
sourded like II burlesQue on truth when
tho last State Democratic convention
in Columbia unanimously adopted the
following resolution:
"Eesolved. We point to the recent
changes in our Constitution whereby
in the Democratic primary every Dem
ocrat may vote directly for the man OF
his choice for al Offices from the high
est to the lowest in tho 81 of the pco-
pie, md declare that such provisions
evidence tho purpose of the party to
procure tho free and untrammelled
choice of the Democratic voters them
selves"
Let us see if the people really enjoy
what this resolution says they do. How
many of the nearly two thousand man
6gers of election and their clerks do the
people of this State elect? Are they not
all appointed by commissioners Of cleo
ton. who are themselves appointed by
the executive in Columbia, yet those
managers control the very life of the
State in regulating and perpetuating
its existence.
How many of the about fifteen hun
dred school trustees in the State do the
voters of each school district or town
ship elect Are they not all appointed
by the school commissioners of tho
county or by the old board of trustees?
Does not the commissioner appoint his
partisans on the board of trustees. or
do not the old retiring board select
their successors for family reasons?
Is not the wAole management of our
sppointive common school system
close corporation in which a mere ring
of but few select the teacher and dis
burse the funds to suit themselves
without reference to the wishes of the
masses? Even admitting that the
county school commissioners will ap-
point good board of trustees for q
public school, what right has he, an
outsider, to dictate TO the voters in q
| township as to what they shall do about
their local schools in regard to the
teacher they will employ or tho wages
they will pay him or tho time the
ochool shall run or where the school
house shall be built or anything else
concerning it? Is not one of the most
important and vital functions Of gov
ernment that of properly conducting
our public schools? Yet repeat the
question, how much real liberty or free
will do the voters in any school dis
srict exercise in controlling the public
schools? Cannot, and hundreds of
cases do not, school trustees as now
appointed laugh at the just complaints
of some of the patrons of the school?
What liberty have the latter, with tho
help of their neighbors and friends, to
exert any self government in managing
the schools? Only such liberty as the
fettered prisoner and the Gagged lion
enjoy.
Again, if it be true that the present
constitution Of the Democratic party
in South Carolina now provides that
every Democrat may o.e directly for
the man Of his choice for all offices
from the highet tie |, we,t," how
is it and why is 1t That the township
commissioners, number almost 800,
who assess property for taxation in
each townskip-who look after the
roads, bridges. ferries, paupers and
/ lunatlcs OF each township-and por-
tion OF whom constitute the boards of
county commits Ssioners and botrds of
eQuA,iza.ion, with power to levy as
much taxation ns the legislature itself,
| ask how is it that these numerous
and potent township commissioners are
ail appointed by the governor and the
people have no power 10 vote either
directly or indirectly for the. men of
kleir choice? These township and
county commissioners have almost
dcspotic control over the property of
the citizens for taxation and have the
same authority over many of their
most sh"rcl rights. What real voice
have the pe"pl" in laying ont new
road. shutting mp an old one, buildins
or repairing bridge, determining
whether til" pnblic roads shall be
worked hv Contract or not, regulating
| tho tax levy ns 10 whether 1T shalt be
higher or lower. Furthermore, if the
present constitution Of the Democratic
party in this state allows "Vhat every
Democrat may vote directly for the
man OF his choice toc n!l Offices from
the highest tp the lowest" how is it