The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-08-11
BEWARE OF CAMPAIGN REPORTS.
THEY ARE THE TRICKS OF
POLITICIANS.

a newspaper should either refrain
from discussing politics or then dis
lss politics in a manner that its po-
sltion will not be misunderstood;
there should be no ssfence straddling
either on issues or for men.
We have endorsed the candidacy
of J. E. Ellerbe for Congress, and our
selection OF him was not the result OF
an impulsive conclusion, but it was
arrived at and made after q canvass
Of the qualifications and merits of all
5he candidates. Mr.. Ellerbe is con-
ducting his contest in a high and
honorable manner; nothing in his
speeches indicate the scheming poll
tician, and he avoids personalities,
which is so common these days. He
goes before the people in straight
forward manner and endeavors to
enlighten them on questions needing
discussion, questions that need the
study of the people and questions
that every voter should familia-;ze
himself with. Such is the conduct OF
the man We support. Can the same
be said of all of his opponents? Is
it not a TACT that the campaign meet
ings have been followed by letters in
the interest of one of his opponents,
a man who has been feeding at the
public crib continuously since 1890?
And some of those letters were Of a
character such as the man in whose
interest they were written, won.d not
dare to repeat in Mr.. Ellerbes pres
ence. This sort of politics is unfair
and will be repudiated at the ballot
box regardless of the various County
machines now at work manufacturing
the poison of misrepresentation. The
letters are generally written elsewhere
but the names to whom they are ad-
dressed are furnished at the County
seats.
We warn the people of Clarendon
against such methods and will say
that if these letter writers know any
thing against ]. E. Ellerbe that should
drive votes away from him, let them
come out like men over their own
signatures in County paper or meet
Mr.. Ellerbe at campaign meeting
and face him with the accusation.
Bushwhacking tactics are not fair,
and whenever resorted to, should
have the effect OF Strengthening the
man who is being bushwhacked.
We have known J. E. Ellerbe for
many years, and we know him to be
gentleman whose private life is
pure and whose business standing is
high. His political career is known.
The people among whom he was
reared paid him a high testimonial
by giving him an almost unanimous
vote in the County primary when he
vas candidate for the Legislature
Marion County polls about twice the
white vote of Clarendon and in the
primary alluded to, Mr.. Ellerbe
polled all but Ill votes. He was
afterwards sent to the Constitutions
Convention by very fattering vote
His opponents are making capita
out of the fact that he was defeated
once for the Senate. Mr.. Ellerbe'
opponent at that time was yer.
popular man and happened to bt
standing for reelection, besides, there
was local fight in that County abou
the formation of a new County. 1
is known by every intelligent mar
that whenever an acceptable Office,
stands for second term his advan
tage over an opponent is great ant
especially when local issue figure
extensively in the contest. Mr.. El
lerbe's opponents do not take th'
trouble to explain these things, bu
rest contented with struggling behin(
to scatter their seeds of misrepresen
tation. The day is past, we hope
when man can be defeated by al
kinds of rumors. A man should b.
judged by his private character ant
by his competency ard not BY hi