The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-05-18

election Democratic" In 1876 and
1873 it did require 'much political
work to carry the election Demo-
cratic" and we do not doubt that Mr..
Brunson "was very active in every
campaign" because nearly every
white man in the county was every
active in every campaign" and some
went so far for the cause OF "white
mans rule" that they took the risks
Of federal prisons. We do not re-
member the extent Of Mr. Brunson's
activity, but we do remember some
of lis neigbbors were dragged before
the United States court for their ac-
tivity and Mr.. Brunson was not one
of these. Mr.. Brunson knows or
should know, that We alluded to sub
sequent years when it did not require
"much political work to carry the
election Democratic" and his con-
duct in those days created the I'M
preston that he was seeking an Office.
Mr.. Brunson may be correct when
he says, q had about as much busi-
ness as I could attend to of my own
without meddlipg with Office" but
all the same he found plenty of time
to attend the executive committee
meetings, conventions and public
gatherings. II be had so much busi-
ness OF his own it did not receive his
attention at that time.
Our readers know full well that it
did not require much political work
to carry the election Democratic in
1SS0-2-4, for the entire government
was in Democratic control and it was
then a matter of choice between
Democrats. Of course we could not
then, and cannot today, read the mo-
tives which prompt man, and the
only way for rs to Judge is from his
conduct. Brunson's conduct was
such as to create the impression with
the people that be wante' office and
wanted it bad. He hso right to
seek office, but his friends should not
mislead the people by saying that
their candidate has never had any
thing to do with politics.
Mr.. Brunson insists that be never
sought Office and we, judging entirely
from his own conduct, and the con-
duct of his friends, believed then that
he was an oficeseeker, and we are
not convinced to the contrary yet.
Mr.. Brunson insists be was the choice
of the people Of Salem in that pre-
liminary primary and our impression
is that he was defeated, and that
badly. by Dr.. 7. N. Woods. We re-
gret there is no record to refer to,
and in the absence Of such We con-
suited some of the participants in
that election; they say we are correct.
However, it matters not who is cor
rect, it is simply question of mem
ory and not material.
Mr.. Branson's personal character
nor his methods Of doing business
has not been attacked by US, we have
only replied to representations nade
by Mr.. Brunson's friends, which we
regard calculated to mislead the
public where the man is not known.
His friends claim that he never has
had anything to do with politics,
which is incorrect, as his own letter
shows; they also claim that he is one
of the largest sash and blind manu-
facturers and mill owners in the
State, which is also incorrect. We
would not misrepresent Mr.. Brunson
and he is at liberty to use our COL
umns whenever he feels that we have
wronged him, and should he convince
US that we have misrepresented him
he will find US anxious to Go the
proper thing; at the same time, since
he has re-entered politics his public
career is open ior discussion and crit
icism, and We propose TO take al leg
itimate advantage of it.
We ere certainly at loss to under
stand Mr.. Brunson's meaning when
he says s'Iam in such position that
I cannot reply through his sheet"
Mr.. Brunson did not talk that way
TO US when we had talk with him
on the train. He invited us to seat
beside him and lis language was
"Appelt you did me an injustice when
you said in your paper that I had
been persistant seeker for Office
until the hope of gratifying his am
bition was so forlorn that he was
forced TO give it up, and I know you
are not the man to wrong another
I have always had a
high regard for you, now friend Ap-
pelt when you get home correct the
wrong impression your editorial has