The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-12-13
THE wATCHMAN AND sOUTHRoN DECEMBER 13 1899

plans. The city primaries were called
for Friday Rumors of strange and un-
heard OF events to the average citizen
were current in political circles through
out Raymond. The Crawford system of
balloting for nominations was not in
use In the state, and the primary was
called for public meeting at the court
house.
The citizens of Raymond will never
forget that meeting. 1t was so unlike
any political meeting ever held in Raw.
mond before that there was no attempt
at comparison. The special officers to
be nominated were mayor, city council,
chief OF police. city clerk and city
| treasurer
The Evening News in its Saturday
edition gave full account of the pri-
maries, and in an editorial column Ed.
ward Norman spoke with directness
and conviction that the Christian peo-
pie OF Raymond were learning to re-
spect deeply because so evidently sincere
and unselfish- A part of that editorial
/ 1T is safe to say that never before in
the history of Raymond was there a
primary like the one in the courthouse
last night. 1t was, first of all, COM
plete surprise to the city politicians,
who have been in the habit of carrying
on the affairs of the city as if they
owned them and every one else was
simplya tool or a cipher The over
whelming surprise of the wire puller
last night consisted in the fact that a
large number OF the citizens Of Ray
mond who have heretofore taken no
part in the city's affairs entered the pri-
mary and controlled it, nominating
some of the best men for all the offices
to be filled at the coming election.
1T was tremendous lesson in good
citizenship. President Marsh of Lincoln
college, who never before entered a CITY
primary and whose face even was not
known to many of the ward politicians,
made one OF the best speeches ever
heard in Raymond 1t was almost lu-
dlcrous to see the faces of the men
who for years have done as they pleased
when President Marsh rose to speak.
Many OF them asked, Who is he? The
CONSERVATION ceepened as the primary
! proceeded and it became evident that
the old time ring Of city rulers was out
numbered. Henry Maxwell, pastor of
the First church; Milton Wright Alex
ander Powers, Professors Brown, Will
lard and Park of Lincoln college, Rev.
John West, Dr. George Maine of the
Pilgrim church. Dean Ward of the Holy
Trinity and scores of we'll known busi-
ness and professional men. most of them
church members. were present, and it
did not take long to see that they had
all come with the direct and definite
purpose of nominating the best men
possible. Most Of these men had never
been seen in a primary. They were
complete strangers to the politicians,
but they had evidently pro6ted by the
politicians methods and were able by
organized and united effort to nominate
the entire ticket.
GAS soon as it became plain that the
primary was out Of their control the
regular ring withdrew in disgust and
nominated another ticket. The News
simply calls the attention Of all decent
citizens to the fact that this last ticket
contains the names Of whisky men, and
the line is distinctly and sharply drawn
between the machine and corrupt city
government. such as we have known
for years, and clean. honest. capable,
businesslike city administration, such
as every good citizen ought to want
1t is not necessary to remind the people
OF Raymond that the question of local
option comes mp at the election That
will be the most important question
on the ticket. The crisis of our city
| affairs has been reached The issue
is squarely before us. Shall we con-
time the rule of rum and Doodle and
shameless incompetency, or shall we,
as President Marsh said in his noble
speech. rise as good citizens and be-
gin new order of things. cleansing
our city OF the worst enemy known to
municipal honesty and doing what lies
in our power to do with the ballot--to
purify orr civic life?
1.-The News is positively and without
reservation on the side of the new
movement We shall hencefofth do all
in our power to drive out the saloon
and destroy its political strength We
shall advocate the election of men nom
mated by the majority of citizens met
in the first primary. and we call upon
all Christians. church members and low
ers of right. purity. temperance and
home to stand by President Marsh and
the rest of the citizens who have thus
begun II long needed reform in our
city.