The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-04-05

4
were so unfair aud partisan: and any
| abrogation OF toe system now in vogue
would In "tl probability result in the
return TO the Old conditions, when il
was In the power OF two or three lead
Ing newspapers to make and unmakU
men, and to largely control our State
politics. The necessity Of freedom Of
speech and the presentation by the
candidates OF their views, directly to
tho voters without having them tiuged
or distorted or suppressed by different
newspapers will make the people On
willing to give up the present plan un-
less something 5ctter' can be sub.
stitutcd for it. You have stated the
detects in the present system none too
strongly, and there arc others which
occur To me which you have not men
TONED Tor Instance, it WAS never con-
9ElVrd possible that man would Otlnr
asa candidate for the nigh position
simply because Of vanity or his being
crank, stu less that one would enter
such race with no hopes OF beiug
elected, bnt simply with the view %
defeating another man. There can be
no limitation aS 70 the number Of per
sons who shall run for any office if
they comply with the prerequisites.
Ihc Joint discussion WAS intended 70
give the people an opportunity Of hear.
ing both sides, and Of allowing the
cnndidMtCs to present their views
directly TO the voters. The great mis-
take that has been made WAS the at.
tempt To divide the time pro rata, or
"pportiOn it out among all the Candi-
dates. Thus as you have said, thure
was no chance for Il candidate 70 make
speech or TO do himself any credit,
and the people were disgusLed To that
extent that they refused to turn out TO
the meetings. | canvasSrd the State
three times and there was never any
limitation on any speaker. The ar
rangcment was, IN tho race for COVER
DOr, 10 have the speakers alternate
and i'll the race for the Senate TO in
vert the order Of speaking, SO that the
minor canuidatcs COuid every Jthcr
day begin and have their say in full
while the crowds were fresh ana not be
forced TO take tho lcuvingS OF the au-
dicnCc tired out 10y previous speakers.
What ever else may nc done, there
should never have been in the past
ana should never he in the future any
limitation on time. II would OC better
20 have some IaudiGAtus miss speak
ing AT every meeting than follow such
Is plau 0i EaEglnE thrm. InC 4ues-
ton now Is either the continuance Of
the present system, with such lImitH
tiOnS ns | have Indicated, or changing
it as you suggest aud leaving the cOuu.
tics to determine what men they want
to hear and extend invitations 70 such,
it being OF course always pcrmiSsNhIc
for candidate TO announce lndGDcn-
dcutB the places at which hc will
speak, and TO Invite his opponent for
the office, TO JOINT discussion. The
DLdtG cDiuiH!LLGC can not dis CrIml luatr
As among cAndluatcS who comply with
the rule, but the comfy committee
having control Of the meetings could
refuse to invite those men VINO wclu
not wanted, and II tshuuld ever occur,
which Is hardly possible, that Il CanuI.
da1C would be uD justly treated he
could then make arrangements for a
separate meeting to which his Op-
poncnL could be invited. 1t is no lighl
timing 70 Canvass the entire State and
attend meetings in forty counties, and
II entails a heavy expense besides
Many OF our people do not even take
thclr county Dapcro, ana since the
| patent OuiaidcS have come IN vogue
| With a few crcdltuOic exceptions Lh(
! county newspapers have dcJGriUrutct
! very sCnsibly from what they wcr,
| fifteen years ago. Competition ha
! caused them TO reduce their subscrip
tion, and while the subscribers get /.
evident THAI tuc newspapers do no
furnish rs mach and rs good news /.
thcy>usGd to.
In regard to the State COmmittc
liking dates for the meetings in til
campaign. 1t has been considcre
necessary in order 10 prevent clas
in counties, and always TO arrange til
meetings in rotation SO that in a give
week certain contiguous territor
nllsnt DC covered: II thc papers Q
Si''i S'I SS'Vo oou'u oo inuucou 70 give iaIr
.'i u,i f,,u n u,'Di"1o" I uool's oi Spccche7
Guy ,,sh ''u i -, 'I'."' no"eoi,iohtS a.
n,ntinns ia 'niant'nr,, "' W V'io
| h,,, ,r,J,d .,,,oi,J, ~, ,',. w.. S'u
,nnnIi j,n,,' L"r,iJ,, 'a'n - '' y a'5.''
.nn,,r,,nr,a n,l ~. to 49, W. " i''
! thn d.,iIv uurnrs yInnr fnr ,hn, :, ~
rn,d t0 y.,.r iiu,i,nL nI,,,n, .; '; -
,hn tnuns o,,G inn - 49,, 49,
.nud nni, r,,,,,,,i,n. ~ .nD,,'' 'u'D' .
ramvrmnn,s [n,II u. mudn ,n h."o 90,
snrcci o. riyru on the ruticn1 nn,siInS
/ un., a. ru.ir, s.. ,n h.vr Invn st,ri>
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