The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1900-04-03

because | have foreseen that the pri |
mary system was being jcopardised |
by the abuses in which it has been |
subjected. Political conditions in our
State forced the Joint discussions be |
fore the people Of tho issues, because
the newspapers woro SO unfair and |
p"rtizan; and any abrogation of the
system now in vogue would in all
probability result IN tho return to the
Old conditions, when it was in tho
power of two or thrco loading nows-
papers to make and unmake men, and
to largely control our State politics.
The necessity Of freedom of speech
and tho presentation by tho candid
ates of their views, directly to tho
voters without having them tinged or
distorted or suppressed by different
newspapers will make the people un-
willing to glvo up the present plan
unless something better" can be sub
stltm cd for it. You have stated the
defects in the present systom mono too
strongly, and thore are others which
occur to mo which you have not men
toned; cor instance, it was mover con-
ceived possible that man would Of
fer as candidate for high position
simply because of vanity or his being
crank, still less that ono would en-
ter such race with 40 hopes Of being
elected, but simply with tho view of
defeating another man. There can
l be no limitation rs to tho number of
persons who shall run for an Office if
they comply with the prerequisites.
The joint discussion was intended to
8 give the people an opportunity of
: having both sides. and Of allowing
4 the candidates to present their Wow
directly to the voters. The great mis-
take that has been made was tho at
: tempt to divide tho timo prorates. or
apporation in out among all tho can
4 didatrs. Thus rs you havo said, there
4 was no change for candidate to
| make n speech or do himself any cred
= It, and the people wcro disgusted to
, that oxtont that they refused to turn
ont to tho meetings, 1 canvassed the
y State three timcs and there was never
o any limitation on any speaker. The
/ arrangement WAS, in the race for gov.
ornor, to have tho speakers alternate:
I and in tho race for the senate to in
vert the order Of speaking, so that
1 the minor candidates could every
other day begin and havo their say
g in full while tho crowds wore fresh,
and not be forced to take the leav-
ings of tho audience tired out by
previous speakers Whatever else
may DO done, there should mover
have been in tho past and should
mover be in the future any limitation
0 on timo. 1t would bo better to have
some candidates miss speaking at
every meeting than follow such
plan of gagging thom. The quos-
ton now is either tho continuance Of
tho present system, with such linn
ltatlons rs I have indicated, or
changing it as you suggest and loav-
ing tho counties to dctermlno what
mon they want to hear and extend
invitations to suoh, it being of course
always permissible for candidate to
announce Independently tho places
at which he will speak, and to in
vito his opponent for the Office to
joint discussion. Tho State com,
mttee cannot discriminate as among
candidates who comply with the
rule, but the county committee hav.
ing control Of the meetings could ro
fuse to invite those men who we're
not wanted, and If it should over
occur, which is hardly possible, that
a candidate would be uniustly treated
he could then make arrangements for
separate meeting to which his op.
ponont could be invited. 1t is no |