Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-06-09
As COLONEL HOYT SEES 1T.
Does Not Consider the Action Of the State
Committee As Significant.

Does Not Consider the Action Of the State
Committee As Significant.
Colonel James A. Hoyt returned tc
Greenville last Tuesday from Louis
Vile, and on being asked as to what be
proposed to do with regard to the
pledge to be exacted from gubernato
rial candidates, discussed the situation
as follows:
"I am not at all surprised at the &C.
ton of the state executive committee,
and had predicted that this would be
the outcome if any proposition was
made to rule the Prohibitionists out OF
the primary. Nor am I surprised at
the proposition coming from Mr.. Ap-
pelt, for he has been very pronounced
on that line and has stoutly contended
for his version of the constitution in
the Manning Times, of which he is
editor. Mr.. Applet has assumed the
very queer position of undertaking to
regulate other mems consciences, or at
least to determine what would be their
conscientious view of the matter un-
der certain conditions. In this matter
be has gone too far, as he cannot
know, and has no right to know, what
the conscience of another may dictate,
as conscience is not a matter of opin-
ion; but of right action, and is govern
ed by the judgment or decision of each
man for himself.
"Mr. Applet is quoted as saying
that no man nominated by a factional
convention could take the pledge con-
scientiously.' If his Interpretation of
the vague and indefinite clause is cor
rect, there might be some foundation
for his conclusion but have hereto
fore held that this Interpretation was
wrong and inconclusive. Whatever
the author of this clause intended, he
did not succeed in expressing himself
80 clearly that it was not susceptible
of different constructions, and hence
it was to be construed as relating to
the general election and not the pri.
mary. Under this view I would have
no hesitation in signing the pledge,
nor did Mr.. Brunson hesitate two
years ago. I have been requested by
an assembly of friends and coworkers
in the great cause to become their
standard bearer in this campaign, and
at no time will I repudiate their en-
dorsement. The pledge is an individ-
ual matter and necessarily is signed by
an individual, who thus becomes a
candidate, not for Office, but for the
nomination of the Democratic party,
which has selected the primary method
of making its nominations. l have
received the endorsement of several
hundred others since the conference at
Columbia, and they have urged me to
make the race for governor, (either in
person or by letter. doing the same
thing as the members of the confer
ence, which was to invite me as their
choice to file this pledge and enter the
campaign.
II would not under any circum-
stances entertain the thought of writ
ing a letter to decline the suggestion
of the conference, as Mr.. T. Y. Will
liams proposed, for am pledged al
ready to make the race and I am not
in the habit of going back on my
pledges. The Dial resolution, which
has been reaffirmed, was intended as q
straddle between the two construc-
tions of the required pledge and was
so accepted two years ago.
II regard the outlook extremely
favorable for Prohibition victory this
summer, if the indications are to be
relied upon. The voluntary express
sions from my comrades who were in
attendance at Louisville have been
most gratifying and they assured me
that the Prohibition sentiment was
stronger than ever before. These
men were from every section OF the
state and their assurances are strong
and confident. Letters are coming
every mail with SIMILAR declarations,
and consider that there is every
reason to be hopeful of the result. l
expect to be at Orangeburg on the
18th instant, with my pledge duly
filed, and in every respect ready for
the fray.
II do not accept the decision of the
committee as comforting any favor
upon me or giving me any right not
already mine as a Democrat, nor do 1
understand the action of the majority
in that light. They have simply
avoided promulgating an official de-
|liverance upon the point raised by Mr..
Applet against Prohibition Democrats
making suggestions for office within
the party lines. The state convention
was we'll aware of the probable action
of the Prohibition conference, and
there was some newspaper urging that
the convention make the rule impera-
tive 80 as to shut us out; but the con-
vention wisely abstained from taking
any action that would cast discredit
upon the Prohibition Democrats or
foment any discord within the party.
This is not the time to excite animosi.
ties, and the liquor issue does not
necessarily mean undue agitation
among the people ; but it does mean a
we'll defined purpose to ascertain the
sober judgment of the Democratic
voters as to whether or not the state