Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1900-06-14
"GovERNoR" HoYT TALKS.
Discusses the Action Of tho Executive Com.
mittee-Will Flo Pledge.

turned from the reunion at Louis
vile, and in conversation with a
reporter expressed himself as de-
lighted with the trip to Kentucky,
where he met many friends and ac-
quaintances from this and other
States. He was especially gratiticd
at meeting with some Of his former
comrades in Jcnkins's Brigade whom
he has not seen since the war, and
who are now living in Georgia, Mis-.
sissippi, Texas, Kentucky and other
States. These and other ex- Carroll
mans we're frequently among the
throng at the South Carolina head
quarters, which were only short
distance from the reunion hall. Col.
lIoyt thinks there were about four
hundred veterans from this State and
barring the unlikely weather they
were much pleased with their reccp
ton in Louisville. He had not read
the newspapers to any great extent
during his absence, and was not in
formed as to the discussion in the
State Executive Committee last
week until after reaching home. He
was asked to give his views upon the
action of the Executive Committee,
and to state what he proposed to do
in regard to the pledge exacted Of
candidates for nomination in the
primary. His reply was as follows !:
81 am not at all surprised at the
action Of the State Executive Com
mittec, and had. predicted that this
would be the outcome i any propo-
sition was made to rule the Prohibi-
tionists out Of the primary. Nor am
l surprised at the proposition coming
from Mr.. Applet, 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 the editor.
Mr.. Applet has assumed the very
queer position of undertaking to
regulate other mems conscienccs or
at least to determine what world be
their conscientious view of matters
under certain conditions. In this
matter he has gone too far, az he can
not know and has no right to know
what the conscience of another may
dictate, as conscience is not a matter
Of opinion, but of right action, and
is governed by the Judgment or de-
cision of each man for himself.
"Nlr. Appel is quoted as saying
'that no man nominated by a fac
tional convention could take the
pledge conscientiously.' If his in
depreciation of the vague and indef.
mite clause is correct, there might be
some foundation for his conclusion,
but have heretofore held that this
Interpretation was wrong and incon-
elusive. Whatever the author of
this clause intended he did not sue
ceed in expressing himself so clearly
that it was not susceptible Of differ
cnt constructions, and hence it was
to be construed as relating to the
general election and not the primary.
Under this view l would have no
hesitation in signing the pledge, nor
did Mr.. Brunson hesitate two years
ago.
81 have been requested by an as
sembly of friends and co-workcrs in
a great cause to become their stand
ard bearer in this campaign, and at
no time will rcpudiatc their endorse
mcnt. The pledge is IN individual
matter, and necessarily is signed by
an individual, who thus becomes
candidate not for office, but for the
nomination of the Democratic party,
which has selected the primary me-
thod Of making it's nominations. I
have received the endorsement of
several hundred others since the con-
ference at Columbia, and they have
urged me to make the race for Gov
ernor, (eithcr in person or by letter.
doing the same thing as the nom
bcrs Of the conference, which was to
invite me as their choice to file this
pledge and enter the campaign.
81 would not under any oircum-
stances entertain the thought of
writing a letter to decline the sug-
gestion of the conference, Mr.. T.
Y. Williams proposed, for am
pledged already to make the race,
and am not in the habit of going
back on my pledges. The Dial rcso-
luton, which has been rcaflimed, was
intended az straddlc between the
two constructions Of the required
pledge, and was so accepted two years
ago.
w regard the outlook extremely
favorable for prohibition victory
this summer, If the indications are
l