The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-05-22
PlP-SPOON POLITICS.
El-Aayor Geurtsnay's View Of The
New Movement.


pressed his views upon the present po-
IiticaI situation in this State very
plainly, and with so much point that
the public ought to know what they
are. In reply to a statement, OF q
representative of the News and Cou-
rier that he wanted to talk to him
about ''commercialism' and pap
SPOON politics" Mr. Courtenay said:
AS you know, I have been entirely
withdrawn from public matters for
many years and have no desire now to
saw or do anything about them. After
so long a silence I doubt if there are
many who care to know what think.
But recent occurrences in our party,
The preservation of which I regard as
essential to our civilization, should
induce everyone, not blind to the fu-
ture. to consider certain extraordinary
happenings and to speak out plainly.
In my view the most deceptive
scheme ever put before our people IS
That which would abandon political
principles and our old allies IN every
State in the Union for the transient
plea that joining the Republican party
will promote our material interests.
We have marvellous country-lron
and coal in superabundance, grain
fields equal to feeding ourselves and
half the world, cotton crops for cloth
ing ourselves and many millions OF
distant peoples, cattle in untold guam
titles, with an intelligent, progressive
and hard working people, developing
all these colossal natural advantages.
The advance in material resources, IN
education, In wealth accumulation
during the past decade is the wonder OF
the world.
From the United States bureau OF
statistics we have this recent exhibit
this after feeding, clothing and sup
plying our 5000, 900 OF population
with all we could possibly want:
Average monthly expectations for the 9
months ending with March, 1901.
United States, sl24, 497, S53 90
Enpland. LII, ,S16, 246 90
Average ending with
GeTnany 1851, 90 90
France. 56, 467, 600 90
Russia. %, 800, 600 90
British India, rs, A7, O0O w
Austria-Hungary, ., 143,0OO w
Belgium, S,20S, ooo OoO w w
italy, D,5IS,oOo w
Now this potential Surplus wealth
exhibit covers a period when our
China markets have been closed to
Us and when the Philippine Islands
have taken less than 500, 600 of our
manufactured goods, while costing US
over $500, 600, 600!
These figures are an object lesson at
the end Of decade in which the gov
eminent Of the country was shared by
both political parties, and demon
strates beyond doubt that the
growth of business and wealth is from |
natural and industrial causes and not
from pap-spocn politics.
In the midst of this abundance, this |
sweep of prosperity, comes a proposal
TO break up the Democratic party and
hand over our political power to our
political enemies, who have not spared |
Us in the past and have not even a re-
mote idea of sparing us in the future.
interviewer with this deceptive plea |
OF pap-spoon politics, q very general
impression is sought to be created that
the owners Of South Carolina cotton
mills are all in favor OF joining the
Republican party-another delusion
There have been quite number OF |
mill stockholders meetings during
the past few weeks, in none Of which, |
as I am informed, was any word said |
on this subject or any action taken. |
I am inclined to believe that a
thoughtless utterance or two recently |
made. is the basis Of these hopes in |
pap-spoon political circles. 1t would |
be very surprising indeed if South |
Carolina owners of cotton mills should |
voluntarily separate themselves from
their friends and neighbors to join a
hostile political party. Of course
mills controlled from distance may
insist upon their managers and en-
ployes saying ''me too but that is
different affair altogether.
Not only do present conditions warn
us, but the future is full OF serious
keep Us from political
suicide. Sharply defined issues are in
full view now and will assume large
PROPORTIONS in the near future. The
wealth that has accumulated In few |
ambitious hands is at work creating |
colossal combinations: already the
iron and steel interests have been
merged, the chief railroads from the
Atlantic to the Pacific a4e in process
of consolidation, marine transportation
on both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
will follow, and as has been
announced, "three men in New York.
or some other central point will con
troll prices of iron and steel products
and everything else and the cost of
carriage over inland and ocean routes.
In these vast capitalizations there IS
80 to 50 per cent of what in financial
parlance is called, in its primitive
state, water. This is ali to be
made into solid paying investments
by dual pressure squeezing out ey-
cry possible employee and squeezing
into the trust treasures, through
heavy costs and tolls Of carriage, every
dollar that the general public can be
made TO pay. The control of trans
continental railway transportation and
the unifcation Of steam freights and !
nassaoe on the Atlantic and Pacific |