The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-04-30

we can not well make the rules so
exacting that we will bar out men who
want to act independently in merely
local matters. The fact that our fight
is in the primary and not at the legal
election and therefore hardly half OF
the Democratic votes are ever polled
at the legal election, would make 1T
/ difficult to devise a scheme to prove
who or who had not supported the
nominees of the party | will not,
therefore, discuss that phase Of the
subject, but it is matter of vital
| necessity that we should make candl-
dates define their attitude and give
explicit pledges as to their actions
While in Office. Senator McLaurin
was charged with Republicanism in
| his race and the primary of 1897, and
I thought he was honest, but he de-
MED it bitterly He denies it still,
but his utterances now are all in en-
dorsement of the Republican policy,
and his votes tally with his speeches.
We must have revision of the pledge
given by candidates which will make
It impossible for any honorable man
not Democrat to secure the nomlna-
ton il we are to keep the party from
being stabbed in the back and not
have a repetition of the present dis
graceful state of affairs. At this time
South Carolina really has no voice in
shaping public matters in the Senate,
or If she has a voice the votes Of the
two Senators are nearly always on op-
posite sides of any given proposition.
This Is; something that does not OBJ
Tain in any other Democratic State
and know of no way by which we
can guard against a recurrence of this
condition except to require all candl-
dates for the Senate, State officers,
Congressman and other positions Of
honor and trust to pledge faith and
loyalty to the doctrines and princl pies
of the party, as announced IN State
and national conventions. This Will
leave their status as far as it can be
devised in words absolutely known.
Senator McLaurin is no longer fac
tor in dealing with this question. He
is simply an illustration of what
might happen again under the present
loose regulations.
ts While his actions have shown the
necessity for revision OF the pledge
to be given by candidates, the party
can act without considering his case
at all. It is even desirable that he be
given aa opportunity to go before the
people and let them show him how
they feel about his treachery. The
revised pledge can be required Of all
other democrats without any charge
of persecution or personal application.
This is important for the future well
fare Of 1she party. Let him run if he
desires to facessthe people and be elect
ed if he can get the votes. If he can
win in the primary after his record is
set before the people he can win much
easier as an independent if he is
denied admission. We do not want to
be unjust to him or to his followers.
IL the Democracy Of South Carolina
wants to put none but Democrats on
guard it must decide the Democracy
of each candidate by requiring a
pledge in writing that will define
clearly what the candidates opinions
are and solemn pledge to stand by
those opinions. OF course, men may
sign such q pledge and then deceive
the pople afterwards, but we owe it to
our fellow Democrats of the country
to at least safeguard our Democratic
primaries as far as posi- BILE.
aThere; is one other subject con-
nected with party policy that demands
serious consideration. The large
numbers of candidates who seek the
various State Offices and Congression-
al and Senatorial honors render it i'm
possible in one day for those candi-
dates to have even respectful and
decent hearing. Any man who is fit
to be GoTernor or Senator can not
discuss public questions in any intelli
gent way if his time is limited. Some
plan must be devised by which those
candidates, who fill the really i'm
portant Offices and who will shape and
control affairs, must be given sufficient
opportunity to make the people under
stand whether or not they are compe-
tent. Many of the positions which are
sought are largely ministerial and the
duties are well defined and these Off
cars can not change or shape public
tolicy in any material degree. There
is no good excuse or reason why seven
or eight candidates for railroad COM
missioner and fifteen or twenty for the
other State Offices shall be given time
at State campaign meeting, or SO
little time as to merely get up and
make their bow. In the last State
canvass it required about Eve hours
for tie respective candidates to speak,
allowing only thirty minutes for the
candidates for Governor and ten
minutes for the others, not counting
the candidate for United States Sen
ate, who usually came last. The limit
alton on the time of the candidates
for the important Offices if it be con
tinued, will absolutely destroy all in
terest in the State campaign meetings,
and finally destroy the primary system
itself: and I am strongly of the opin-
ion that it would be well, indeed, nee
essary, to have two campaign days in
each county. say six weeks or two
months apart at which certain speci-
fed candidates shall address the peo-