Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-07-12
Saturday, July l2, 1902.


county offices to be filled at the primary
election this summer, none Is more i'm
portant than is that of county commits
sioner. AS is probably generally un-
derstood, there are two Of these county
commissioners, and together with the
supervisor, they are charged with ad-
ministering the financial affairs Of the
county. They also have executive
powers practically equal to those OF the
supervisor. An efficient supervisor,
therefore, can be badly hampered by in
efficient colleagues, and an inefficient
supervisor can be greatly assisted by
efficient colleagues. Although the pay
of q county commissioner-$l50 a year
is good enough for the work requir-
ed, the office Is not one for which the
most desira BILE men fight on their own
responsibility. Under the circum-
stances the voters cannot be assured
Of the most desirable service unless
trey interest themselves. The present
ommissioners-Mess w. s. Wilker-
son and ID. G.. Stanton-are both able
and efficient; but they have been serving
more from a sense Of duty than other
stand that they both have a feeling
that that duty has been to a large
extent discharged. 1t is certain mat
neither of these gentlemen will put
In a nf
election, and this writer Is not prepared
to say whether or not they would ac-
cept reelection even under persuasion.
OF course, 1t may be all right to have
this office to be filed, as many others
are filled, by the choice Of the most
popular men who may offer as candid
ates; but in view Of the Importance Of
the office, and the large interests in
volved to taxpayers, it would seem
that the voters would make no mistake
in giving the matter especial atten-
ton.
i1' II there Is any considerable local
interest In the state campaigns now in
progress for either the United States
senatorship or the state offices, this
writer has not been able to run across
it. He has talked during the past few
weeks with representative men from
different parts Of the county, and the
universal opinion seems to be that lne
people are paying less attention to pol
itics than has ever been known at this
comparative season Of campaign
year since the latter sos. OF course
there are a number of individuals who
are indulging in more or less specula-
ton as to who will be the winners.
These are watching especially the
races for the governorship and the SEN
atorship. OF the gubernatorial candi-
Messrs. Talbert, Tillman and Hayward.
At the beginning Of the race there was
a pretty strong general opinion that
Talbert was the strongest man in the
race. Since then 1t Is beginning to be
generally acknowledged that Tillman
Is factor, and some Of the experts
are beginning to size up the situation
like this: IF Tillman and Talbert are
In the second race together, Tlllman
will be elected. If the race should be
between Tillman and Hayward, Hey
ward will be governor. II between
Hayward and Talbert, Hayward will
stand the better cnance to win. This
speculation seems to be based upon the
theory that Talbert is running for gov
ernor with a view TO using the office as
a stepping stone to the place now oc-
cupied by Senator Tillman. Not many
local politicians seem to take much
stock in the idea that man would
voluntarily give up a seat in congress
for the governorship. They assume
that Senator Tillman takes this view Of
the situation, and that in second race
between either Of the candidates
named, or any other for that matter,
he would exert himself against Tai
bert. There may or may not be some
thing in this theory; but 1t sounds
plausible. Mr.. Ansel Is not very well
known in this immediate section. There
are a number Of individuals In the
county who have an acquaintance with
him and they seem to be generally
agreed that he Is good man, we'll
worthy and qualified to be governor;
but they are not making any special
effort in his behalf. DR.. Zimmerman
also enjoys high place in the estima-
tion Of all who know him; but they are
not taking his candidacy with a great
deal Of seriousness. AS to the compar-
ative strength Of the various senato-
rial candidates in this section, there Is
no such thing as arriving at Salts
factory estimate. Both Messrs. Lati-
mer and Evans are going to get a
great many votes; but there is not now
any reason for believing that either Of
them will carry the county. There is
more or less effort being made In be-
half Of Mr.. Henderson; but as yet he
does not appear to have a formidable
following. Mr.. Elliott Is not very we'll
known in this county; but he has some
few strong friends that are urging his
claims with some earnestness, and he
will get some votes. The favorite at
this time, If there is such a thing as q
favorite, Is Mr.. Hemphill. At one time
it looked as If this gentleman's long
residence in Washington was going to
operate to his disadvantage; but not
withstanding this, quite large num-
ber Of his old friends are beginning to
remember his former able service and
arrive at the conclusion that, probably