The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1902-05-01
e devised in words as absolutely

| Senator McIlaurin is no longer {
factor in dealing with this question
lie IS simply an illustration of what
might happen again under the present
loose regulations. While his actions
have shown the necessity for revI.ion
OF tho pledge to be given by candi-
dates, the parry can act without con-
slderlng his case at all. 1t is even de-
slrable that he be gwen an opporti,.
lty 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 charge of persecution or per-
sonal application. This is important
for the future welfare of the party.
Let him run if he desires to face the
people and be elected if he can get the
votes. If he can win in the primary
after his record is set before the pco.
pic he can WIN much easier rs an indie
pendent If he is denied admission.
we 40 not want to be un just to him
or to his followers.
III the Democracy of Stuth Caro-
Ina wants to put none but Democrats
on guard it must decide the Democ
racy of each candidate by requiring a
pledge in writing that Will define clear
~ what the candidates opinions are,
and solemn pledge to stand by those
opinions. OF course men may sign
such Il pledge and then deceive the
people afterwards, but we owe IT TO
our fellow Democrats of the country
to at least safeguard our Democratic
primaries as far as possible.
There is one other subject connect.
cd with party policy that demands sc
rlous consideration. The large number
OF candidates who seek the various
State Offices and Congressional and
Senatorial honors render it impossible
in one day for those candidates to have
even respectful hearing. Any man
who is fit to bo Governor or Senator
cannot discuss public questions in any
intelligent 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 gwen sufficient
opportunity TO make the people undcr-
stand whether or not they arc compc-
tent. Many of the positions which arc
sought are largely ministerial and the
duties are we'll defined, and these OIL
GERS cannot change or shape public
policy IN any material degree. There
IS no good excuse or +, asOn why seven
or eight candidates for railroad COM
missioner and fifteen or twenty of the
other State Offices shall be gwen time
al State campaign meeting, or 80 it,
tie time as TO merely get up and make
their bow.
In the last State canvass il required
about live hours fol the respective cam
dldatcs, allowing only thirty minutes
Tor the candidates for Governor and ten
minutes for the others, not counting
The candidate for United States Senate,
who usually came last. The Limitation
on the time of the candidates for the
important Offices, If it be continued,
will absolutely destroy all interest in
the State campaign meetings, and final
ly destroy the primary system itself,
and ! am strongly of the opinion that
il would be we'll, indeed necessary, to
have two campaign days in each county,
say six weeks or two months apart, at
which certain specified candidates shall
address the people.
The suggestion has been made that
there ought TO be a Limitation on the
number of meetings to one in each
Congressional district. This will never
40, because the people arc entitled to
see and hear the men who seek their
votes, AMI if such system were adopt
cd there would be few, if any, citizens
at such meeting other than those who
live in the county where tho meeting
IS held. The newspaper reports would
have to be depended on entirely in Or
der to get any sort of Information as
TO what the candidates were SAYING and
what impression they made; and this
would mean the use Of the press by
those who were able 20 obtain its sun
port to control elections; and This does
not imply that the press is venal. Few
people take daily papers, and nearly all
the wccklles have patent outsidcs.
Somehow all of Senator McLaurin's y
speeches were published in these out
sides or sent as supplements. 1t was
legitimate advertising, but we do not
want rich men who are able to pay for
such advertising to have advantage of
the poor men who cannot. The only
safe way is to have the candidates face
the voters and lei each man decide for
himself. l warn the people against
surrcndcring the right to judge for
themselves.
Government by newspapers may be
a very good thing, but the people of
South Carolina rcpudiatcd it in 1890,
and have no idea they are going to
return to it, and | am therefore
prepared to urge the scheme have
outlined, as the best which suggests It,
self to me. The two sets of candidates
could begin on opposite sides of the
State and thus not interfere with each
other. The people ought to devote at
least two days to the selection of the
best men, and this cannot be brought
about without hearing them fully. If
the people lose interest in their gov
ernment that government must be-
come bad. Eternal vigilance is the
price of liberty" ls as true now as
when it was uttered.